how long should a student study per online course

by Ms. Damaris Streich 10 min read

Here's how to estimate how much time online classes take. Many schools say you should study two hours for every hour you spend in a class for an easy class, three for an average class, and four for a hard class. If you attended class three hours a week, you'd then have 6, 9, or 12 hours of study time per week.

You should plan to devote a minimum of three hours per week per credit, plus an additional hour per class each week to review materials. For instance, for a three-credit online course, you will need nine hours of study time and one hour of review time each week.

Full Answer

How much time should I spend studying for my online courses?

The amount of time you spend studying for your online courses will also vary because of similar factors. Take into consideration the complexity of the courses you are taking each semester. It is a good idea to balance complex and challenging courses with less taxing courses during the course of a semester.

How much time do you need to study for college level classes?

The amount of time spent studying for college level classes depends on several factors. Some people retain information better than others and many courses have varying degrees of complexity. Molecular biology might require more study time than Art History because the two courses are completely different.

How long are online classes at ASU?

Though Arizona State University's online programs, called ASU Online, our undergrad and graduate courses are structured in seven and a half week sessions rather than 14-week semesters. For one session, a student should expect to spend six hours a week on course work for every course credit.

How many hours a week should you study?

Conventional wisdom holds that a B student should plan two hours of study each week for every credit hour and an A student should hit the books for three hours per week for every credit hour earned. This isn’t necessarily bad advice. However, most classes don’t require that much studying, and some actually require more.

How much time should I spend on my online course per week?

For one session, a student should expect to spend six hours a week on course work for every course credit. In other words, if a student is signed up for two or three courses during a session and each course is worth three credits, that student should plan to spend between 36 to 54 hours a week on course work.

How much time do you spend studying online?

While the typical student may spend about as much time online doing homework or research as on other online activities, almost half (40%) of students reported spending between 3 and 4 hours a day working online; these results were largely similar across Carnegie class, ethnicity, and gender.

How much time should I set aside for online classes?

You should probably allow 3 hours per week to read/listen to the online content for each course you take. This doesn't include assignments outside of class. Graduate study is more demanding than undergraduate study, so you should plan for 3 hours offline prep for every hour you spend “in class.”

How long should you study for each course?

The general rule of thumb regarding college studying is, and has been for a long time, that for each class, students should spend approximately 2-3 hours of study time for each hour that they spend in class. Many students carry a course load of 15 credits, or approximately 15 hours of class time each week.

How many hours should my online course be?

The most profitable online course length Based on what we've seen at Thinkific, the most profitable course length on average is between 10–25 hours. Just below that, 5-10 hour courses are about 75% as profitable. And at the higher range, longer courses—25–100 hours—are slightly less profitable than those.

How long are online classes a day?

One of the many advantages of online schools is that they will require less time from you compared to traditional schools. But then again, it is highly dependent on the online school that you or your child is enrolled in. On average, students spend four hours online.

How many hours a week should I study for a class?

The recommended amount of time to spend on your studies is 2-3 hours per credit per week (4 hours per credit per week for Math classes), right from week 1. For example, for a 3-unit course, this means 6-9 hours devoted to studying per week.

How many hours should I study per credit?

approximately 2-3 hoursHow much time should you be studying per week? Research suggests that students should spend approximately 2-3 hours, per credit hour, studying in order to be successful in their courses. STEM classes often require 3-4 hours, per credit hour, of studying to be successful. Think about how you normally study.

How do you plan your day for online classes?

15 Top Tips To Make A Personal Schedule for Online CollegeList Priorities. One of the first things that you should do is list your priorities and responsibilities. ... Schedule Sleep. ... Avoid Rigidity. ... Consistent Small Tasks. ... Schedule Space and Time. ... Too Much Time. ... Keep Study Close. ... Understand Limits and Say No.More items...

Is studying 3 hours a day enough?

The consensus among universities is that for every hour spent in class, students should spend approximately 2-3 hours studying. So, for example, if your course is three hours long two days per week, you should be studying 12-18 hours for that class per week.

Is studying 5 hours a day enough?

Study Every Day: Establish a daily routine where you study in one place a minimum of 4 -5 hours each day. There are different kinds and 'levels' of study discussed below. What is important is that study becomes the centerpiece of your day and the continuous element in your work week. Do not wait for exam-time to study.

How I study 10 hours a day?

Take a break during studying time It means that I will very concentrate on the task for 50 minutes, then I will spend 10 minutes rest, walking about the office while listening to a piece of motivational speech or music. The tip here is when you having a rest, try not to look at the screen.

How much time do you spend studying for online classes?

For example, if a course is three credit hours, then spending at least nine hours studying each week is not uncommon.

Why do Molecular Biology and Art History require more study time?

Molecular biology might require more study time than Art History because the two courses are completely different . The amount of time you spend studying for your online courses will also vary because of similar factors.

Why is course intensity important?

