Like Friedman, they should “try to make learning fun,” whether they’re online or in-person.Īlthough every course varies, you can expect to experience some of these unique benefits of online learning: Flexibility You can also schedule an informational interview with a professor to gauge their passion for teaching. Take note of the professor’s experience teaching online. You should also research potential instructors using tools like Rate My Professor and LinkedIn, said Jennifer Friedman, an associate professor in USF’s department of sociology. How do you know whether an online class is designed well? Put on your detective hat and m ake sure your chosen school has a history of excellence in online education. On the other hand, if you sign up for online courses “that are designed well to be interactive, you really do get a lot out of those.” “Even with in-person courses, if they're not designed well, you're still going to miss out on a lot of content,” said Rocky Haynes, an instructor and coordinator of USF’s undergraduate minor in applied behavior analysis. A traditional classroom lecture is no guarantee of excellence. Online classes are like any other college course - your experience depends on the instructor. Let’s take a look at the benefits of online learning from your future instructors.

(At USF, we plan to offer a mix of online classes, on-campus classes, and flexible hybrid classes.) We know you have a lot of questions, especially if you’ve never taken an online class before. Many schools are embracing virtual instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’re going to attend college in fall 2020, you may spend at least part of your semester learning online.

Rate my professor usf