How does online courses work

According to a report published by the Online Learning Consortium, some online courses require students to report to proctored testing facilities to complete exams, though virtual proctoring using shared screens and webcams is increasingly popular.

Sophisticated identity verification tools like biometric analysis and facial recognition software are another way these schools combat cheating. Instructors often implement their own anti-cheating measures, too, like running research papers through plagiarism-detection programs or incorporating challenge-based questions in quizzes and exams. When combined, these measures can reduce academic dishonesty significantly. In an interview with OnlineEducation.

Susan Aldridge, president of Drexel University Online, discussed the overall approach many universities take to curbing cheating—an approach that includes both technical and policy-based prevention strategies. At the same time, we foster a principled community of inquiry that, in turn, motivates students to act in ethical ways. So with this triad in mind, we have implemented more than a few strategies and systems to ensure academic integrity.

Learning styles, goals, and programs always vary, but students considering online colleges must consider technical skills, ability to self-motivate, and other factors specific to the medium. A number of colleges and universities have developed assessments to help prospective students determine whether they are prepared for online learning. You can access a compilation of assessments from many different colleges online. Online course demos and trials can also be helpful, particularly if they are offered by schools of interest.

Students can call online colleges and ask to speak an admissions representative who can clarify additional requirements and expectations. Reputation, post-graduation employment statistics, and enrollment numbers are not always reliable indicators of quality, which is why many experts advise students to look for accredited schools. In order for an online college to be accredited, a third-party organization must review its practices, finances, instructors, and other important criteria and certify that they meet certain quality standards.

The certifying organization matters, too, since accreditation is only as reliable as the agency that grants it. Instead of going to a campus library, online students may log in to virtual libraries stocked with digital materials, or work with research librarians by phone or email.

Tutoring, academic advising, and career services might rely on video conferencing software, virtual meeting rooms, and other collaborative technologies. While some students are heading back to the classroom, many are continuing to log on and learn. If you are thinking about finishing your degree , then you might be considering an online course. Today, employers want an educated workforce. In response, more people are turning to online education to fit school into their busy lives.

These differences may cancel out the advantages of a flexible learning schedule for you. It all depends on your learning style and needs. Here are 7 things you should know before taking an online course:. Online classes are not for everyone. Success with this format takes a great deal of self-motivation. Students should realize that they will work just as hard in an online class as they would in a traditional course.

Click to tweet. Independent, disciplined, and productive students are often most successful with online classes. Do you wait to the last minute to do your work? Are you easily distracted? Do you have trouble setting goals and reaching them? This format requires a great deal of personal time management.

Synchronous learning, on the other hand, has students logging in at a specific time to view a live lecture and sometimes participate remotely in class discussion using videoconferencing technology such as Zoom. Some programs use a combination of synchronous and asynchronous; others are fully one or the other. There are similarities between online programs, as well. Most common is the fact that online degree programs utilize a learning management system LMS , such as Blackboard used by Ottawa University.

This is a virtual portal where students view the syllabus, course materials, and grades. The portal also serves as the platform for contacting classmates and professors, posting discussions, submitting assignments, and accessing support services.

It is also helpful to get acquainted with the platform prior to enrolling in the course, if possible. While the majority of online programs do not require visits to campus, some may. Depending on the type of program you choose, there may be clinical portions that must be completed in person. Group projects and outside study groups are sometimes required in other degree programs also.

Some universities still extend courses over an entire semester. However, many universities are now starting to break their courses into 8-week terms as Ottawa University has been doing. Some schools have only synchronous courses, while others have a combination of asynchronous and synchronous classes. You will want to consider your schedule carefully before committing to an online degree program.

The truth is, not everything can be taught online. There is often a physical component to learning that absolutely requires an in-person experience. And by nature, certain theories and concepts are difficult to grasp without actually putting them into practice. And of course, any courses that take place in a lab will need an actual laboratory setting.

Art classes are another example of courses that do not lend themselves as well to remote learning. Art is subjective, to begin with, and color, shading, and other aspects of a project can be distorted when presented digitally. Most art students thrive much better in a studio environment where they get hands-on instruction.

In these cases, you will likely not be able to complete your degree entirely online. Instead, you would work within a hybrid format where the theory and written portion of your coursework is completed online, but you would meet in a traditional physical setting for various components of your classes. In addition to completing homework assignments and participation assignments, online learning incorporates the administering of exams. In some cases, these exams are downloaded into Microsoft Word or a similar program.

Once this is complete, the student takes the exam and uploads it for the instructor to grade. In other cases, exams can be taken through the class website. Exams are often timed, meaning that the student needs to be confident that there is enough time to complete the test without interruption or distraction. It is also essential that the student make sure that the internet connection is secure during testing periods.

While the professor will generally allow you to make up the exam if you are logged off the internet, it is an inconvenience to begin a test all over.

This is not always the case, though. In some events, you will have closed-book exams, and the honor system is used such that students are expected not to refer to their texts when answering questions.

Academic dishonesty has become a significant problem recently. One study reported that nearly three-quarters of all students in online degree programs have admitted to cheating on at least one of their exams. To combat this issue, many schools have their students sign honor codes.