Although online classes do not take place in a traditional classroom, you can expect to invest as much, if not more, time and energy in completing your online course. Just as in the traditional classroom, online students complete assignments, take tests, write papers and participate in discussions. You would also be expeted to spend approximately two hours a week outside class for each hour in class on reading and other assignments. In a ten-week class, then, your weekly time commitment would be about 14 hours. Since some of our classes are compressed to five weeks, your time commitment might move closer to 25 to 30 hours a week.
Students can turn in assignments for an online class in many ways.
Additional alternatives include completing assignments in personal online journals or even mailing assignments to their instructor through regular postal services. Each online classroom is unique and your instructor will let you know how to submit each assignment. While you may work at your own pace, there are checkpoints each week that require your discussion and participation. Self-discipline is essential to keep up with the weekly activities. You can choose to work ahead of the schedule though you may not receive a response to your advanced work until the week it is scheduled.