Module2 What to Expect in an Online Course at UIS

UIS online courses are small, usually 15-40 students, and professors really know their students. Our online courses are taught by the same talented faculty who teach on campus.

Most UIS online courses are asynchronous, which means you can ignore the clock. Your classes will be on a schedule, but there are no required "live" classes to attend. Instead, lectures, coursework, assignments, and discussion, all take place at your convenience in Canvas, our learning management system. A few programs offer optional real-time class lectures and discussions through Zoom.

Students can access their courses online at any time and from anywhere through a web browser or mobile app. You'll have flexibility for family obligations, child care, business travel, or vacations. You choose the hour of day (or night) to attend class. Except for turning in assignments when they're due, your schedule is totally up to you.

Online learning is more convenient, but it means taking greater personal responsibility to stay on track with your learning. You can learn all the skills you need to succeed in an online course or program. Remember, your instructors, online advisor, and many resources at UIS are available to support you all the way to graduation.

How does an online class work?

Every course will contain a syllabus with details about the course design, materials, assignments, calendar, and expectations.

Your instructor will provide a learning path that includes readings, lectures, assignments and deadlines. Your success in an online course depends on you. You will be responsible for completing assignments and meeting deadlines. How often you log in to your online course will depend on the design of the course and your time management plan for completing your work. Expect to enter your virtual classroom multiple times each week in order to keep up with your work. Generally, synchronous meetings are limited in number and recordings are provided for later viewing. However, we strongly encourage participation in any synchronous meetings, as they provide connections to both your instructor and your classmates.

Faculty use a variety of tools, methods and strategies to present their content, including:

Books and journal articles (hard copies and digital)
Websites and simulations
Multimedia enhancements: videos, audio, images, charts, and graphs
Quizzes and tests
Asynchronous discussion forums
Synchronous web conferences
Projects and other authentic assignments
Group work
Much more

UIS Information Technology Services keeps an updated list of computer purchase recommendations for students.

Course Availability

Each semester courses become available in Canvas at 12:01 a.m. on the first day of classes. Some instructors may choose to open courses early. Courses for the previous semester close on the Friday prior to the first day of each new semester.

You may download your course content to view offline.