What to Expect from an Online Program

It's easy to envision what a traditional college program looks like, but what do you picture when you think about online college programs? We've seen plenty of collegiate scenes in the movies: students sitting in big lecture halls taking notes, roommates getting into disagreements in dorm rooms, football tailgating taking place on the quad. Clearly this can't happen over the Internet, right?

Earning your degree online is becoming increasingly popular because of its affordability and convenience. While many students realize they'll be working from home at their computer, they're not sure how their online college programs will work. Schools that are fully online usually work in one of two ways: your lectures are taped and available for you to view online at any time, or your instructor lectures live and you "tune in" to his or her broadcast. If the broadcast is offered live, this enables the students to virtually "raise their hand" by sending in questions. Such questions might go through via email, or through special software that you download to your computer that enables a full virtual classroom. This software will likely also be used by the professor to post your grades or send students secure feedback.

You can also expect to see a forum of some sort in an online college program, where you can log in to start and continue discussions about assigned readings or the lectures. These forums will allow each student to participate and become engaged from home, and usually constitutes your class participation grade. Your instructor might post a weekly prompt for you to answer, such as: "Which author's standpoint do you most closely agree with?" You will be able to answer this question and read the other student's responses, so that you can reply to their answers if so inclined. Some professors use the forum section as a way to make virtual small groups, and will expect small group presentations through the forums. For example, you might be assigned to a small group with three other students, and on an assigned date, you will have to log into the forum and post your response to an assignment that the four of you worked on via email or telephone, or perhaps post a PowerPoint slide that the four of you created for your peers to evaluate. Forums are useful tools in online college programs because they help create the kind of spontaneous learning that one benefits from in a classroom.

Some online college programs do require students to attend their course in a real classroom several times a semester, or to complete related outside real-world work to supplement their learning. If you have such requirements from your online school, you will be told about it before you even register so that you're fully aware of what's expected from you. Additionally, some online programs also arrange for field trips or guest lectures at collaborating schools to allow you face time with your fellow students and instructors. Such blended learning only enhances your understanding of the subject matter, and will leave you feeling more connected.