About this course
This class is entirely virtual: it never meets physically, in time or space. Most of the course material is on-line, supplemented by a physical textbook. Assignments are submitted via e-mail. Class discussion is done asynchronously via a web-based discussion forum. Except for the format and medium, the course is rather traditional, covering the history of Europe from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages.
Students read and discuss the materials from the online reading, they do short papers, and they receive college credit (auditing is also permitted). The course is offered through the Division of Extended Studies at Boise State University, USA.
Medium
All resources are delivered via the Internet. I used to rely on a physical textbook, but the range of materials are now rich enough that it is possible to rely solely on virtual materials. A web-based discussion board handles class discussions, and the students can use e-mail to speak directly with me or with each other. The web board also has a live chat feature. A Web site holds a collection of my lectures, extensively re-worked for hypermedia format. The Web also holds other resources, such as assigned readings from original sources, collections of pictures, study questions for exams, questions and topics for class discussion, and a library of links to other net-based resources.
Format
Students check the Web site when starting a new study unit. They read the lectures and assigned readings, and check the discussion questions. They might reply to some message, or they might have new comments or they might have new comments or questions to offer. By the third week of class, the dialog here is pretty much continual. Tests (when I give them; I vary between tests and papers) are e-mailed to each student on exam day; they have 48 hours to return the completed exam.
How does the workload compare?
It's the same or a bit heavier, but not too much. That's the general consensus of students over many semesters. You can read some of their comments, taken from evaluations from previous classes.