Is Online Learning for Me?

Bristol Online isn’t for everyone. Some students love 100% online learning, some prefer hybrid, and some learn better in the face-to-face classroom. Students who register for online classes without fully understanding the expectations often end up dropping or doing poorly in the classes because they feel overwhelmed. They think classes will be “easier” and won’t require as much of a time commitment. While the content of an online class will be similar to what you would experience in a traditional face-to-face setting, learning online does present a different set of challenges.

Q: How much time will taking an online class take?

A: If you were taking a 3-credit, 16-week class you would expect to spend approximately 9 hours a week on reading, homework and assignments in the online environment. A 3-credit course meets for 45 hours for lecture (if you were meeting physically in the classroom) and we usually double that time for homework, etc... This means you have a total of 135 hours that you should be spending per course over the entire semester.

So, if you are taking a class during a shorter term, like summer, you should plan for:

• In an 11-week course, plan to spend about 12 hours per week on the class.
• If you want to take a 6-week course you should block out almost 23 hours per week!

Not sure if online learning is for you? Take our short self-assessment.

Passport to Canvas Training Course

Bristol’s Online Learning team offers a self-paced Passport to Canvas training course that prepares students to be successful in their online courses. This training course provides a thorough overview of the tools that students will use to access course materials, submit assignments, check their grades, and communicate with their instructor. Badges are awarded as each training module is completed so that you can track your progress.

To access Bristol's Passport to Canvas course

1. Log into Online Courses section of myBristol.
2. Click the Online Courses Canvas button to log into Canvas.
3. Click on the Passport to Canvas course link to access the training course.

For more information about the technology that powers Online Learning at Bristol, please email OnlineLearning@BristolCC.edu or call us at 774.357.2081.