Media Formats
Online Classes: Online classes are currently the most commonly offered form of distance education. These classes usually involve a computer-based "classroom" wherein the professor posts lectures, hosts discussions, and interacts with the students. Students send their papers, projects, and occassionally even tests, to their professor in this computerized setting. There are three common computer programs that colleges use to deliver these classes, WebCT, Blackboard, and Surf, all slightly different in what they offer and how they run. Check individual colleges for what programs they use. Online classes (also called web based classes) are either synchronious (class is run in real time, chat is live, and student as a set time to be online) or asynchronious (classes are uploaded, chat is run as a message board, and student can access class when it is convenient).
TV/Cable Classes: TV/Cable classes are entire college courses broadcast over a local viewing area close to the school. Students participate in the class and learn by watching the programs and completing the associated lessons. Such classes are generally limited to students in the immediate vicinity of the college.
Tele-Web/Tele-courses/Compressed Video: Depending upon the college this can either mean a TV/Cable class (if called tele-course - see above for the description of TV/Cable classes) or a course in which the courses are recorded as video and sent in a compressed or streaming video form over the computer for students to view and complete the accompanying papers, assignments, and tests.
ITV/2 Way Video: Professor conducts the class via "cam" (either a web cam or a video conferencing cam) and students who are also on cam participate as they would in a regular classroom. Limited to those students with tele-conferencing facilities or a web camera.
Video/DVD Classes: Course is recorded on a video cassette or a DVD which the student receives through the mail and uses to complete course.
Audio Classes: Student receives audio cassettes or CDs of course material through the mail and uses them to complete course.
CD-ROM classes: Student uses multi-media CD-ROMs as a means of accessing and completing the course.
Paper Based / Independent Study: The modern day correspondence course. Student receives books and other printed materials in the mail and completes the course that way.
Hybrid/Web Enhanced Courses: Not really a distance learning course. Part of the course work is completed through class attendence at college. The rest is presented over the computer.
