What

Online classes are a great alternative to the traditional classroom environment, provided you are a motivated, self-disciplined, and responsible learner. The lack of face-to-face contact in an online course can present a challenge to students who like and learn best by the social interaction of a traditional classroom environment. That doesn't mean that if you are one of those students you shouldn't take an online class, it means that you need to understand what is involved before you begin and plan accordingly.

Online courses are taught nearly entirely over the Internet. This means that you do not have to physically come to campus and sit in a classroom, so you could take a course from anywhere in the world if you want. Your instructor's lectures, usually brief, are in a text format and can be read from your computer screen or can be printed out and read later.

What online classes aren't

Students sometimes believe that online courses are an easy alternative to the traditional method of classroom instruction, and that there won't be as much work. In most instances, this is simply not the case. Online courses are just as rigorous as any on-campus course, sometimes more so because this method of instruction places more responsibility for learning on you, the student. You do not have an instructor physically in the classroom giving you your next assignment or reminding you of due dates. You also lack immediate feedback and instant answers to your questions. However, you do have access to these essential elements via your computer and the Internet.