Flexible, Self-Directed Coursework
One possible advantage of online classes for many students is the flexibility they provide, both in when and where you work. Unlike taking courses on a traditional campus, students aren't required to be in a physical classroom at specific times throughout the day, which may help you more easily fit classes into your busy schedule. Student Ricky Banks felt that the flexible, self-directed nature of his online coursework at CTU made it easier to pursue his degree on his own time while traveling for work.
Contribute to Class Discussions From Anywhere
Because students enrolled in online courses don't necessarily meet face-to-face with their instructors or peers, forums and message boards are often used for class discussions. While certain courses may require students to log into a virtual classroom at specific times for lectures or interactive class sessions, you typically have a variety of options for how and when to respond to discussion prompts, readings, and other assignments. Many programs also feature some kind of live-chat feature during certain times to enable students and instructors to talk in a real-time virtual environment.2
Accessibility of Course Materials
Rather than having to purchase course materials from the campus bookstore, many online programs provide an ongoing archive on the class website. Depending on the program, you may be able to access past lectures, assignments, worksheets and readings, and instructor feedback online, making it easy to keep up with your progress from wherever you are at the time. This can be especially useful for those who plan to fit schoolwork into an already busy schedule and won't always be working on their assignments at home.
Personally Tailored Learning
To further provide for online students CTU implemented intellipath®, adaptive learning technology, to help working professionals and students with varying levels of prior experience make the most of their studying time. Online learning programs powered by adaptive learning technology provide individualized course experiences by tailoring lessons and materials to each student's unique strengths and knowledge base. This helps ensure students aren't spending extra time covering information they already know, and it can be a great advantage for those who need to get through course materials as quickly and efficiently as possible in order to maintain a good work-life-school balance.
Thinking about returning to school? Learn more about our online degree programs. Students at CTU can attend class online, at a campus in Colorado Springs or Denver South, or a blend of both.
1Babson Survey Research Group, "Grade Level: Tracking Online Education in the United States" (February 2015), on the Internet at http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/gradelevel.pdf (visited March 8, 2016).
2Colorado Technical University, "Online Degree Programs" on the internet at https://www.coloradotech.edu/online-degree-programs (visited February 8, 2016).
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