Course Intensity. In addition to the course complexity, it is important to gauge how heavy of a workload a course has. If the course is more project intensive than test intensive, then you might not have to put as much study time into it.

Why is online study better than regular study?

Online study gives people the option to do things are their own pace and still maintain their lives with minimal disruption. When it comes to graduate school, the workload will be much more intense.

How many hours of study time should I do for every credit hour?

Figure two hours of study time for every credit hour for elective classes or classes in subjects that come easier for you. Plan four hours a week for every credit hour for difficult classes and three hours for the classes that fall somewhere in the middle.

How many hours does Gail have to do homework?

That’s 24 hours of homework per week, leaving Gail with 16 hours per week for other things, which is a little more than two hours a day. That’s not a lot of time, especially if Gail has to do work study to pay for college. She could cut back on the sleep, but that’s not healthy. Of course, these are average numbers.

How many classes does Gail take?

Gail is taking four classes online. As stated, she has 76 hours with which to work. Budgeting her time, and shooting for an A in every class, she studies three hours per week for each of her credits. That adds up to 36 hours a week of study, leaving her with 40 hours for other things, which equates to a little less than six hours a day.

How to reduce time spent studying?

You can dramatically reduce the amount of time you need to spend studying by studying at the right time. Allow yourself a half-hour before each log-in to review your notes and downloads from previous classes and schedule a half-hour after each log-in to go over what you have just learned. This will trim hours from your weekly study schedule. Each week, review all online notes and downloads, personal notes and old tests or quizzes. Read your textbook as you go along. It will make it much easier to understand the work. Complete all assignments by the date on the syllabus, even if they aren’t due until the class ends. These steps will usually take much less than the traditionally recommended 2-4 hours of study each week. However, you will need to schedule in extra study time before tests and quizzes.

How many hours do you spend in class?

You will spend roughly three hours in class per class each week. A standard load is 12 credits, which is usually four classes. That means that you will spend 36 hours per week in class, leaving you 76 hours for study and other things.

How many hours should a B student study?

Conventional wisdom holds that a B student should plan two hours of study each week for every credit hour and an A student should hit the books for three hours per week for every credit hour earned. This isn’t necessarily bad advice. However, most classes don’t require that much studying, and some actually require more.

Weekly Study Time for Online Learning

Research shows that students are most successful with distance education when they start their coursework on time and make steady progress.

View the NOVA Online Orientation

NOVA Online Orientation is a two-part video recording providing a general overview for students enrolled in NOVA Online courses offered through Northern Virginia Community College.

What is online class?

Clinton Community College in New York describes an online class as something that a student can work at her own pace, but not on her own time. Students in these classes have deadlines to meet just like they would in a face-to-face classroom setting. Moreover, these classes often present more demands on the student's time and workload; most online courses rely more heavily on reading to take the place of a lecture. As well, these classes demand that students have greater writing skills and expect the people in the class to do more writing than they would in an offline course.

How many hours does a 3 credit class last?

A three-credit in-person class meets for lecture for three hours a week. Instructors of these courses will then guide their students to spend another three to six hours of studying outside the class. A person taking an online class can expect to spend at least the same amount of time.

What software do teachers use to teach students?

Additionally, students can expect that their teachers may also employ lectures, which they create on their computer desktop with screen capture software such as Camtasia. Instructors might also use videos and audio files or slide shows, as well as also ask students to participate in class discussions via online forums.

Do online classes require more reading?

Moreover, these classes often present more demands on the student's time and workload; most online courses rely more heavily on reading to take the place of a lecture. As well, these classes demand that students have greater writing skills and expect the people in the class to do more writing than they would in an offline course.

Is online coursework a convenience?

Studying is a fact of life for students, and while online coursework may offer a student many conveniences, these classes also come with challenges that their traditional counterparts do not.

Do everyone do well in online classes?

Not everyone will do well in an online class. The people who do possess a high amount of motivation. They have likely already achieved a great deal of academic success in their other classes and can apply the time-management skills they've learned in their offline classes to the online environment. Students who feel challenged by any of these requirements should think twice about taking an online course or work to develop the necessary skills and self-discipline it takes to do their coursework online.

How many hours of study time do I need to take online classes?

If you attended class three hours a week, you'd then have 6, 9, or 12 hours of study time per week. Now apply that to online classes. Assume you're going to have to take part in class discussion or do homework to replace the class time.

How much time should I spend in online classes?

Here's how to estimate how much time online classes take. Many schools say you should study two hours for every hour you spend in a class for an easy class, three for an average class, and four for a hard class. If you attended class three hours a week, you'd then have 6, 9, or 12 hours of study time per week. Now apply that to online classes.

How long is ASU online?

Through Arizona State University’s online programs, called ASU Online, undergrad and graduate courses are structured in seven and a half week sessions rather than 14-week semesters.

How many hours does ASU take?

