Author: Kelly Birky

“Shall I take my next course online or shall I stick with my face-to-face classes?”

If you are reading this post, it is possible that you are toying with the idea of signing up for an online course, but perhaps you don’t have a lot of experience studying online, if at all.

If you have taken face-to-face classes all your life, being a little apprehensive at the beginning is normal, even if you are tech-savvy. However, taking an online course, as opposed to a face-to-face class, definitely has its perks. Here are five advantages to studying online.

1. Career advancement and hobbies
   Studying online gives you more flexibility. You can fit your work schedule (and your hobbies) around your coursework more easily, even more so if you are taking an asynchronous class: an online class where you don’t have to log in at a specific time for a live session but you can study and interact with your instructor and your fellow classmates at your own pace.
   According to U.S. News & World Report, online education is more practical because you can relate what you learn to the job you do every day and improve your job performance. You will also find other working adults who you can network with and discuss recent experiences.
2. Flexible schedule and environment
   By studying online, you choose the learning environment that works best for your needs: be it your bedroom, your home office, the café across the street, or your local gym, listening to your instructor’s lecture podcast as you run on the treadmill. Isn’t that awesome?
   Taking an online course also means that you don’t have to commute to class, which means less time spent on the bus and more study time sitting on your couch, the sound of a crackling fireplace in the background. You no longer have to worry about driving in a snowstorm and missing an important class
3. Lower costs and debts
   Studying online means that you pay the tuition fee, possibly book supplies, an online application fee, and a few other items. You don’t, however, have to worry about the cost of housing. The average cost of room and board at a 4-year public university averages around $11,557 and at a 4-year private university, it averages around $12,857. Off campus options are usually cheaper, averaging around $1,300 per month, but by studying online, you won’t have to worry about moving. On top of that, the cost of transportation (gas and car maintenance), won’t be a concern since there will be no commute.
4. Self-discipline and responsibility
   Who says that having to be more self-disciplined is a disadvantage? Studying online may require more attentiveness and time management skills because you will spend a lot of time on your own without someone physically close to remind you of deadlines. Look at it this way: your online course will not only teach you geology or poetry, it will also help you become more self-motivated, a trait that will make you stand out in the workplace and beyond. It will look great on your résumé.
5. More choice of course topics
   Let’s face it, when thinking about what to study, besides for interest and career opportunities, where to study is also a deciding factor. This may limit the choice of subjects or courses to take. Studying online at your own convenience allows you to no longer worry about class location when choosing what to learn next. By taking an online course, you can really focus on the subject you are interested in and choose from the variety of online courses and programs.

I only listed five benefits to learning online but, having been an online student myself, I know there are many more. Can you think of other advantages or reasons why you prefer to take your next course online? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section!

(NOTE: This post was updated by Selena Adetunji, CITL Marketing Intern, on January 18, 2024.)

Are you considering your options to pursue an online graduate degree?

Selecting an online graduate program demands a well thought out plan. The factors in determining whether a specific degree program is better suited for you over another depends on your needs. What do you want to do with your degree? How will this degree make your career goals possible? Create a goal, and then work backward – this will help you select the right program for you. Each area of study and each program is unique, so do your research about the field. Identify a list of ideal qualities you would like in a program, and compare programs. Investigate the program’s website, looking for key information including: courses offered, program requirements (credit hours, required courses, thesis or project, etc.), and cost. Find out who you can talk to about the program, like recruiters and academic advisers, and come with questions about the program and about the field.

If you are a prospective a graduate degree, there are a few important factors to keep in mind as you weigh your program options. The first and most important step you can take is to check the school’s accreditation. Accreditation is a routine process all universities must go through to ensure they are providing their students a quality education and curriculum. You can search the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs of accredited higher education institutions.

Other considerations:

• What are the admission requirements?
• Are there specializations, certificates, or tracks available within the program?
• Are job placement statistics available?
• What kind of student support and advising is available to you?
• What does the orientation to the program look like? Orientation helps you to start on the right foot, gain familiarity with the program, policies and procedures, technology, key staff, faculty and instructors, and other students. A solid orientation is crucial, especially for online graduate programs.
• Ask if you can speak with a current or recently graduated student. Many programs will be glad to make the connection happen.
• Are there ways to academically engage with the broader field, at conferences (if applicable).

