What is an Online Course Offered by UMassOnline Like?
Posted on February 23, 2009 by Li Feng
What does an online class look like? Is it simply a compilation of some courseware, multimedia or not, for you to review and then complete some exercises? Is it simply a transfer of the content of a face-to-face class to an online environment via some webpages? If you think this is what an online course is like, I encourage you to take a look at an online course from UMassOnline. There are some fundamental differences between the online courses that UMassOnline provides and some misconceptions you may have toward online courses.
First of all, a compilation of online courseware does not equal an online course. There is much more to it. Content presentation is only an integral component of a full array of learning activities in online courses offered by UMassOnline. All learning activities are designed with the guidance of learning objectives of the course and each learning module. After reviewing content presentation, students work on a series of projects and assignments to apply and, more importantly, extend what they have learned. In this sense, learning occurs not only through what students see in the course, but more importantly through what they do in the course.
In addition, as a student, you are not alone. Human beings learn through interacting with others. This concept is missing in some of the online courses in China but nicely embedded in the online courses offered by UMassOnline. In UMassOnline courses, students have the opportunity to interact with the instructor and their peers, real time or not, with the help of modern technology. Interactions can take place via email, asynchronous discussion boards, blogs, wikis, or synchronous chat or virtual classrooms. The instructor facilitates these interactions to make sure that students are keeping up with the course requirements. You, as the student, are the beneficiary of all these options of interaction. Not only can you learn from your instructor, but you can also learn from your classmates.
My final words are, online courses can be of no less quality than face-to-face courses. It all depends on how the courses are designed and delivered. Seeing is believing. I am sure you will be convinced once you see an online course from UMassOnline.
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