Through Arizona State University’s online programs, called ASU Online, undergrad and graduate courses are structured in seven and a half week sessions rather than 14-week semesters. For one session, a student should expect to spend six hours a week on coursework for every course credit.

Why is time management important for online learning?

Additionally, one of the key benefits of online learning is that students can create their own schedules and fulfill their study hours whenever works best for their individual needs. Students who have full-time careers often make time for school in the evenings and on weekends, ...

How long should an online course be?

An online course should be as short or long as it needs to be in order to deliver the learning outcomes it promises. In practice, you might create a course that only has a few short 5 minute videos to teach something simple. For a more in depth flagship course you might make 25-50 video lessons each 5-20 minutes long.

How long should a student watch a video?

A good amount of your students are likely people with full-time jobs and families to take care of. So it’s not convenient for them to sit down and watch a 30-minute video each day. Also, psychology shows that people retain information better when they’re given it in small portions with breaks in between (source).

What happens if you make a course too long?

If you make your course too long, people will get bored and never actually finish it. But if it’s too short, people might not feel like they’re getting their money’s worth.

How many lessons should be in a module?

Each module might have 3 – 10 individual lessons within it which all hold together as a related subject or step in the learning of the bigger outcome. Each lesson of a module should be kept nice and short; just 5 – 20 minutes long. It’s best to create your courses with busy people in mind.

How to make a course interactive?

Another way to make your course interactive is to add activities between presentations. So one section of your course may have 5 minutes of video. Then students are instructed to pause and complete a worksheet before returning to watch the remaining 5 minutes of video.

How to make a course fun?

Make your course an adventure. Give your students a reason to explore the course content. Even if that means making some kind of scavenger hunt to get them to go back and look at material multiple times to find a hidden word or something similar. Make them prove they understand.

Can you split a course into multiple sections?

It can be hard to accomplish. Instead of sacrificing quality content that you feel should be included, it’s usually worth splitting it out into multiple sections of the course. Worst case scenario, you can always attach extra material to the course in an appendix or “bonus section.”.

Why is online learning important?

Additionally, one of the key benefits of online learning is that students can create their own schedules and fulfill their study hours whenever works best for their individual needs. Students who have full-time careers often make time for school in the evenings and on weekends, while students who are moms, for example, ...

How many hours a week does Arizona State University take?

For one session, a student should expect to spend six hours a week on course work for every course credit.

Is online learning easy?

Online learning isn't easy, and students should be prepared to study several hours each week. Year after year, one of the most common pieces of feedback I receive from students who are new to our online degree program is that they are surprised by the amount of time it takes to succeed in their online courses .

How long should an online lecture be?

An online lecture should be no more than 15 minutes long to remain effective while not losing interest. In this article, you will learn how long an online lecture should be, why online lectures are typically shorter than in-person lectures, and the factors that help determine the length of your online lectures.

How long does a lecture last?

In the U.S., most high schools and colleges have lecture-based classes that last anywhere from 50 to 90 minutes. So, if traditional, in-person lectures last this long, ...

What are online lectures?

Online lectures can be utilized for a variety of learning opportunities, such as: 1 Flipped courses – Flipped courses are a “backwards” take on traditional learning where students participate in online classwork (lectures, discussions, research, etc.) at home and do classwork that resembles homework, which focuses on engaging in the concept they are learning while being guided by a teacher. 2 Web-based courses – Web-based courses are designed to be done completely online at the student’s pace. The course is entirely laid out with all lectures, assignments, assessments, and anything else needed for the course included as soon as the student starts working in it. 3 Web-enhanced courses – Web-enhanced courses are similar to web-based courses, but the class meets at specific times in-person to discuss what they are learning and have the teacher address any questions. The course is still online and allows students to work at their own pace. 4 MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) – MOOCs are courses that are open to everyone through the internet. These courses are designed to be done entirely online, cover a myriad of different subjects (not just academic ones), and were made popular by websites such as Udemy, EdX, and Khan Academy. Unfortunately, these courses do not offer official certifications when completed. Their primary focus is to teach new skills or build on old ones.

What is flipped course?

Flipped courses – Flipped courses are a “backwards” take on traditional learning where students participate in online classwork (lectures, discussions, research, etc.) at home and do classwork that resembles homework, which focuses on engaging in the concept they are learning while being guided by a teacher.

What is MOOCs in education?

MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) – MOOCs are courses that are open to everyone through the internet. These courses are designed to be done entirely online, cover a myriad of different subjects (not just academic ones), and were made popular by websites such as Udemy, EdX, and Khan Academy.

What is web based course?

Web-based courses – Web-based courses are designed to be done completely online at the student’s pace. The course is entirely laid out with all lectures, assignments, assessments, and anything else needed for the course included as soon as the student starts working in it.

How long should a video be for high school seniors?

If you are lecturing high school seniors, keep videos less than 15 minutes long and request that the students complete work after watching the video to make sure they’ve watched the entire video.

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