Many online classes use live, remote participation. Students usually watch the professor give his lecture over a webcam and get a chance to interact after the class. They can ask questions and discuss the class afterwards, using either some type of chat program or, less often, webcams. This system tries to preserve the classroom environment as much as possible, allowing students to cooperate and letting the professor check in with the class to make sure everyone understands the lecture. On the downside, the system can be inconvenient for some online students, since everyone has to be in class at the same time.
Often, online courses are done in a less scheduled way. The professor posts lectures and assignments on the website, and the students can watch whenever they want. Students have to watch lectures every week, but they can work around their own schedules. If they have questions, they can either email them to the professor or post them on message boards. This is a great system for working students or parents who may not be able to commit to a regular class. It does not work well for students who are not self-directed, however, because it requires each student to be responsible for scheduling a time to watch the lecture on his own.
Assignments are also handled online. In some online courses, students email their assignments directly to the professor. In other systems, they post their work on a web page where the professor can access it. Usually, students also have a page where they can check on their class progress. Signing up for classes is also done via the Web.
Tags: online courses, page where, some online