Online Graduate Student Study Habits

Graduate study coursework is more intense and demanding than undergrad and will require more time and commitment. Set up a schedule of study and coursework time. Think about where and when you study best, and where you study worst. Perhaps studying at home is a distraction. Instead, try doing coursework at the library or coffee shop. Perhaps you have a friend who is also completing an online course, or is working on an online project. If you have a gym buddy, you should consider getting a study buddy too. Having someone else whose presence will hold you accountable to stay on task creates an ideal study environment. Any study habit or system you come up with should be monitored so you know when it is or is not working for you, and in need of fine tuning.

Each instructor sets up and designs their course differently, presenting the syllabus and course information in a unique way. Consider getting into the course site early to poke around. Be able to answer the following questions after looking around:

• How is the semester broken up? How is each section organized?
• What are the assignments and how am I being evaluated?
• Where can I find the required material (readings and lectures)?
• Where/what are the communication channels, to the instructor and to peers?

Participation and Engagement

Most online courses require you to engage with peers in discussing the material, usually by posting to a discussion board. This peer-to-peer engagement is critical to engaging with the material. At the start of the semester, make strong connections with your fellow students. This is crucial for that specific class, but it is also beneficial to make relationships with your peers in the event that you end up taking another class together in a later semester.

Unlike undergrad, online Master’s programs have cohorts, where people start a specific program at the same time. Fend off the social isolation of online Master’s programs by engaging with peers in and outside of class. Your friends, partner, and family will likely not understand the unique challenges of completing an online master’s degree. Making friends with your peers help in these variety of ways. Get to know your cohort! See if there are students that live in your area.

In-Residence Student Completing an Online Graduate Course

Even if you are an on-campus/resident student attending a face-to-face graduate program, you may at some point take an online graduate course. Traditional graduate programs are developing online versions of their graduate degrees at a rising rate, and “32% of all students enrolled in post-secondary education were taking at least one online course” (Allen and Seamen cited in Newberry and DeLuca). Taking an online course is good experience that will expose you to a different and perhaps new learning environment.

Degree Completion, and Staying On-track

Completing the degree is both the main goal and a source of challenge for students. Set yourself up for success in reaching degree completion by starting early in understanding the big picture of what is required of you.

Map out your course work by creating a spreadsheet or some sort of document of required courses, desired courses, courses that must be completed in sequence, and courses you would like to eventually take but have pre-requisites. Keep in mind that not all courses in the catalog will be offered every semester. And while you won’t know what will be offered semesters in advance, you can look at previous fall and spring semesters to gain a sense of the regularity with which courses are offered, as many courses are regularly offered in the fall or spring. Peruse the course catalog, or ask an academic advisor or instructor if you can see a syllabus or course site of a previous offering.

Track your degree completion and remaining courses and credit hours. Schedule regular semester meetings with an academic advisor to discuss your progress. Understand if there are flex-credit hours: the same course offered for 2 or 4 (or some other number) hours. Understand the difference in required work. Sometimes it’s a 30-page paper, sometimes it’s a short presentation. The 4 credit-hour version of the course rarely requires double the work of the 2 credit-hour version, since you’re already completing the readings and lectures, and other assignments. Weigh your options!

What suggestion or question do you have about pursuing an online graduate degree?

Works Cited
Newberry, Ruth; and DeLuca, Catherine. “Building a Foundation for Success Through Student Services for Online Learners.” Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, vol. 17, no. 4, 2013.

Are you looking to broaden your horizons in the assignment world by adding audio and video to your work?  If you are new to the multimedia production game, here are a few applications to help you on your way to create a masterpiece.

iMovie

Add titles, music, voiceovers and photos to your videos with iMovie.  This application allows you to cut and splice your film easily all on your iPhone.
Download iMovie for iOS 

Pinnacle Studio Pro

Pinnacle has been around for quite some time and with its lasting reputation, you know it is good.  Quickly pan-and-zoom, picture-in-picture and apply audio edits.
Download Pinnacle Studio Pro for iOS 

Splice

Packed with features, this entirely free app is your little helper to individually edit clips, add filters and transitions in a snap.
Download Splice for iOS

PowerDirector

PowerDirector is similar to iMovie in that is provides a user-friendly video editing interface.  Easily trim and rearrange your clips and make them your own.
Download PowerDirector for Android

Quik

It’s in the name!  Create your videos super-fast with Quik.  Apply fonts and filters, even turn your group of photos into video, in a flash!
Download Quik for Android
Download Quik for iOS 

Adobe Premiere Clip

Adobe Premiere is used widely on the desktop, so it also works great on your smartphone or tablet.  If you are looking for a simple, quick and free application to edit your audio and videos, Adobe Premiere Clip is it!
Download Quik for Android
Download Quik for iOS

So, I’m sure you’re asking yourself, when would be the best time to use multimedia in an assignment?  If you feel your assignment would be better described and illustrated through video to physically show your audience what you’re trying to say, then there you go!  It is best to start your masterpiece with a clear idea of the end product in mind.  Write a script and also lay out the details.  I challenge you to use multimedia in an upcoming assignment for this semester.

