What makes teaching online unique is that it uses the internet, especially the World Wide Web, as the primary means of communication. Thus, when you teach online, you don ’ t have to be someplace to teach. You don ’ t have to lug your briefcase full of paper or your laptop to a classroom, stand at a lectern, scribble on a chalkboard ( or even use your high-tech, interactive classroom “ smart ” whiteboard ), or grade papers in a stuffy room while your students take a test. You don ’ t even have to sit in your office waiting for students to show up for conferences. You can hold “ office hours ” on weekends or at night after dinner. You can do all this while living in a small town in Wyoming or a big city like Bangkok, even if you are working for a college whose administrative office is located in Florida or Dubai. You can attend an important conference in Hawaii on the same day you teach your class in New Jersey, logging on from your laptop via the local caf é’ s wireless hotspot or your hotel room ’ s high-speed network. Or you may simply pull out your smartphone to quickly check on the latest postings, email, or text messages from students.

Online learning offers more freedom for students as well. They can search for courses using the Web, scouring their institution or even the world for programs, classes, and instructors that fit their needs. Having found an appropriate course, they can enroll and register, shop for their books, read articles, listen to lectures, submit their homework assignments, confer with their instructors, and receive their final grades-all online.