All courses are offered over the Internet. New virtual schools and programs are being added weekly, as the number has grown substantially since 1997 when only a handful existed. They are very popular in Canada, especially in British Colombia and Alberta. A number have started in Europe. This paper treats only those schools conducted in English.
Virtual schools vary in some significant ways.
The first is whether or not the courses offered are scheduled for a particular time or can be taken at the convenience of the student. Other schools claim to be scheduled if they require work to be completed within a certain time frame. Unscheduled courses are available at a website and can be accessed whenever the student has time available. Courses also differ depending upon the immediacy and amount of interaction that occurs. Synchronous courses use new technologies to provide real-time dialog, sometimes even visual exchanges.