Courses are considered fully online when more than 80% of instruction is delivered online. Online courses are often facilitated completely at a distance, without any requirement for physical presence. In online courses, students and instructors are separated by time and geography; students have the choice of when and where to access the course content. Online courses largely eliminate physical location as a determiner of academic success. Students can work from anywhere with a reliable Internet connection. Online courses offer all students an equal chance to participate; shy learners, students with disabilities, and people with lower language competency all get their "turn" to participate.
Student Engagement
There are many tools and teaching strategies that can promote student engagement in the online learning environment. Examples of effective teaching and learning strategies that can enhance students’ interaction with each other, the content, and the instructor include: posting answers to the discussions boards, interactive multimedia activities that provides real life simulations, and case studies. Through interactions, students participating in online discussions can learn together, forming a learning community. Discussion activities are tools that keep students active in the online learning environment; they can reflect on their learning from the course readings and exchange ideas by answering each others’ questions.
The Role of Technology
Technology plays a significant role in delivering instruction in the online learning environment. These tools can be used to foster student engagement and enhance student interactions. The following teaching strategies utilize various tools:
- Asynchronous tools allow for online communications amongst students and with the instructors.
- Course management systems (e.g. Blackboard) host online courses. These systems enable access to resources and enable interactions through the discussion boards.
- Synchronous communication tools like social media and web 2.0 tools can be used to facilitate discussions and interactions among students working in groups.