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[bcantaire]

I prefer online classes to attending a "real" class for two reasons. First, because I don't have to go anywhere and I can watch a powerpoint presentation in my pajamas at 4am. (sure, it might be lazy, but does it matter when or where I learn?) Second, online classes are often offered in an accelerated format (at least at my school).
My favorite classes are classes in which my professor provides all the information we need to know in the beginning of the term, and posts everything at once.
All of my online classes generally require a lot of reading, listening to lectures or watching presentations, actively participating in the discussion boards, taking online (and sometimes proctored) timed exams, and submitting 2 or 3 papers. This is probably pretty standard. (I go to a decent brick and mortar school, too, by the way. I just make sure to enroll mainly in the online classes.)
I don't mind if the class is structured in that, say, exam #1 must be done by Sunday of the second week, or paper #1 is due the week of the mid-term. What I dislike, is when none of the discussion questions are made available, and I don't have access to tests until the week that we are supposed to be working on the material. I want to work ahead. If I could spend two weeks reading all the material, answering all the questions, and then continue to work on the papers that are due, I would be really happy. I could still go back and talk with my peers when they get around to posting in the discussion boards.
What is wrong with that?  I don't feel I am losing anything by working ahead. I am only losing my interest by being forced to slow down.
When I was attending lectures, the professors often went through prepared slides (which were also on blackboard), and that was it. It was probably good for some students, but it didn't help me at all. I have had a few professors who really brought the subject to life in the classroom, but that element is somewhat missing from an online class, anyway, so it still shouldn't matter if I want to work ahead.
I wanted some input from professors as to why the experience is so structured.

(Also, I know I could technically read everything in advance, but what good does that really do me? I have to go back and re-read everything and find all the facts I want to present because I didn't know what the discussion question was going to be while reading. It's not lazy to want to work efficiently, especially if I am juggling several reading intensive courses in one short term.)

[mended_drum]

You are making the assumption that your professors have written all of the discussion questions before the course begins.  While that is possible, it is a great deal of work, especially the first time someone teaches a course.  If a professor teaches year round, which is not that uncommon, it's particularly difficult to create every single question in the single prep week someone has before class begins.

Aside from that, it's also common for a professor to create discussion questions in response to the way the class is interacting with the readings (and how they are performing on papers and exams).  That is, a professor will be able to identify strengths and weaknesses, interests and skills, of a class as it progresses, and a skillful professor will adapt the discussion questions to the individual class. 

Moreover, your professor might even be doing research in the field in which you're taking a course, and a new article, study or experiment might inspire him or her to create a new and innovative question or problem set in the middle of the semester, one which would add a fresh angle to the course.  This doesn't happen that often, of course, but it does happen.

If you just want a canned course, all laid out beforehand, I'm sure that you can find one, even more than one, online or face-to-face.  Just ask around.

[bcantaire]

You are making the assumption that your professors have written all of the discussion questions before the course begins.  While that is possible, it is a great deal of work, especially the first time someone teaches a course.  If a professor teaches year round, which is not that uncommon, it's particularly difficult to create every single question in the single prep week someone has before class begins.

Aside from that, it's also common for a professor to create discussion questions in response to the way the class is interacting with the readings (and how they are performing on papers and exams).  That is, a professor will be able to identify strengths and weaknesses, interests and skills, of a class as it progresses, and a skillful professor will adapt the discussion questions to the individual class. 

Moreover, your professor might even be doing research in the field in which you're taking a course, and a new article, study or experiment might inspire him or her to create a new and innovative question or problem set in the middle of the semester, one which would add a fresh angle to the course.  This doesn't happen that often, of course, but it does happen.

If you just want a canned course, all laid out beforehand, I'm sure that you can find one, even more than one, online or face-to-face.  Just ask around.

Good point. I guess it hadn't really occurred to me, because the rest of the material is all there (silly me). I would prefer a teacher who is interacting with us, so I don't think I will purposely look for a canned course. I did take one ridiculously easy online sociology 101 course, with nothing but chapter quizzes, and it was horrible. I did learn, since I read the textbook, but it wasn't very intellectually engaging.

