Ever since theUniversity of Wisconsin offered courses through the Pony Express in the 1880s, people have pursued independent study through correspondence. Unfortunately, getting a degree in this way is time-consuming and necessitates lengthy written communications with an instructor. The advent of the Internet has revolutionized these courses, however, improving communication and making them interactive. In a nutshell, online learning is the delivery of courses and programs through a computer, using computer communications to link faculty and students. This process can occur between two computers anywhere in the world.
Students go online to read lectures, participate in discussions, and complete exams.
They complete assignments and exercises off-line using word processing or other software. A recent Stanford University study found that online students perform better on tests than traditional students. One reason may be that many online courses stress interaction and information-sharing. Despite the distances between the teacher and students, the courses often utilize group activities and discussions. Like traditional classes, most online courses use a virtual classroom-a common meeting area for all students assigned to that class.