Distance Learning Student Blog
What's the big difference between online and
face-to-face classes?
Online, or WEB, courses are classes
taught entirely within the bounds of a learning management
system. At LCSC, the learning management system is called
Blackboard Learn, or BbLearn for short. BbLearn enables
instructors to customize their online classroom to meet
their needs as well as the needs of their students.
Instructors use BbCEbLearn to create lesson plans, quizzes, exams
and other learning materials.
Online classes are
similar to and very different from traditional face-to-face
classes. Both have deadlines to follow, homework to complete
and require a time commitment. However, they differ in how
information is delivered to students.
In a
face-to-face class, you arrive at a specific time,
participate in the activities the instructor has planned,
whether it be group work, a lecture or some other kind of
activity. You receive your assignment, are given directions,
then leave to complete homework on your own.
In other words,
your face-to-face classes are instructor driven while online
classes are more student driven, that is, in an online
classroom,
you
choose when you log in and
you
choose what instructor information to view first. You
might have a quiz to complete, a discussion to post, or an
email to read; it is up to you to decide which activity to
complete first.
Now, don't get the idea that online
classes are self-paced. They still have set deadlines and
due dates to follow, they just allow a little more
flexibility with your schedule. To establish an easy to
follow schedule try and log in at the
same time everyday. For example, logging in on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings. This approach will
help to keep you on track
with your online course.
When all is said and done,
online and lecture classes are very similar. The big
difference is how information is delivered. With
face-to-face classes you sit in a classroom at a specific
time and receive information from your instructor. With
online courses, you log in on your time and receive
information from your instructor. In other words, whether
you take an online or face-to-face class, both will get you
to the same destination, you will just travel different
paths to get there.
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