How does online learning work?
Different from Traditional Classroom
You may have experienced learning in a traditional classroom environment. In traditional educational settings, students go to the school campus and locate their classroom where most of their learning occurs. In an online environment, students gather in a virtual classroom. Their learning environment is found on any computer that is connected to the Internet that enables access their course website. This is one of many aspects of online education students find attractive. The idea of not commuting to campus and sitting in a classroom is very appealing, particularly to those who are not full-time students, who have a family, are employed full-time or have other responsibilities that require more time away from home.
Easy Access
Online learning takes place in the context of a web-based Learning Management System (LMS) At Cornerstone University we call our LMS, Odyssey. The benefit of using a LMS is that all necessary elements for a course including: viewing course materials, communicating with your professor and fellow-classmates, quizzing and grading are all integrated into one location. In the case of Odyssey, it is easy to use and does not require any advanced computer knowledge; only certain basic computer skills are necessary to be successful as an online student.
Relevant Learning Environment
An online student already has their own unique environment, such as work, family, or local church interaction. Each of these environments contribute to a relevant, practical and individualized online-learning experience. It builds upon the social and circumstantial, daily activitiy in which the student participates. It is especially important for adult learners to bring learning home, specifically offline. In many ways these all provide a richer learning environment than that of the traditional face-to-face classroom.
Is Online Learning for you?
If you are unsure if online learning is for you, we encourage you to take the Online Success Survey which will ask some questions designed to help you self-assess whether you may succeed in an online-learning environment. Be sure to also read about services and support we provide online students to succeed.