Let’s face it—if you’ve never taken an online course before, it’s easy to imagine it as a very isolating experience. After all, it’s just you and your computer alone in your room or a quiet study spot, right? How can you find out if any of your friends are in the class if you can’t look around the lecture hall? How will you find someone to study with? Who can you commiserate with after both taking that really hard exam?

Thankfully, you can connect with your fellow online classmates. In fact, according to research done here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, online students report that their communication with their peers/classmates was about the same as they find in their face-to-face classes! Forming these connections will help you form study groups, find some extra help with homework, and potentially even build life-long friendships!

Here are four easy tips for helping you get and stay connected with your online peers.

Tip #1: Realize that you are not alone!

Even though you might take an online course from the convenience of your dorm room, library, or coffee shop, you are actually not alone in the course. Rather, you are joined by dozens—or even hundreds!—of other online students in the same situation as you and probably with many of the same fears about online learning. It is just that your classmates are not as obvious as the guy sitting next to you in the classroom, but they are there. The first step is to realize that these folks are “out there” and, like you, want to connect with other classmates.

Tip #2: Introduce yourself!

Many online courses will have a “Getting to Know Your Classmates” task in the Orientation Module or somewhere early in the course. Don’t just blow this off or do the very minimum required—run with it! Treat this task in the same way you would if you were introducing yourself to the person seated next to you:

• Be friendly!
• Offer information about yourself that others can quickly connect with, such as your major, hometown, favorite T.V. or Netflix show, an interesting hobby, etc.
• Put yourself out there with enough information that someone else will notice and want to connect with you.

As Danielle Wirsansky, a Florida State University graduate wrote, “Doing these things will make reaching out so much easier and smoother for you, which will, in turn, make the process of taking an online course easier and smoother for you! Do not disregard the importance and support that your fellow online class students can provide to you” (emphasis added).

Tip #3: Find people you relate to!

Indeed, your online classmates can provide some much-needed support, but these are not one-way relationships! Once you have put information about yourself out there for your peers to see, such as in an online icebreaker activity, be active in reading what your classmates have to say about themselves. Find a few that interest you the most. Reply to their introductions and point out what you have in common. Follow-up with them later, even referencing your comment on their introduction (e.g. “Remember me? I replied to your icebreaker introduction and shared how we have a common love for Cajun cooking!”).

Tip #4: Keep in touch via discussion boards, social media, meetups

As with any relationship, it’s important to keep in touch with one another. Ask your new contacts how they are doing, offer to provide help with an assignment, or see if they want to study together for that big test coming up. Most online courses will provide you with a virtual space to do this, typically via discussion boards. These are great tools as everyone in your class has easy access to them.

But think about how you keep in touch with IRL friends, too. Ask some of the folks you meet in your online course to connect via Facebook, Twitter, etc. or exchange email addresses. Especially if you happen to live in the same community, consider having face-to-face meetups with your classmates—there are no rules against that in an online course!

Bottom line: you are not alone in your online course. By being proactive in introducing yourself to others and forming relationships with your classmates, you can build the support system you need to be successful in your online course. So give it a try—challenge yourself to take an online course, if you aren’t already, and reach out to your peers.

Also, if you have taken an online course and other strategies that have helped you, share them in the comments, below to help others out!

Happy learning!

References

• How to Connect with Your Classmates When Learning Online
• Connecting With Your Online Classmates
• How To Connect With Students In An Online Course

 

Have you participated in live sessions for an online course before? Or thinking about taking an online course with a live component?  Online classes that have “live sessions” are sometimes called synchronous courses – as in everyone gathers in a virtual classroom at the same time. I’d compare it to a classroom Skype call. This classroom set-up is very similar to a traditional in-person course, where the instructor and students meet in a physical classroom at a designated time for a lecture. In synchronous classes, the instructor delivers the lecture material in real-time, with other planned classroom activities. Other activities include group work, class discussions, and student presentations.

