What is Online Learning or Online Education?

Online learning otherwise referred to as e-learning is a form of distance learning education where Internet technology is used to facilitate teacher – student interactions and to deliver course materials.

This education is delivered through message boards, email, chat rooms, audio, desktop video, computer conferencing or multimedia technologies, in addition to text content and live lectures.

How does it work?

Delivery methods for online courses vary from college to college and also depending on the type of degree programs. What is common though is that all online colleges employ a form of Internet technology to deliver instructional course materials.

Online colleges may use synchronous method to deliver their courses or asynchronous delivery method. Courses delivered asynchronously allows for more flexibility because unlike synchronous delivery method where learners and teachers have to interact in real time and participate at the same time, students are free to take their course work at their convenience.

The good news is that most online colleges deliver their programs asynchronously. Still, some online degree programs are delivered both synchronously and asynchronously.

Some online degrees are taken 100% online while some colleges have programs where online delivery is blended with on-campus delivery. Yet some colleges have online short courses which count as credit to on-campus degrees. It is important to fully understand the delivery method of each online degree before enrollment to be sure that it suits your program.