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The first day of school can cause nervous butterflies in anyone. What is an online class like? Will it be harder? Is help available or are online students on their own? Read on for answers that can help ease the mind, so you can do what you were meant to do: learn.

If a student is considering going to school online, it’s only natural to feel curious about the daily online class experience.

While every institution has its own platforms for online learning, the general structure of the class often allows for flexibility while following a predictable pattern of due dates. Here’s an overview of features that can help students prepare for their first day.

Very much like walking into a physical classroom, a virtual classroom, accessed through a central portal, typically features the following:

• The syllabus
• Reading materials like e-books, textbooks and articles
• A discussion board
• Announcements where instructors post assignments and resources
• A message board where students can communicate directly with the instructor or classmates
• A place where students submit assignments and assessments
• An area that records a student’s grades and feedback  

This classroom is where students spend most of their time.

Different from “self-paced,” asynchronous formats allow instructors to assign and complete lessons on their own schedule within a given time frame. Many online school programs designed for working adults utilize an asynchronous format (with fixed deadlines). There is no bell that rings at 9 a.m. forcing a student to be in a seat at the same time as other students. Instead, students access course materials at times that work for them. This flexibility allows students to fit school around their lives, not the other way around.

One important caveat is that deadlines, whether for assignments or discussion posts or tests, are often not flexible. Students may be able to decide when to do their reading and writing, but they have to meet common due dates for key assignments. 

Students do not need to be experts in IT or technology applications to succeed in a digital classroom. Generally, however, they do need a reliable computer and a stable internet connection. Some activities in online classes can even be done on a smartphone, although regular access to a laptop or desktop computer is typically needed to complete assignments.

During their school selection and enrollment process, students may want to check if their school offers .

Before the first course begins, institutions may provide an online orientation. This can help students learn how to navigate the online classroom environment, upload assignments, access the library and discover options to get help.

An orientation may also give students hands-on previews as to how assignments will be evaluated, using something known as the “grading rubric.” This is a low-pressure way for students to get comfortable with a digital classroom before they have to worry about grades or deadlines.

In a traditional lecture hall, an instructor stands at a lectern and speaks for an hour. An online class, meanwhile, may combine self-paced assignments and discussion questions with recorded sessions from faculty, as well as slide decks or external video clips that reinforce learning. This multimedia-approach allows students to pause and re-watch content as many times as they need to understand it, which can be significant for students who require more flexibility.

Prospective students often want to know about how they can participate in class. In a physical classroom, students may raise a hand to share their thoughts. In a digital environment, they write discussion posts.

These are public forums within the class where the instructor poses a question based on the week’s reading or lesson. Students write a response sharing their thoughts, analysis or experiences. Then, they read the responses from classmates and reply to them to expand on the discussion. 

Just as at an in-person university, online students have assignments with due dates. These usually follow a consistent weekly cadence. For example, students might have discussion posts due Thursday, responses to classmates due Saturday and a written assignment due Monday. Tests and quizzes are also generally taken through the online platform, and papers or projects are submitted through the platform directly to faculty. 

Collaboration is a vital skill in the modern workplace, so it plays a big role in online education as well. Students may participate in group projects where they work with classmates to solve a problem or create a presentation when it makes sense tied to the concepts being taught in the course.

When choosing an online school, students should explore the resources and support mechanisms available to them. For example, does the school offer training on how to use generative AI to stay competitive and save time?

Additionally, students who have a health condition, serious illness or pregnancy can research information about disability or parenting and pregnancy accommodations. Accommodations may include extended time or assistive technology support.

And because life can get stressful, looking into whether an online school offers counseling or coaching resources can be the difference between sinking or swimming.

The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that the more flexible asynchronous nature of online learning means students have freedom to choose when they study, but it does not mean they can choose when to submit assignments.

So, if a student is a parent, they might do reading during soccer practice or after bedtime. If their work is a 9-to-5 job, they might dedicate Saturday mornings to completing assigned readings and/or engaging with discussion questions. The instructor will set the what and the by when, but students determine the how and the when they approach the learning activities prior to the due date.

This model works especially well for:

• Working professionals: Students can work while earning a degree.

• Parents and caregivers: Students can attend to family needs without missing a lecture.

• Military personnel: Students can study from anywhere, even if they are deployed or relocated.

The answer is: It depends. If the content and learning objectives are the same between courses and the format is the only thing that changes, determining whether it’s easier or harder is up to the student. Whether or not an online course is easier than an in-person one depends on the student and their needs. As mentioned, if you’re a student who requires more flexibility because of a hectic schedule, then online courses may be better suited for you.

When looking at online vs. traditional formats, it can help to break down the pros and cons of each type of college experience.

If a student is ready to take the next step, finding the right environment for online class is about finding a university that understands their needs.

������ý has been a pioneer in this space since 1989. With flexible schedules, tech support available 20 hours a day and degree programs that deliver career-relevant skills, ������ý is built for busy adults. Prospective students can explore more than 100 degree programs and certificates or simply request more information.