[expatinuk]

I post all the reading material and assignments at the beginning of the semester. However, students are only 'rated' on their discussion the week that we are discussing topic X - and two days following the end of the discussion allowing for 'wrapping up'.

Discussions are asynchronous and students can post any time during the week (starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday). Students can even post after a discussion has ended but they can't be rated for those posts. I've had students ask to post ahead of a topic because they are going on a business trip and won't have easy net access. I've allowed them to post and to have their posts rated during the proper time frame.

I do not want to have totally open posting because I'm trying to ensure that an online class has some weekly structure and students keep up with the material and not try to do it all at the end of the semester.

Participation is a SIGNIFICANT part of the grade and my students interact with each other and actually discuss the topics.

[bone_gal]

No, they can't work ahead. My online courses are like my face to face courses... you move through the material at a particular pace.  The reading assignments and lectures are posted, but all graded work (discussions, exams, assignments) is only available for the window of time when it is scheduled. From my personal communication with other online instructors, this is more common than self paced courses with no scheduling or deadlines.

[zuzu_]

I allow students to work ahead, so long as they do continue to "pop in" and engage with other students in weekly discussion and perhaps reply to discussion questions that I've added at the last minute.

As others have noted, the only courses where students cannot work ahead are my new courses--because I haven't created all of the content and I kind of want to feel out for what's working and what isn't. But once I've taught the course once (sometimes twice), I feel comfortable leaving it open and "tweaking" in between semesters.

In my composition course, there is also an issue with drafts. I won't comment on a student's draft before the "regular" time the draft is due. However once I start grading drafts, I do them first-come, first-serve. This would prevent someone from doing everything in two weeks, because they need my feedback and peer feedback on drafts. But again, this problem only comes up in my writing courses.

Interestingly, virtually no one works ahead. Occasionally I'll have a student working one week ahead, but that is rare, and it never lasts for the whole semester.

[bcantaire]

I allow students to work ahead, so long as they do continue to "pop in" and engage with other students in weekly discussion and perhaps reply to discussion questions that I've added at the last minute.

As others have noted, the only courses where students cannot work ahead are my new courses--because I haven't created all of the content and I kind of want to feel out for what's working and what isn't. But once I've taught the course once (sometimes twice), I feel comfortable leaving it open and "tweaking" in between semesters.

In my composition course, there is also an issue with drafts. I won't comment on a student's draft before the "regular" time the draft is due. However once I start grading drafts, I do them first-come, first-serve. This would prevent someone from doing everything in two weeks, because they need my feedback and peer feedback on drafts. But again, this problem only comes up in my writing courses.

Interestingly, virtually no one works ahead. Occasionally I'll have a student working one week ahead, but that is rare, and it never lasts for the whole semester.

I am currently taking an online course about Islam and the Middle East. I have spent about 8-10 hours on the work so far. In another 6 hours, I should be done with all the work up to week 5 (of a 10 week course). I have also watched all the power point lectures. The reading required in the first 5 weeks is about 156 pages in a standard textbook, and another book on the crusades, which is about 300 pages long. I took notes, so I will just answer the discussion questions every week and mention any questions or comments that I thought of (and wrote down) while originally learning the material. The class started April 6th. I feel I am working very hard and I feel very engaged in what I am learning. It wouldn't be as nice if I had to wait for things to be posted. I realize most students won't do this, but it seems fair (to me, at least), that if you have a motivated student who is excited about the material and wants to learn about it, working ahead should be allowed. Of course, if life gets too busy, or I have to focus on a different class for awhile, I can always wait until the official week things are due, to do the work.
I definitely see the point about courses not being fully fleshed out yet, however. That makes sense.


Edit::
Let me add, I am not attempting to hand in my assignments early. I respect the due dates, unless the professor says we can hand in things at any time. I just do any assignments I can and save them to be handed in later.

