What are online classes usually like?

I’m going to start an online class next week and I just wanted to get some info on what it was like for you if you ever took one before.

Depends on the subject and course obviously but generally there’s a textbook reading and video lecture each week, with a quiz and/or assignment(s) to complete. If its a humanities course, there’s most likely also going to be a “discussion board” where you have to post your option based answer(s) to given question(s) and reply to some of your classmates posts.

You need to stay on top of the course. It’s easy to let things slide in an online class and that can lead to troubles.

What the course is like really varies. I’ve had some that have had live video chat with the professor once per week, others that had a forum you were required to participate in, and still others where all you did was read and submit your assigned work, with no interaction beyond that. I’ve had some where I’ve “met” the professor and other students, and others where I wasn’t even 100% sure the professor wasn’t away on vacation. So it really varies.

The one thing that’s true of all online classes is that you tend to have to be more self-motivated than you would in a normal class. Often, there’s more reading, and you don’t have those twice per week class meetings to keep you doing your work - you just have to do it. As stradmom said, don’t let things slide - it’s easy to fall behind in an online class.

Well if they have tests, they’re almost always open book.

I’ve had many online classes that use LockDown browser and have closed-book exams (so don’t count on open-book exams). I find it easier to stay motivated in online, rather than in-person, general education courses.

Depends on when you take them. In the summer, it’s a lot because it’s only a couple weeks. If you take it during the regular semester, you can work at your own pace. I usually take at least one class online every semester because of the convenience.

I had an online math class. Had to take final at school.