Boise State Edtech: About Online Learning

About Online Learning

What's it like to study online?

Some online programs offer self-directed courses that are, essentially, electronic correspondence courses. Others use standardized tests and grading machines, and still others list professors of record, but the students interact with less-qualified facilitators. And many online programs require students to attend seminars on campus.

Our courses are teacher-led and our students' work is teacher-evaluated. We use professors, not facilitators, and they are just an email or a phone call away. We use both synchronous and asynchronous methods for learning, integrating web-based video conferencing into our online courses.

man with laptop

We never require our students to come to campus. We wish they would all come to graduation, but they are not required.

Although our courses are actual classes, they typically do not meet at specified times or days, unless specified in schedule of classes. All assignments have due dates, but students work on those assignments at whatever hour of the day is suitable for them.

Help for students new to Online Learning

E-Learning at Boise State: An Online Orientation
This site has been developed primarily to provide an orientation to e-learning for Boise State students enrolled in courses using Blackboard, whether in an online distance course or as an adjunct to face-to-face teaching. In addition, the site provides information for students considering enrolling in a Blackboard-enhanced course, as well as technical support for students currently enrolled in Blackboard-enhanced courses. This orientation is free, non-credit and available to all.

An Introduction to E-Learning at Boise State
This online course enables students to develop skills and knowledge necessary for success in Web-enhanced courses. You can take a non-credit, self-study version of the course or take a 1-credit, instructor-assisted version.

For information on how to enroll in this course, see Boise State University's Blackboard home page.