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What Does the Term "Online Course" Really Mean?
by Alese Smith
What do you get when you decide to take an online course from a provider?
Like the story of The Blind Men and the Elephant, if you don't understand the range of terms or — more important — how the provider defines the terms that describe their offerings, you may be surprised by what you've signed on for.
Pacing
• Self-paced typically means learners take the course alone, taking as little or as much time as needed to cover the information. Advantages include the freedom to fit learning around complex schedules.
• The opposite end of the range is a scheduled course, where learners progress through the lessons on the same timetable. Though more demanding of time, learners also learn from their classmates.
Timing
• Synchronous means "at the same time" and mimic face-to-face, as in webinars, text chats, and conference calls. They can cover issues quickly, though everyone may not be able to attend.
• Asynchronous means "not with time," as in email, discussion boards, and recorded events. Asynch discussions can allow deeper conversations to develop over time, and learners can repeat info at their leisure.
Activities
• Solitary activities have learners work alone on a project, like reading, research, and compositions. These occur in both self-paced and scheduled courses.
• Collaborative activities require learners to communicate or work with classmates, as in asynchronous discussions or projects, or synchronous workshops.
Blended
• This term refers to courses with some degree of internet-based info or activities.
• They can range from simply putting the syllabus online to providing all info and activities online except for one or more face-to-face events for orientation, milestones, or testing.
Folks routinely use the same terms to describe very different meanings, so investigate what an intended provider is offering before you shop.
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