At the University of Illinois, synchronous classes are held in Blackboard Collaborate and Zoom. With this software, you will log in to the virtual classroom about 10 minutes beforehand. All of the students view the instructor’s screen together at the same time. The instructor can upload a PowerPoint, a pdf, use the built-in whiteboard, share a web page, and share their desktop for specialized software. For example, in my Data Mining course, I was able to view the instructor’s desktop and this special software needed to complete the assignments and bulk of the course work. Most likely, the instructor will speak to the class using their headset with a microphone, and you respond or ask questions using the chat box. The virtual classroom allows for recording of the session, so students who were unable to attend class are able to view the missed material. The virtual classroom software allows for instructors to break the entire class into smaller groups, and give each group their own separate room. Then the instructor or TA can pop in and out of each group’s room to answer questions or give guidance. Features vary from one software brand to another.

Synchronous classes also give more opportunity for technology difficulties and hiccups to arise. With direction from the instructor, you should have a plan-of-action prepared if they run into issues. This can include not being able to log in, unable to hear the instructor, etc. If you are a student who will be presenting to the rest of the class, you should plan ahead to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the virtual classroom and the moderator controls. This will allow you to gain familiarity with presenting with the software and give ease of mind before your presentation.

Due to the entire class meeting at the same time, this requires certain preparation on your part. You are expected to arrive to class having read the material indicated in the syllabus beforehand and ready to discuss. This expectation is very similar to traditional, in-person courses. The learning value of a synchronous course hinges on you being prepared to discuss, engage, and maximize the time the students and instructors have together. Nothing’s more awkward than an instructor asking a question related to the reading, and no one has done the reading to answer.

There are other ways you can engage with the course outside of the virtual classroom. This includes essays, quizzes, exams, discussion board posts, and other assignments. You will engage with Moodle or Compass, which serves as a “homepage” for the course. This “homepage” will include the syllabus, course information, grades, discussion boards, class notifications, and other communication between the instructor and the class.

What has been your experience in live sessions? Tell us what you think.

Resources

Haslam, Josepf. “Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Classes.” ELearners.com. N.p., 26 Sept. 2016. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. http://www.elearners.com/education-resources/degrees-and-programs/synchronous-vs-asynchronous-classes/

Mindflash. “Asynchronous E-Learning Vs. Synchronous E-Learning” Mindflash. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. https://www.mindflash.com/elearning/asynchronous-synchronous/

 

­­­­­­­­Stay on your A-game, on the go!

Have you ever wished there were more hours in a day?  Do you find it difficult to get all the things you want finished?  Sometimes it is hard to accomplish all you want to when you have classes, groceries to purchase, a gym class and studying for your exam.

If you’re needing to organize your hectic life, then please read on!  Here are some apps to help you get back on the fast track.

University of Illinois Specific Apps

• UI Dining Mobile App iPhone / Android
  Would you like to know what’s on the menu for dinner, what time it will be served and what locations are open right now?  This app allows you to do just that!  If you’re vegan, have food allergies or want to find nutritional information, you can find it all in this app too!
• Transit – CUMTD
  Get moving with the CU MTD Transit app.  This app provides you with bus times straight from the source so you’re never late!
• Coursicle
  Get notified when a spot in the class you want to enroll in opens with Coursicle.  Just enter in your University, contact information and class name.  It’s that easy!
• Quizlet Flashcards & Learning
  Want to design and easily make flashcard sets?  Quizlet is the app for you!
• RefME
  Easily produce citations with RefME.  Cite any source quickly, books, web pages, articles and much more!
• Moodle and Blackboard
  View your online classes and get work done on the go with the Moodle and Blackboard apps!  Receive notifications and announcements for your online classes, anywhere you are!

Shopping

• Grocery iQ
  Similar to ZipList, this app gathers your grocery list, but it also tallies up your bill before you check out.  To save a bit more cash, you can browse coupons to email to yourself to use later or print on the go!

Rewards

• Key Ring
  Is your keychain filled with reward cards from different stores and weighing you down?  Simplify your purchases by storing all your discount cards on your phone!  Scan your phone when you’re checking out to receive rewards.  It’s very convenient and if you work out, you can even add your gym membership card to the app!

Calendar/Reminders

• Cozi 
  If you’re in desperate need for an easy to manage calendar, this may be the solution to all your problems.  Organize and plan all your time with Cozi.  With reminders for classes, appointments work or events, you can stay on schedule.  You can also keep track of your friends and roommate’s schedules, all in one place.  Build to-do lists, make your grocery list and search for recipes.  You can even store your photos in Cozi’s journal to share and collect your memories.
• Accomplish
  Keep your to-do list and calendar in sync with Accomplish.  The apps name alone lets you know it’s great.  Accomplish allows you to stay on top of your time management.  Easily view your calendar, set alarms as appointment reminders and make your to-do list.

