Myths and Facts About Learning Online

Myth: Online courses are less rigorous than on-ground courses.
Fact:  Not necessarily. Online learning varies by course just like the traditional classroom, but, overall, you will probably be expected to do more writing, and you will need to participate more actively than you might have in a traditional classroom.

Myth: Instructors in an online environment are more aloof.
Fact: It depends on the instructor, but, in many cases, online instructors are extremely responsive to student contact, and you may find it even easier to initiate contact in the online environment

Myth: Online courses cost more than on-ground courses.
Fact: Tuition can be considerably higher, but you should also factor in such expenses as gas, parking, and child care that online students do not have to pay for.

Myth: It is harder to interact and make friends with your classmates online.
Fact:  Not necessarily. Although an online classroom is different from a traditional classroom, you may have just as much opportunity for interaction. Once you become accustomed to interacting mainly through writing, you will find plenty of opportunities to seek out others and bond with your classmates. Online courses often have a chat room or lounge area in the course where students are encouraged to go and virtually “hang out” and interact with each other. Our experience has been that students are more communicative and self-revealing in an online environment.

Myth: Online classes fit easily into a busy schedule.
Fact: Perhaps. Online courses are more flexible, but just because you do not have go to the classroom at a certain time doesn’t mean you do not need to dedicate time to your class work.

Myth: Homework in the online environment is not the same.
Fact: Not necessarily. Actually, most of the assignments you will find online are similar, if not the same, as in a traditional classroom and consist of papers, exams, presentations, and so on.

Myth: Online education is lower quality.
Fact: Not so. The same accrediting bodies that work with traditional schools approve online education. Online courses frequently use the same instructors and curriculum as their traditional counterparts. The bottom line is that, just as with the traditional classroom, the online classroom is what you make of it.

Myth: Online instructors are always online and available.
Fact: Not so. Some online instructors have established office hours when they are available. At other institutions, there might be a 24- or 48-hour guaranteed response time. The policy varies with the instructor and the institution. It is your responsibility to find out what the policy is.

Myth: It is impossible to work in virtual teams.
Fact: Not so. Virtual teams are the reality, not only in many classroom situations but also in the workplace. A good team is a good team whether it is virtual or face to face.

Myth: There are no support systems for online learners.
Fact: Not necessarily. Online schools vary, but often they have virtual incarnations of the same resources that traditional schools have, such as labs, tutors, and libraries.

Online classrooms provide a level of interaction and give-and-take that is not always possible in a traditional classroom. Both the breadth and the depth of student engagement can be increased.

In terms of breadth, it is common for all students in the class to see each other’s assignments. That can be a little hard to accept at first and you may feel intimidated, but keep in mind, the other students feel the same way!

In terms of depth, there is greater time and opportunity to review the work of others, as well as your own thoughts. You will have time to really review one another’s messages and assignments because these will be posted and remain in the newsgroups for the duration of the class. This differs from the need to respond immediately that is typical of face-to-face classroom discussions. Assuming it is not a scheduled discussion, an online student who needs time to process information can read the material, go for a walk while formulating a response, and then return and respond.