what does an online college course look like

In many ways, online college is just like traditional college. The courses offered online and on-campus are the same, and cover the same material. They both have the same or very similar assignments and strict deadlines.

Full Answer

What does an online degree program look like?

What do online class assignments look like? Online class assignments are much like traditional assignments in that you will be asked to process information and synthesize your thoughts about it. The main difference is that in an online class, you can do the work whenever you want during the week (keeping any deadlines in mind, of course).

How do online college courses work?

One online university. Four colleges. Flexible degrees. Our focus on your success starts with our focus on four high-demand fields: K–12 teaching and education, nursing and healthcare, information technology, and business. Every degree program at WGU is tied to a high-growth, highly rewarding career path.

What does an online classroom look like?

In face-to-face classrooms, there are reminders for you to finish projects or assignments, or you get graded for simply showing up and participating. In an online course, you should log into the course every day to see what has changed or been updated, or who has replied to your posts. You have reached the end of section one, eLearning Overview.

What should I look for when taking online courses?

What are online college courses like? Undergraduate students should plan on devoting three hours per week for each credit of an online class. Additionally, prep time should include an extra hour. So, each three-credit class should take up 10 hours per week.

What You Might Need to Take Online College Courses

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How Do Online College Courses Work?

Now that you know what you might need, you’re probably wondering: What are online college courses like? It’s a good question, but there might not b...

Scheduling For Online Courses

Now that you have a general idea of how to take online college classes, you may be curious what a typical course schedule might look like. Of cours...

Potential Online Resources For Students

One thing that prospective students might worry about when looking into earning a degree online is, “Do I have to sacrifice the resources of campus...

Are There Online College Course Alternatives?

The path to each college degree may be different for everyone. There has been much talk in the past years about MOOCs (or massive open online cours...

Mixing Online With on Campus

One important aspect of taking online courses that you should look into is whether or not a degree program can be completed fully online. Though ma...

Benefits of Online College Courses

After reading through this article, you may already have an idea of what the benefits of online learning can be, but if you’re unsure, it might mos...

What does it mean to take online classes?

After reading through this article, you may already have an idea of what the benefits of online learning can be, but if you’re unsure, it might mostly boil down to one thing: flexibility! Taking courses online may mean you can work from the comfort of your own home, or wherever you choose to take your computer.

How many CLEP exams are there?

There are 33 different CLEP exams, all covering material one would normally encounter in the first two years of a four-year college program. Regardless of which path may be right for you, there are alternative online college course options to fit your goals and objectives.

What is accreditation in education?

Accreditation is a process by which schools and programs are evaluated; it must come from a specifically recognized national, regional, or specialized accrediting agency. As a safeguard, make sure, when looking into your online education options, to only look at accredited online programs and schools.

Can I take one course at a time?

Others may allow students to start any time throughout the year, but only take one course at a time before moving on to the next one. Be sure to contact the school you’re interested to see if their schedule fits with your plan for online education.

Do I have to sacrifice the resources of campus learning?

One thing that prospective students might worry about when looking into earning a degree online is, “Do I have to sacrifice the resources of campus learning?” Luckily, the answer is probably not, since many online schools have ways they try to alleviate this concern. Online schools and programs offer a variety of different virtual resources, some of which might be included in the list below:

Do I need a CD drive for my computer?

Your computer may also need to have a CD/DVD drive. Similar to campus learning, you may need to buy textbooks to keep up with your studies. Beyond this, specific requirements may vary greatly, so make sure to request information from each particular school to know if you’ll be able to enroll in one of their programs.

What Are Online College Courses Like?

Distance learning provides students interested in earning their degrees the ability to do so in the comfort of their own homes. They should not, however, assume that online college courses will be easier than traditional courses.

Getting Started in the Distance Learning Environment

When you attend a traditional college course, you must locate the classroom on the first day of the semester, but you do not have a classroom to report to when you are taking your classes entirely online.

Completing Coursework, Class Discussions and Tests

After you go through the syllabus, schedule of assignments, and other announcements that are posted to your Blackboard course, you will need to start organizing. Many people assume that online college courses are self-paced, but this is a bad assumption. There are two kinds of classes when it comes to time management: synchronous and asynchronous.

Planning Ahead

What are online college courses like? Undergraduate students should plan on devoting three hours per week for each credit of an online class. Additionally, prep time should include an extra hour. So, each three-credit class should take up 10 hours per week.

Affordability

Many universities and colleges charge by the credit hour for online courses. Some charge full tuition. Obviously, there are no room and board charges, but there will be charges for books and other necessary materials for the classes you take. These might be virtual books in the form of .PDFs, but you will still have to buy them.

Accreditation

Legitimate online programs receive the same regional accreditation as their brick-and-mortar counterparts. There are six regional accrediting bodies in the United States:

Diploma Mills, Degree Mills, and Accreditation Mills

Some online colleges, most of which are for-profit entities, give out degrees and diplomas like so much candy. These items are absolutely worthless. Worse, if a student uses one of these illegitimate degrees to obtain employment, that student risks job loss or even blacklisting for dishonesty.

What is online learning?

Online learning is a form of distance education in which professors and students communicate with each other using the internet. Schools that offer online classes build virtual classrooms, which support videoconferencing, chat, slideshows, and/or exam administration, among many other features.

How to schedule a class online?