Productivity

• IF
  How would you like to control all of your apps and smart electronics, all in one place?  With the IF app, you can do just that!  Set up the app to control the lights in your home, your coffee maker in the morning and command it to open Google Maps when you hop in your car and drive to work.  You can even set the app to turn your WiFi on when you arrive home from work and walk through the door!  Set your preferences and let IF do the rest.

To-do List

• Wunderlist
  Create and store all your to-do lists in one convenient spot to be viewed from your smartphone or on your computer with Wunderlist.

Notes/Paperwork/Documents

• Evernote
  Organize your notes, paperwork, receipts, bills and payments all in one spot with Evernote.  Scan in whole documents, insert videos and pictures into your notes and view them virtually anywhere through your smartphone or computer.  You can even turn your business cards into digital contacts in a snap!        

What apps are most helpful to you?  Share your comments below!

Found on these websites:

• http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/technology/organizing-time-savers/best-free-apps
• http://blog.thegoneapp.com/apps-organize-simplify-2016/  

 

Are you an online student with a disability? If not, then perhaps you know an online student with a disability or have interacted with that student in an online class?  Or maybe you have simply wondered as an online student if adjustments to your online course could help you better access and engage with your course material and online peers. Here are a few tips to help improve your overall online learning experience.

1. Don’t assume that because your course is online it will be accessible. According to Ann Fredricksen, Disability Specialist at the University of Illinois, “if you are unable to access your course materials (for example, you have a hearing impairment and the lecture videos don’t have captions) immediately report any problems to your professor or IT support so that problems can be dealt with swiftly.”
2. Instructors cannot provide individual student accommodations unless they have received an accommodation letter from the disability services office at the university. By law, students have the right to choose to self-disclose their accommodation to an instructor teaching a course they are taking.  It is always helpful, however, if students can share their accommodation letter with their instructor earlier, rather than later. It may take considerable time to handle accommodations like printed text conversion for blind users, and accommodation for needs like extended testing time cannot be provided retroactively after the student has already taken a quiz or exam.
3. If you are a student who thinks you may have an accommodation need, contact your disability resources office. Many forms of cognitive disability may go undetected through primary school and even into college, while other accommodation needs may emerge or develop from a variety of conditions or life circumstances.  Your disability resources office can arrange for specific testing to determine whether you have an accommodation need.  It may be as simple as a distraction-free environment when taking tests, or the need for additional testing time on exams.
4. Don’t assume that accommodations give students an unfair advantage. Reasonable accommodations do not guarantee success, nor do they give students an unfair advantage. Accommodations help level the playing field in providing access to classes, resources, and instruction.
5. If you are participating in a live online session or web conference phone call, identify yourself. According to Jon Gunderson, Coordinator for the IT Accessible Information Technology Group at the University of Illinois, “80% of the disabilities served are invisible.” This is especially true in an online setting where you may not be able to see your peers. 
6. If you are a student with a disability, test the course early with any assistive device you might be using. Check that chats, homework upload, and exam locations are accessible and meet your accommodation need. Make sure that external links work, that any video and audio players work and that you can navigate through the layout of your course site (sidebars and tabs). Check to see if you can change the font or background of your course website for contrast.
7. Videos that are shown should have captioning, not just for the hearing impaired, but for everyone.  According to Angella Anderson, Disability Specialist at the University of Illinois, “captioning in classes has been shown to increase comprehension for everyone in the course, not just for those with hearing impairments but also for students with learning disabilities, and for students where English is a Second Language.
8. Not all captioning is created equal. Most vendors claim their captions are 95-99% accurate (not necessarily containing ah’s, um’s and stutters) and people generally talk about 150 wpm (words per minute). If you are 99% accurate, then every 2 minutes there are 3 words that are wrong. A good number of online videos are around 10 minutes long, so that is 15 incorrect words every video. Ask yourself: were those words important to your education?
9. Just because a book is electronic, doesn’t necessarily mean it is accessible. Many electronic texts are unfortunately not keyboard friendly or accessible and may be in a proprietary format that cannot be accessed by blind students or students with specific types of motor impairment.
10. The American Disability Act (ADA) technically ends at the US border. It is not clear how the Internet and the border interact—although if an institution creates an online course and they get money from their state or the federal government, then they are usually required to make certain their course is fully accessible.

See the Strategies compiled by the University of Illinois’ Disability Resources and Education Services for a variety of resources that may be helpful to you in your academic endeavors.

