Student Resources

The following breakdown illustrates the differences between online, hybrid (partially online) and traditional courses you may have attended previously.

Online Courses

• 100% of the course is conducted fully online.
• A Learning Management System (LMS), such as Canvas, is used for all communication and class work.
• There are no required on-campus class meetings.

 Hybrid Courses

• Typically, 50% or more of traditional face-to-face class time is replaced with online or out-of-class work.
• Courses make use of an LMS or other online tools for coursework and communication.
• Class time is schedule to work in conjunction with online coursework and activities.

Traditional Courses

• Courses are set up in a traditional, face-to-face format.
• An LMS and/or other online tools are used together with the classroom to supplement face-to-face coursework.
• Class time and meetings occur normally.

Adapted from: About Online Learning, University of Washington Bothell

In the Penn Registrar course timetable, look for the location to be listed as “On Line” as shown below:

Students often sign up for online or hybrid courses with the misconception that these courses will require less of their time for course work than a traditional course. This misconception might arise because the in-person class time has been reduced.  However, online and hybrid courses are just as rigorous, meaning just as much work as (if not more work than) traditional courses, and should be treated accordingly.

Much more time will be spent communicating through formal and informal writing in online and hybrid courses. Be sure to check the syllabus for the instructor’s preferences for communication format, writing conventions, etc.

Find out if you are prepared for online learning by taking this quiz.