Through the use of technology, these interactions can occur at any time or in any place. The minimum requirement for students to participate in an online course is access to a computer, the Internet, and motivation to succeed in a non-traditional classroom. Course delivery is unbound by time or location allowing for accessibility to instruction at anytime from anywhere. That is, they have a broad base of life experiences in addition to academic credentials. The online model is an applied learning model and it requires facilitators that know what the real world is about.
Experience is a good supplemental teacher and builds a level of understanding with the issues.
Online facilitators are required to be active and experienced in real world applications of their subject matter and to have a solid grasp of the issues being taught. Current knowledge of practices within the subject matter being taught is expected to be a key part in providing a usable education. The personality of the facilitator should demonstrate the characteristics of openness, concern, flexibility, and sincerity. An online instructor must be able to compensate for the lack of physical presence in the virtual classroom by creating a supportive environment where all students feel comfortable participating and especially where students know that their instructor is accessible. Failure to do this can alienate the class both from each other and from the instructor and would make a very weak learning environment.