College Online Classes

The ultimate goal of Iowa Western Online is to provide students with quality educational opportunities that are flexible with schedules and from the comfort of their own home. Regardless of how a course is taught, courses offered at online reflect the same commitment to quality as our traditional courses. Iowa Western offers many courses completely online, and many other courses use the internet as a convenient means for submitting assignments, getting handouts, taking tests, and participating in class discussions and group projects.

In an online class, students interact with their instructor and classmates through the Internet. There are usually no campus visits required. If you take an online class, you will read lectures, submit assignments, take quizzes, and do other course activities online. Iowa Western online courses follow the same schedule as traditional classes, and students are required to complete work each week.

Iowa Western delivers online classes through Moodle Rooms/Joule (IWCC's course management system)

Are Online Classes Right For You?

Online classes are the most convenient delivery method at Iowa Western, but they also require the most time, self-discipline and time-management skills. Because you never attend class on-campus (except in special circumstances) you need to be extremely motivated to do well in the course.

Students who are the most successful at online coursework possess the following skills or qualities:

• good reading and writing skills (able to grasp important concepts from assigned reading and effectively communicate through written papers and/or threaded discussions)
• able to manage time efficiently (scheduling time each day for the online class, keeping up with assignments)
• self-motivation (able to work independently in the class without the interaction with teacher and students, as in a typical face-to-face class)
• competent in utilizing the computer and Internet (able to save and attach documents and use the Internet browser to navigate through the class or to look up information)

The Iowa Community Colleges are registered as a private institution with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, sections 136A.61 to 136A.71. Registration is not an endorsement of the institution. Credits earned at the institution may not transfer to all other institutions.