 

If you’re thinking about taking an online course, but are a bit hesitant, this post will help dispel some common misconceptions concerning online courses. Taking courses and learning online can be just as rewarding and educational as your more traditional, face-to-face classes, with the added benefit of taking them on your own schedule. So let’s begin.

Misconception 1: Online courses are easier than face-to-face courses
Perhaps the most common misconception about online courses, students enroll in online courses thinking they’ll get an easy A. Students quickly realize that these courses are just as demanding, and in some ways more demanding, than face-to-face courses. Instructors expect the same quality of work from students and assign the same amount of work as they would in face-to-face courses, but often in a shorter amount of time. This means students aren’t losing out on any content and have just as many opportunities to learn that content, and sometimes in more interesting ways, as you would in a face-to-face curse. 

Misconception 2: There is no time limit for completing a course
This is a holdover from the early days of online learning when many courses were self-paced and you could take as long as you wanted to complete them. In our current day and age, many online courses are part of degree programs and have set time periods, from 4-16 weeks on average. And if you don’t complete the course within the specified time frame, you run the risk of failing the course. So make sure you know how long the course is and how much work is required (try talking to someone who has taken the course before, for instance), as well as what other time commitments you have, before enrolling in any online course.

Misconception 3: The quality is lower
Similar to the misconception of online courses being easier, many people still think the quality of online courses is lower; that online courses aren’t held to the same standards as traditional courses. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Sure, there are online courses that are designed poorly, with the content delivered haphazardly, and organized terribly. But the same is true for traditional courses. Instead, many online courses go through a design process that ensures not only that the course is well organized, but that the content (readings, lectures, exams, etc.) is delivered in a way that conforms to best practices for online learning and learning in general. 

Misconception 4: Online courses don’t transfer
Many students worry that online courses won’t transfer, either to other undergraduate institutions if they choose to change schools, or to advanced degree programs. While you do need to check with your institution to ensure what courses transfer, many universities view online courses as being just as transferable as traditional courses. 

Misconception 5: It’s difficult to get a hold of your instructor
There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to contact your instructor when you need clarification on that week’s material, or when requesting an extension on a due date, or when something isn’t available within the course when it’s scheduled to be. Luckily, most online instructors understand the importance of being in regular contact with their students and offer multiple ways to do so. From email to Q & A forums, from virtual office hours to regular announcements, instructors offer several options for communicating with them. No need to worry, your instructor is just a tippy-tap away. 

Misconception 6: There’s no interaction with other students
This misconception needs to die. Peer-to-peer learning is central to online courses, and online learning in general. There are many ways to interact with other students, from discussion forums to group projects involving creating wikis, presenting group projects using web conferencing tools like Zoom or Skype, and engaging in peer review of different kinds. In fact, many online courses require regular peer interactions multiple time per week or unit, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to interact and learn from other students in the course.

Misconception 7: Online courses require less time
Online courses are usually offered in shortened semesters while still covering the same amount of material, so in some sense, this isn’t a misconception. However, people misunderstand the time commitment for online courses in thinking that because they are shorter in length, there must be less material covered. That couldn’t be less true. That means you’ll usually have the same assignments, readings, and lectures to cover in 8 weeks that you would in an average 16-week course. In this sense, then, students need to spend more time working through the material in online courses than they would in traditional courses. This is important to keep in mind so you don’t overcommit yourself.

Misconception 8: Cheating is more common and easier in online classes
This misconception is understandable. You might think: “Hey, the class is online, so why wouldn’t someone take advantage of all those resources?” However, there’s no clear indication that cheating happens more often in online courses than it does in face-to-face courses. In fact, instructors utilize various means to protect the integrity of their courses. There are services instructors use, such as ProctorU and Turnitin, to guard against cheating and plagiarism. Some instructors utilize open note and open book tests, while others might forgo exams in favor of projects or portfolios. Whatever the case, instructors and course designers make it a top priority to protect the integrity of student learning.

Misconception 9: You have to be very tech-savvy to take an online course
It’s true you do need some basic technology skills, such as how to connect to the internet or navigate a browser, but in general, many of the tools and programs you’ll be working with have familiar aspects. Furthermore, many online courses offer various tutorials and links to help documentation in case you have questions or run into problems. And, lastly, your instructor and other students are great resources to turn to when you run into trouble with the assignments or activities your course requires.