How can I schedule my online courses? 1 Classes that require you log on at the same time every week: Synchronous classes are live, meaning that the professor and all students log on at the same time. Because these classes occur during real-time, you can often send instant messages, videochat, or make phone calls as a way to participate in class. 2 Classes that you can complete on your own time: In an asynchronous course, students can log on whenever they choose and complete their assignments or watch prerecorded lectures at their leisure. If you need to communicate with professors or classmates, you must rely on email or forums since it is unlikely that all participants will be logged on at the same time. These classes are not without deadlines entirely, though. You may have a week to finish an assignment, and tests may have to be completed by a certain date.

What is MOOC in education?

That’s where MOOCs come in. MOOCs, or massive open online classes, are online classes brought to you by companies or nonprofit organizations, not schools. The biggest MOOC platforms are Coursera , edX, and Udacity. Enrollment is usually free (though you may have to pay if you’d like a certificate of completion).

Can I complete my degree online?

If you want to complete your entire degree online: If you want to finish all of your degree requirements remotely, enroll in an online degree program. None of its classes will meet in person.

What is synchronous class?

Classes that require you log on at the same time every week: Synchronous classes are live, meaning that the professor and all students log on at the same time. Because these classes occur during real-time, you can often send instant messages, videochat, or make phone calls as a way to participate in class.

Can I take traditional classes online?

At online colleges, every program is an online degree program; there is no option to take traditional courses in a classroom. Many brick-and-mortar schools, which do have campuses, are recognizing that the market demands online classes, so they are developing new online-only degree programs to stay in the game.

Is MOOC free?

Enrollment is usually free (though you may have to pay if you’d like a certificate of completion). Taking a MOOC is also a great way to test drive online classes and see if a graded course may be for you. If you want to take both online and traditional classes over the course of your college career: If you enroll at a college with ...

What is online class?

Online and on-campus classes are generally taught by the same professors using the same syllabus. Students complete the same or similar coursework, projects and exams, and have the same strict deadlines and expectations.

How long is online school?

Some online schools operate on a semester-based schedule of around 15 weeks, which most in-coming students are used to. Others offer much shorter terms of 5-8 weeks, to allow students to earn more credits in a shorter time frame.

Why do I need to get a degree online?

Earning your degree online helps open doors to exciting new career opportunities, without putting your life or current job on the back burner. Even better, you can do it while keeping up your work, family, and other commitments. There are more than 23,000 fully online, accredited degree programs available at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, ...

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How many online degree programs are there?

There are more than 23,000 fully online, accredited degree programs available at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate levels. And a 2018 report found that there were nearly 7 million students enrolled in distance education courses, largely online.

What is synchronous online learning?

Both! There are two online learning formats: Synchronous (live) Asynchronous (self paced) Synchronous courses are live and require students to be virtually present on a certain day and time. During the scheduled class time, you may view lectures in real-time and participate in live discussions via video chat.

How much time should I spend studying?

The general rule of thumb is: For subjects that are difficult for you: Plan to study 4 hours per week for every credit hour. For subjects that are easier for you: Plan to study 2-3 hours per week for every credit hour.

What are some examples of virtual labs?

Labster, Visible Body, and CloudLabs are three examples of virtual lab tools focused on science and math topics. According to Labster, virtual labs "allow students to work through real-life case stories, interact with lab equipment, perform experiments, and learn with theory and quiz questions.".

What is simulation in science?

In the context of an online science lab, simulations are digital presentations used to show you how something works. Examples of simulations include demonstrating a law of physics, illustrating a chemical reaction, or exploring the effects of gravity. Simulations typically use graphics and animations to present specific topics.

How much does a lab kit cost?

The cost of a starter lab kit ranges from $30 to more than $200. These costs vary by company, with starter kits ranging from approximately $30 to more than $200.

What is a science lab kit?

A lab kit gives you all the necessary equipment to conduct experiments at home.

What does "online course" mean?

It means audiovisual materials that don’t stereotype, shame or degrade people. It may mean that open educational resources are prioritized over expensive textbooks. A good online course is interactive. Courses are much more than placeholders for students to access information.

What makes an online course good?

A good online course is engaging and challenging. It invites students to participate, motivates them to contribute and captures their interest and attention. It capitalizes on the joy of learning and challenges students to enhance their skills, abilities and knowledge. A good online course is cognitively challenging.

Why is online learning important?

A good online course promotes student agency. It gives students autonomy to enable opportunities for relevant and meaningful learning. Such a course redistributes power - to the extent that is possible - in the classroom. Again, this may take many forms in the online classroom.

What are the problems with media comparison studies?

The problems with media comparison studies — that is, those that compare outcomes between one medium, such as face-to-face, to another medium, such as online — are such that many researchers advocate against them. How can students who enrol in online courses in the fall know they are receiving a good educational ...

Is physical proximity a precondition for good education?

Physical proximity isn’t a precondition for good education. Comparing one form of education to another distracts us from the fact that all forms of education can — and should — be made better. Higher education. Education policy. Online learning.

What is creative writing class?

In a creative writing class, students may write a short story, receive feedback, revise it and then write a different story. In a computer programming class, they may write a block of code, test it and then use it in a larger program that they wrote.

What is an econometrics class?

In an econometrics class, they might examine relationships between different variables, explain the meaning of their findings and then be asked to apply those methods in novel situations. A good online course is effective.