An online course will be easier than its on-campus equivalent.

The course content and assignments will be similar to those of an equivalent on-campus course.

An online course will take less time than its on-campus equivalent.

Because most of the communication is written rather than spoken, you’ll probably spend more rather than less time completing an online course. Expect to spend three to five hours per week, per course credit, completing your work. For example, a three-credit, semester-length course will require nine to fifteen hours each week. Accelerated courses (shorter than a full term) might require twenty or more hours each week.

An online course schedule is completely flexible; you can complete assignments at any time.

Most online courses follow a strict schedule. Instructors usually set due dates for all assignments. While you can often read material or complete the assignments before the due dates, you typically can’t post content after the due dates.

Because the course content is available online, you can pick and choose the order in which you complete assignments.

Many instructors discourage working ahead by limiting access to subsequent weeks’ work. Also, many assignments follow a specific order; you’ll probably have to complete several steps in sequence, and your access to certain information may be limited until you have completed preliminary steps. (Check your syllabus for specific information.)

Group projects aren’t assigned in online courses because students don’t sit in class together. All work is completed independently.

Discussions and group work are common components of online courses. Expect to communicate often with your instructor and your peers.

You won’t need your own computer or Internet connection to complete an online course—just access to a computer lab.

The computer lab might be closed or crowded when you need to be online. Having your own reliable equipment and Internet access helps you manage your time effectively.

Online learning is like independent study.

In independent study, you work alone on a topic under the supervision of an instructor after you set a path for learning: readings, research, fieldwork, writing. In an online course, you are joining an online community, and the learning is social. You are expected to establish lines of communication and relationships with others, to participate actively, and to help others be successful.

I can avoid close scrutiny from the instructor in an online class.

There is much less privacy in an online course than in a face-to-face course. Online instructors can track your movements on the class site, monitor every contribution you make, and see the time and date of every action you take.