Most course sites at the University of Minnesota supplement traditional face-to-face classroom learning, with varying degrees of focus on the online component. Different types are explained below.
Web Presence Course
In some courses, students use the Web only to access course materials, which may be no more than a single Web page with information about the course.
Web-Enhanced Course
In other courses, students can access online the syllabus, assignments, and other information, and usually tools that support communication among students and between students and the instructor.
If students' face-to-time in a classroom is decreased and exchanged for Web-based communication, a course may be called a Web-centric or a "hybrid" course.
Web Course
Finally, some courses are conducted entirely on the Web. Students are able to access the course site anytime and anywhere provided they have Internet access. Courses that decrease face-to-face time may put more emphasis, and a higher percentage of your grade, on online discussions and chats, since these are taking the places of classroom participation.