Body
Environment
Michigan Online, open online courses, non-credit certificate programs, for-credit online courses
Issue
You want to know who develops Michigan Online courses, whether you will interact with instructors or other learners, and how much time a course may require.
Resolution
Faculty and course development
Michigan Online instructors are the same University of Michigan faculty members who teach U-M residential programs. They work with U-M experts to design online course content.
Course format and interaction
Most open online courses are asynchronous and self-paced. You access recorded lectures, readings, discussion boards, and assignments on your own schedule, without real-time class meetings. Because learners complete these courses independently, you should generally not expect regular interaction with the instructor.
Some programs offer enhanced experiences that include instructor engagement, live sessions, moderated discussions, study groups, or other community activities. Synchronous learning takes place live, such as through video conferences, chats, or webinars, and allows learners and instructors to interact in real time.
Time commitment
Review the course syllabus or course details for the estimated weekly commitment. The time you need may vary based on the course type, your background knowledge, your goals, and your schedule.
An online learning experience may take a couple of hours, several weeks, or several months to complete. For-credit online courses may run from 4 to 15 weeks, depending on the academic program.
Additional Information
The course syllabus and course details are the best sources for course-specific information about format, interaction, schedule, and workload.
For additional assistance, please contact Michigan Online Support.