What is the difference between e-classes and face to face classes?

It seems that the answer is obvious: the e-classes use the Internet e-learning platform and we do not need to meet in the lecture halls of the University. However, this fundamental difference involves a number of other equally important ones: e-classes mean a different organization of learning time, different teaching materials and different communication.

The traditional and remote? forms of teaching in many ways are not much different from each other. Regardless of whether the classes are held in the hall or via the Internet, a teacher must be well prepared and put forward the goals which students are  supposed to achieve. There is also not much difference from the formal point of view. For example, to participate in both the traditional and the on-line courses of the University of Warsaw, the student must register/enroll in the central token registration system USOS (eg. to take general courses). This is also the place where the student will find the marks he/she obtained from the courses. No matter what kind of course was taken, the ECTS credits are granted as well for completing the course. So from the formal and quality point of view, online classes are equivalent with the traditional ones.

There are a few significant differences, however. Let's start with the most obvious one, which is where the course takes place. At the University of Warsaw, the distance learning is carried out in  virtual space that is on the educational platform provided and maintained by COME (http://kampus.come.uw.edu.pl/). Therefore, in order to learn in a distance mode, you need a computer, tablet or smartphone with the Internet access, as well as a comfortable place to learn (of the individual choice). Participation in e-classes does not require making an appointment with a lecturer and other students at a specific time. The choice of time when you want to learn online is completely free, but of course within a certain framework (for example - the new topics are available every week as well as assignments are to be done in a certain time).

Materials prepared for online classes also differ from those the teacher prepares for his/her lectures, exercises or seminars. They have an interactive form, which means that the student is invited to work actively and creatively throughout a semester. Indeed, materials are delivered eg. in the form of presentations, scripts or instructional videos, but a significant part of an e-course is composed of designed activities to be carried out by the students themselves. As a result, they are not passive recipients of information, but actively acquire knowledge and develop skills. This means that the online classes challenge students with the tasks to be performed, discussion activities and self-checking quizzes.

Communication and relationships in the online course differ a lot from those of the face to face meetings. During the face to face classes, the lecturer sees how many students there are, he/she can ask questions and get immediate feedback, all participants are in interaction. In the virtual space, when the participants individually choose the time and place of learning, there is no direct contact between the students. The presence of teachers and students is shown via the activity on the course. Although the teacher does not see the students, he/she perfectly knows who is engaging into e-classes, who is committed and works in a systematic way. A regular contact with the e-teacher and other participants is also possible through the available forums, groupwork or discussions.

Regardless of the differences, the quality of the course is in both forms of learning equally important. Both traditional and online classes are of the same concern at the University. Therefore, student’s evaluation in the online classes is of the same importance as in the traditional ones.