Misconception 10: Anyone can succeed in an online course
Success in an online course is a combination of several factors, but one of the most important factors is time management. As you won’t have someone to remind you in person that something is due the following class period, it’s up to you to turn everything in on time, so you need to make sure you’re managing your time well in order to get everything done you need to. That being said, one of the benefits of online learning is that you can engage with the material on your own schedule. So if you’re a morning person, you can get your work done early and have the rest of the day to work on other things. If you’re a night owl, great, online courses accommodate your schedule too. Of course, you’ll need good the same study habits, writing skills, the ability to communicate clearly, etc., that you’d need in traditional courses. But success in an online course is as much about how you manage the work required as it is about the amount of work you put into the course. Don’ worry, you go this!

As you’ve probably realized, there’s plenty of misconceptions about taking online courses out there, and hopefully this post has helped clear up some of those. Only you can decide if online courses work best for you, but think about this, what if they do? Ask a friend, email an instructor, and reread this post. Then, sit down and really consider online courses; they could be just what you’re looking for in your education.

Have you ever wondered whether there’s as much interaction in online courses as there would be in a face-to-face class? Or are you curious about how to interact with your instructor in an online class? Well, you’re in luck because this post will demystify the maze for you.

As a new comer to the online learning world (as I used to be), you may have questions about the nature of online classes, perceiving them as a one-way instilling of knowledge from someone who teaches imparts the knowledge to someone who receives it. The truth, though, is that online learning can be as interactive and meaningful between you and your instructor as in traditional face-to-face classes. In fact, feedback from learners who have taken online classes suggests that meaningful interaction between you and your online instructor can actually reduce your misunderstanding of course content or miscommunication of course expectations. Furthermore, the feedback that learners receive from the course instructor on course assignment, being another form of interaction between instructor and learners, has the benefit of improving learner’s performance on future assignments and the course overall in online classes.  
The tricky part is interacting in meaningful ways with your instructor in an online class. However, with the advancement of technology, learning management systems (or LMS for short) provide multiple ways that enable you as the learner to meaningfully interact with your instructor and peers. I’ll discuss a few below.

There are several ways to interact with your instructor in an online class: through synchronous interaction and asynchronous interactions. 

Synchronous interaction is online communication that takes place at the same time from different locations. You can either see your instructor virtually via video-feed, hear your instructor’s voice, or text with your instructor via a chat-room. You get real-time interaction as if you were talking to someone face-to-face. Skype is an example of a synchronous communication tool you’re probably familiar with.

On the other hand, asynchronous interaction occurs at different times. The recipient of your message does not necessarily receive the message immediately. Instead, the recipient can take time to ingest your message and construct a thoughtful response, which is one advantage of asynchronous interaction. Email is an example of this type of interaction.

That’s probably enough definitions. Let’s get down to the practical side of things! 

Here are some examples of ways you might engage in synchronous interactions:

• Live course orientation
  • Some online classes offer an open house type of live orientation session where you get the chance to meet with your instructor virtually on the first day of class. Often times, the course instructor will ask you to get familiar with the course syllabus prior to coming to the orientation session and come up with questions that you want to clarify with regard to the syllabus. 
  • Even though some online classes do not offer synchronous orientation, they tend to supplement it with asynchronous orientation. In an asynchronous orientation format, you still get the opportunity to interact with the instructor, such as through the course Q&A discussion forum. 
  • Be sure to take full advantage of the orientation by reading the course syllabus ahead of time and attend the orientation with questions in mind
• Office hours
  • Online classes generally offer office hours and can happen on a weekly basis or by appointment. Office hours in online classes are often hosted virtually. As a student, you get to meet virtually with your instructor one on one. 
  • Blackboard Collaborate is a primary tool for virtual office, although instructors can also choose to use Skype, Google Hangouts or other online conferencing tools that they prefer. Tools like Blackboard Collaborate, Skype or Google Hangouts offer video chat, voice, and texting capabilities. Screen sharing is also widely used in some online classes. If you have a specific question about your homework, rather than explaining it, you can show it to your instructor directly!
• Synchronous online meeting
  • Besides office hours, some online classes have synchronous online meetings. These synchronous online meetings are often used as reflections on discussions and lectures or for project groups. Not only do you have the opportunity to meet your instructor, but you also will have the chance to interact with your peers in the class. 
  • Often times, instructors set ground rules and online meeting netiquette to help build a healthy learning community. Be sure that you understand the ground rules and netiquette before you jump in and interrupt someone’s presentation!
• Social media
  • Some online classes embrace the idea of social learning. Instructors who promote social learning utilize social media as a way of generating discussion and course reflection. In classes like this, the instructor is likely to be very active on social media. If you enjoy learning outside of your class, be sure to interact with your instructor via their favorite social media platform.

