The most important difference between this Independent Study course and the corresponding Beginning German course offered on the UK campus is the speaking component, which is only minimally possible online. German 102 for internet is otherwise designed to match as best as possible the on-campus version of German 102. The Lab Manual option, if you elect to pursue it, will help you prepare speaking skills on your own. It will not impact your grade.
Communication is clearly the heart of any foreign language.
As you proceed in German 102 you will develop written skills for communication in German and some listening and speaking skills even if you do not complete the optional portion of the course. This is a four-hour course. German tends to require more time than this. The on-campus course runs 14 weeks. That makes 168 hours all together.