[expatinuk]

I am currently taking an online course about Islam and the Middle East. I have spent about 8-10 hours on the work so far. In another 6 hours, I should be done with all the work up to week 5 (of a 10 week course). I have also watched all the power point lectures. The reading required in the first 5 weeks is about 156 pages in a standard textbook, and another book on the crusades, which is about 300 pages long. I took notes, so I will just answer the discussion


Edit::
Let me add, I am not attempting to hand in my assignments early. I respect the due dates, unless the professor says we can hand in things at any time. I just do any assignments I can and save them to be handed in later.

bcantaire,

I understand your reasoning. But you also might want to look at what the instructor is doing with the class. If the class is structured where interaction between students is important, then you're not contributing to the class dynamics.

For a class such as the one you're currently taking I would want my students to actively engage with each other to discuss the material. I would not want them to just post an answer to an initial discussion question. When you do that, you're only talking to the wall. You're not interacting with your fellow students nor are you exchanging your thoughts and views on the readings.

Do you read what your fellow students post? Do you comment on their posts? In any learning there are three areas where information is exchanged: Teacher -> Learner; Learner -> Teacher; and Learner -> Learner. It's actually in the Learner -> Learner exchange of information where higher level understanding of the material takes place. So, by not engaging with your fellow students, you're limiting your learning experience.

This is why a well designed online class CAN be superior to a traditional face to face class. In a traditional face to face class you can only have one exchange of information at a time. In an online class you can interact with multiple people without the cacophony that would be heard if it were audio based instead of text based.

[bcantaire]

I am currently taking an online course about Islam and the Middle East. I have spent about 8-10 hours on the work so far. In another 6 hours, I should be done with all the work up to week 5 (of a 10 week course). I have also watched all the power point lectures. The reading required in the first 5 weeks is about 156 pages in a standard textbook, and another book on the crusades, which is about 300 pages long. I took notes, so I will just answer the discussion


Edit::
Let me add, I am not attempting to hand in my assignments early. I respect the due dates, unless the professor says we can hand in things at any time. I just do any assignments I can and save them to be handed in later.

bcantaire,

I understand your reasoning. But you also might want to look at what the instructor is doing with the class. If the class is structured where interaction between students is important, then you're not contributing to the class dynamics.

For a class such as the one you're currently taking I would want my students to actively engage with each other to discuss the material. I would not want them to just post an answer to an initial discussion question. When you do that, you're only talking to the wall. You're not interacting with your fellow students nor are you exchanging your thoughts and views on the readings.

Do you read what your fellow students post? Do you comment on their posts? In any learning there are three areas where information is exchanged: Teacher -> Learner; Learner -> Teacher; and Learner -> Learner. It's actually in the Learner -> Learner exchange of information where higher level understanding of the material takes place. So, by not engaging with your fellow students, you're limiting your learning experience.

This is why a well designed online class CAN be superior to a traditional face to face class. In a traditional face to face class you can only have one exchange of information at a time. In an online class you can interact with multiple people without the cacophony that would be heard if it were audio based instead of text based.

Yes. I specifically write down any thoughts or questions I have about the material and make sure to address them in discussion for that week. I'm usually one of the most active participants on the discussion boards, too. In the last history class I took, I spent a lot of time clarifying things for some of my classmates, on a very "rough" book we had to read during the first two weeks of class. It was a book on the origins of war, written by an anthropologist. I had some of them thank me for helping them to understand it. It made me feel like it was worth all the time I spent. (And my teacher did respond with comments, but she also largely had us discuss things by ourselves). That is just how I am, though. It is possible that if students work ahead they will not participate in class discussions. I like to really learn the material, and these online discussion boards give me a chance to have intellectual conversations, which I can't always find in my everyday life. 
(When I am not in classes like the one mentioned above, I will frequent some message boards online, or I will occasionally talk with a few friends who want to analyze things with me. Other than that, I hang out with my husband and our friends and sometimes play video games with them, for fun! ;D)

[lucys]

My answer is "it depends." I post weekly modules for my 16-week courses. Students can only see one week ahead and can then chose when to complete the readings. Homework assignments and major assignments are due on certain dates, but could be posted earlier in the week. That said, I have made exceptions for students who were giving birth during the semester or who had surgeries scheduled during that time. I e-mail them material to help them stay ahead of the rest of the class. During my 3-week summer classes, I post everything at once and students work at their own pace, as long as they turn in assignments on the due dates.