Asynchronous interaction

• Email
  • Email is a very common type of asynchronous communication in online classes. Generally speaking, emails are used for submitting special requests, such as requests for a deadline extension on an assignment. Given those particular uses, instructors often have specific email language and templates for you to follow when writing an email to your instructor. 
• Forum
  • Forums are one of the most commonly used communication tools in online classes. One of the advantages of asynchronous interaction is it allows time to reflect. As a participant in a group discussion on a question, you have the benefit of digesting the question, and then replying when you are ready.
• Assignment feedback
  • There are a variety of types of assignments in online classes. They can be a discussion forum activity, a personal journal reflection, a short essay, and so on. Similar to participation in a discussion forum, in an online class, your instructor will also have the benefit of time to read your assignment thoroughly, understand the thought behind the writing and provide more individualized and constructive feedback. With this assignment feedback, it’s like you are having a one-on-one conversation with your instructor on an assignment.  

  Taking an online class does not have to be one-way communication. It can be as interactive and as meaningful as taking a face-to-face class. Want to know more about how any of these that we talked about works out? Take one for yourself! 

  Reference: http://www.simandan.com/asynchronous-vs-synchronous-interaction-in-education/ 

To help you better understand Coursera and be successful in it, I am happy to share my own experience on taking a Coursera online course. Here are three reasons why I took it:

1. My major and career path is in Education field, so taking a Psychology course will enhance my professional knowledge.
2. The course is taught by a prestigious professor from a top-ranked university and it is FREE!
3. It is an online course which allows flexible learning pace.

The course name is Buddhism and Modern Psychology which is a six-week long learning period, and it turned out to be an extraordinary learning experience. By sharing my learning experience and reflection, it may help future Coursera learners be more successful.

Choose What You Love

A long time ago I registered another two Coursera courses, but I ended up only finishing the first-week course due to my own laziness. Unlike traditional courses, you will not receive any punishment by not showing up or not finishing assignments in Coursera. So this time I have to pick a course that I am either strongly interested or beneficial to my career so that I would be motivated to finish the course. Once you choose the course you deeply love, you just need to make a commitment to it.

Prepare for the Course

Just like other traditional courses, I went through the course syllabus and borrowed textbooks from library one week before the course officially begin. I also played around on the Coursera platform a little bit to get familiar with the Learning Management System. Besides, I navigated through “Grades” and “Discussion Forums” sections on the platform and learned how the assignment, discussion activity, and exam will be done. I strongly recommend you do the same to save yourself time later.

Get Feedback from Peers

In Coursera you will only get scores and feedback from peers instead of professors. At first, I doubted whether the peers’ feedback would be valuable. But later, I found that this new grading system provides me much more beyond the traditional classroom. I have received some considerate and long comments from peers, which encourage me to rethink some critical concepts. Besides, it is very inspiring and enjoyable when I am reading my peers’ essay where I learn so many new ideas and perspectives and improve my critical thinking, analysis skill, and logical thinking.

Interact with Online Classmates

Lots of people are questioning whether online learning is capable of high-quality interaction. In fact, Coursera does have high-quality interaction! The discussion forum is the main tool for learners to interact with each other and exchange ideas and opinions. In Coursera’s discussion forum, you will see some volunteer mentors replying to learner’s questions. These mentors just like TAs in traditional classes–they previously achieved good scores in the same course and now love to help new learners. Another interaction between learners and the instructor in some courses is the Office Hours where the instructor creates a new video every week to answer the most emergent and difficult questions from that week. With the help of social media, for example, Twitter, Facebook, and discussion forums, the instructor is able to collect many interesting questions and respond via a short video or announcement. Even though it may take some time to adapt these new tools and methods, it can be very effective if we adapt them enthusiastically. The only thing you need to do is to be open and present!

Manage Your Time Wisely

The workload for my course was about 6 hours a week. Basically, I watch some lecture videos and finish some readings every week. There are only two essay assignments throughout the course. The challenge for me is that I have to work in the day, so I have to study for this course at night or on the weekends. Once, I missed one week of content due while traveling and I had to catch-up by finishing two weeks of the course within one weekend, which was a painful experience. So my suggestion is to finish the weekly content as soon as possible and do not wait until the last minute.

Looking back, the overall Coursera experience was fantastic! Getting a 96.8 final score from three other peers is truly rewarding. I also read lots of books and gained new knowledge and understanding in psychology and religion. My tips might not apply to every Coursera course because every course is designed differently, but it will remind you to keep open-minded to new ways of learning and continuously learn, grow and share in the world classroom.