This document compares traditional in-person classes to online classes. In a traditional class, students meet at a scheduled time and place each week to participate in live lectures, discussions, and activities. Tests and assignments are completed and submitted in class. By contrast, online classes are more flexible as students can access course materials on their own schedule through the week. Discussions, assignments, and tests are completed independently and submitted online rather than in live class sessions. Both formats involve elements of passive and active learning through various activities assigned by the professor.

1. S
Learning Online
A Comparison

2. Going to Class
In a traditional class you meet at a specific
time and place each week.

3. Going to Class
In an online class, you access your course
multiple times during the week according
to your schedule.

4. Participating in Discussions
In a traditional class you have class
discussions and, sometimes, small-group
discussions. These discussions happen
during the class time and feedback is
immediate.

5. Participating in Discussions
In an online class, you have discussions in
a written format (i.e. like Facebook
comments or email exchanges) either as a
class or in small-groups. These discussions
happen over a period of time (usually a
week) and feedback is not immediate.

6. Learning in Class
In a traditional class your professor may
lecture for a portion of the class and then
have you participate in various activities
(i.e. group projects, research activities,
quizzes, tests, labs, demonstrations);
sometimes you are a passive learner and
sometimes you are an active learner.

7. Learning in Class
In an online class your professor may ask you
to read articles, watch short videos, and then
have you participate in various activities (i.e.
online discussions, web-site tours, quizzes,
tests); like a traditional course, sometimes you
are a passive learner and sometimes you are
an active learner.

8. Reading your Textbook
In a traditional class your professor requires the
purchase of one or more textbooks and assigns
readings throughout the duration of the course.

9. Reading your Textbook
In an online class readings from a textbooks are
like the traditional class but the textbook could be
accessed through the course as an electronic
textbook, or, you may have to purchase the
textbook and have it shipped to you.

10. Submitting Assignments
In a traditional class your professor gives you
assignments to complete (i.e. research papers,
reports, journal entries) and then you submit
them in class when they are due.

11. Submitting Assignments
In an online class your professor gives you
assignments to complete (i.e. papers, reports,
journal entries) and then you submit them online
as either file attachments, copy/pasted text, or
via a specific tool in the course.

12. Taking Tests and Quizzes
In a traditional class you take tests and quizzes
during class time; these assessments are
sometimes open-book or sometimes closed-book
and can have many types of questions (i.e.
multiple-choice, true/false, matching, essay, short
answer). After taking the assessment, your
professor evaluates them and returns them at a
later date.

13. Taking Tests and Quizzes
In an online class you take tests and quizzes via a
specific and these assessments are usually open for
only a short period of time, and they may also be
timed, so once you start taking them you may only
have one or two hours to complete them. After taking
the assessment, you may receive a score immediately
(i.e. if the assessment contained just multiple-choice
and true/false questions) or your professor may need
time to evaluate any written responses to questions.