As all universities make greater use of Internet resources, online classes have continued to

grow in popularity and effectiveness. Online courses let students learn at their own pace,
accomplish assignments on their schedules, and acquire the same knowledge as they would in a
natural, classroom-based course. However, their means of execution for these tools are
different.

Both online and classroom-based courses also ensure student participation. In regular classes,
students voluntarily participate in discussions or ask and answer the question. In online
courses, participation is mandatory, usually through written discussions in chat rooms or on
message boards. Students have the opportunity to hear a wider range of perspectives, including
those of people who may struggle with participating in a regular environment.

In a classroom-based course face to face, communication creates a different dynamic for every
class. Online classes lack this interaction, requiring teachers to use forums, chats, and other
online discussion media to build community. Similarly, students also lack the opportunity to get
to know the instructor in-person. While regular classrooms let students gain support and
personal relationships from teachers, online courses only offer electronic communication.

Both online and regular classes require students to manage their time wisely. In regular classes,
students structure their time outside of the classroom to allow for studying, projects, and
homework. Otherwise, this freedom is what makes online classes attractive to non-regular
students who may work additional jobs or have family responsibilities that make attending
regular classes a challenge.

In Regular classroom, instructors can offer virtually every type of assessment, from written
work to tests to oral examinations and presentations. Online classes are more limited in the
types of assignments students can complete. Typically, online instructors grade students
through papers, open-book examinations, and student contributions to online discussions.
Because online students must be self-directed, online instructors usually design assignments
that are practical in nature.

While some studies show online students slightly outperforming their regular classroom
counterparts, most indicate that there is little difference in overall performance between the
two formats. Students who are highly self-directed, organized, and autonomous will likely good
in an online environment, while those who tend to rely on instructors for direction may
struggle. Similarly, extroverted students who enjoy face to face classroom interactions may do
best in a traditional environment, while introverted students may welcome the solitary qualities
of online classes.