April 5, 2023
How do online classes work?
For many students who began their learning journeys before the COVID-19 pandemic, online classes may seem like a scary or even confusing concept. After all, how can you possibly learn outside of a physical classroom? But, the truth is that online classes may not be that different from what learners are used to!
In this article, we’ll discuss how online classes work for high school and college, the formats online classes take, how online classes work for different subjects, and how tests are completed when students learn online. Let’s dive in!
How do online classes work?
Typically, schools and colleges that offer online classes will use an online learning platform like Moodle to facilitate learning. This software allows educators to upload assignments and exam papers and share resources, and learners use them to submit their work and participate in group discussions and projects. These programs also give educators and learners a way to interact with each other.
Online classes come in two formats, namely synchronous and asynchronous, which we’ll discuss in a bit. It’s important to bear in mind that how online classes work is based largely on whether you’re in high school or college, so let’s take a look at that now.
How do online classes work for high school?
High school online classes are ordinarily live streamed, which means that students have to tune in to the class at a set time as per their timetable. This helps keep them on track, as many teens are still learning self-discipline and need structure throughout their day.
Online classes for each subject are generally held throughout the year like they would be in a traditional school environment. How many subjects you do will depend on which curriculum your school follows, but you can expect to take anywhere between four and eight subjects a year. Usually, classes for each subject take place every day or at least every second day.
How do online college classes work?
The format of college online classes is normally chosen by the professor or lecturer. Most often, though, online college classes give students a lot more freedom with their schedule than high school online classes do. Many more subjects are taught in an asynchronous format (which we’ll cover shortly), but some do have live online classes.
Online college classes are either semester-based (meaning they’re taught for only one of two or three semesters) or run throughout the year. How many courses you’ll be expected to do depends on your degree requirements and duration. You’ll have anywhere between one and five classes each week per subject if it has live online classes.
What are the formats of online classes?
Synchronous learning
Synchronous online classes are live streamed, meaning students join the class at a certain specified time. Educators may choose to take attendance, and learners will generally be expected to participate by asking questions or getting together in groups in “breakout rooms” to discuss the material.
Students are often required to do readings or prepare some sort of material ahead of the online class so that they can engage fully during the time they’re online. Learners will need a stable internet connection for this type of class. Synchronous learning is often accompanied by strict due dates for assignments and set exam dates because it’s a much more “hands on” teaching format.
Asynchronous learning
By contrast, asynchronous (also called self-paced) online learning allows students to cover material, complete assignments, and take exams in their own time. If there are classes, teachers will record a lesson and upload it to the learning platforms for learners to watch when it suits their schedule.
Because there are no live online classes in this format, there’s no roll call. However, students may still be required to do a group participation component by participating in a discussion panel on the learning platform, usually every week.
Assignment due dates can be more flexible in asynchronous learning, and you’ll sometimes be expected to complete all your assignments by one specific date, but you can do each one at any time before that. As a result, you might be able to complete courses more quickly in this format.
How do different types of online classes work?
The type of material you cover, the duration of your course or subject, the number of online classes you have each week, and the way you have to complete assignments and take exams will largely be determined by the course or subject’s nature. Here are a few examples:
How do online lab classes work?
For subjects that have practical components, you will learn the theory online but may be asked to go to campus for training and to do your assignments and take exams.
How do online public speaking classes work?
As with lab classes, public speaking and other dramatic arts classes can follow a hybrid format to allow students to get “hands on” experience in the field.
How do online English classes work?
English classes are almost entirely theory-based (apart from having to deliver speeches), so they can follow either a synchronous or asynchronous format, for the most part. Like a traditional class, you will read the set works (plays, books, and poetry) in your own time and analyze and discuss them in a live online class, if it takes the synchronous format. If the class follows the asynchronous format, the educator will likely break down and explain the material in pre-recorded classes.
How do online Math classes work?
Math is completely theory based, so classes for this subject can be livestreamed or pre-recorded and there’s no practical component.
How do exams work for online classes?
Exams for online classes can be taken either remotely or in person. If tests are taken from home, the educator will most likely upload the test paper to the online learning platform, and students will then download it and take it. Once finished, they’ll submit their answer paper on the platform.
If the test is timed, the teacher will upload it at a specific hour and learners will have to complete and upload their answers within a set timeframe. Timed tests can sometimes be taken entirely through a website that automatically records every question’s start and finish time. Untimed papers can usually be completed at any point during the course and must simply be done by a specific date.
Many online tests are open book, meaning that students can refer to their learning material while taking the exam. However, they’ll often be expected to reference their sources. If a test is closed book (learners can’t use any additional information), learners will sometimes be asked to sign an “honor code” promising not to cheat, and in some instances, students have to submit their work through plagiarism-checking software like Turnitin.
Proctored exams may even require learners to install monitoring software on their devices so that they (the teachers) can check to see that students don’t have any open tabs they can use to cheat. Sometimes, learners might be requested to switch on their webcam while they’re taking the test, to allow live proctors to monitor them. Some schools or colleges may call on students to come into local testing centers (such as a town hall or convention center) to sit their final exams to guarantee total academic integrity.
Final thoughts
As you can see, online classes might not work so differently from traditional classes, with high school online classes usually mirroring the structure of in-person classes most closely. College students will probably have more freedom when it comes to online classes, but they might have lecturers that follow the high school online class format more. Many subjects can be taught entirely online, and there are ways to work around taking tests and exams outside of a physical classroom, especially for subjects or courses that have a practical element.
How your specific online classes will work will ultimately depend on the stage of education you’re at, the type of subject or course you’re doing, your curriculum, and your teacher’s and academic institution’s requirements and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an online class and how does it work?
Online classes are lectures or classes that are taught via the internet. Students will either join a live streamed class or watch a pre-recorded class.
How long are online classes each day?
The length of an online class will depend on the subject and what grade or year you’re in. They can be anywhere between half an hour and several hours long.
How do I attend online classes?
The learning platform your college or school uses will usually provide a link to each class in your timetable. All you have to do is click it and wait to be let into the class!
What to expect in an online class?
For the most part, online classes look a lot like traditional in-person classes. So, prepare your material beforehand, join on time and be courteous by following virtual classroom rules (if the class is live streamed), and be ready to pay attention and make notes.