How is online learning different than in-person classroom instruction?

Course Materials are On-Demand, 24/7

Lectures, presentations, and course activities are available on-demand rather than presented at a specific time and place. While some courses may have webinars or live events, these are typically archived for persistent accessibility after the event has concluded. Unless otherwise specified (e.g., for live events), you should expect to be able to access your course materials at any time during the quarter in which the course is running.

The Instructor as Facilitator

In the online environment, the instructor is not on-demand 24/7, but rather facilitates your learning process through regularly provided feedback and interactions. They are there to guide, direct, and advise you as you progress through your course. Methods of instruction may differ from the typical classroom, especially in how technologies and tools are used in service of your learning activities, so be sure to consult your syllabus for specific information on how your instructor conducts the course.

What does that mean for you as a learner?

Online learning requires students to work “asynchronously,” or largely independently without the constant supervision of an instructor or the structure of a traditional face-to-face course. You may need to reach out to your instructor, technical support, or other students to help meet your learning needs and goals, and in some cases may need to independently seek out resources to accomplish certain skills or tasks as part of your course. Instructors should be able to help facilitate and ease this process.

Online learning also requires a different kind of effort than attending class in person.

Like any course, consider how the goals, objectives, and outcomes can be reached through the activities of the course. With an online course, the goals and objectives should be the same, but the methods of reaching those outcomes may differ. Online courses can be as intensive (in terms of effort) as traditional in-person courses. However, keep in mind that the methods of instruction, the quality of interpersonal interaction, and the kind of effort required to meet personal, professional, and academic goals may differ widely.

How to get the most out of your online learning experience

Sustain Motivation

Successful online learners are self-motivated. Knowing and directing on your goals and personal stakes in why you are taking a class online can help you stay self-directed and motivated in the online environment, particularly because there may not be the same sense of monitoring and structure that an on-the-ground course might have.

Be Proactive

Be proactive about engaging with course materials and communicating via tools like email, discussion boards, chat, etc. through the learning management system (Canvas). If you need a little extra time to familiarize yourself with the learning management system, plan that time into the first few weeks of the course. In addition, be proactive about exploring tools that might help to augment or enrich your assignment submissions, your communications with your classmates and instructors, or your overall learning experience online. There are many free or low-cost apps and tools available on the internet that might be relevant to your studies.

Manage Time Effectively

Online courses still have due dates – however, the pressure to hand things in before/on time may not be as present as an in-person class (where you have to physically hand in your work). As soon as possible, look over the assignments and assessments in the course, and determine when you will work on major course assignments. Set a regular times/days to work on the course that fits your schedule. Plan some extra time to orient yourself to the course structure and content, especially if this is your first online class. It can take some time to become familiar with the format of each course, as well as the learning management system.

Maintain Technical Competency

Online learning does not require a high degree of technical proficiency (for most programs), but you will need to know how to do the following tasks on a regular basis:

Browse the internet using Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge
Clear Internet history, cache, update your browser and other computer-based tools, and be able to complete other basic maintenance tasks
Send and receive email to and from UCLA Extension, your instructor, and your peers (both within Canvas via the Canvas Inbox feature and outside of Canvas)
Upload/Download Files
Securely use a specific username and password to log into your online course portal

Additionally, your course may require the use of additional software, such as a word processing program or presentation software (e.g. Word, PowerPoint) to accomplish tasks and assignments.