There are many tales about online classes, about as many perspectives as there are classes (and there are literally thousands of online classes now). The research consensus is that mastery learning and retention of information is as good, and often better in an online class than in a traditional face-to-face live class. Now how can that be?

An online class that conforms to high quality online teaching strategies will include many opportunities for active involvement with the content, e.g. from your computer using Google Earth to examine different cities around the globe, looking through a gigantic telescope located on the top of a mountain in Arizona at the stars and the night sky, analyzing real temperature data for climate change indicators, etc. It will also include multiple opportunities for discussion with peers and the instructor. Many online classes include opportunities for group as well as individual work assignments. There is also often a place designated for informal interactions among class members, sort of a water cooler online. There are usually deadlines for assignments that are submitted electronically, graded with comments and feedback from the instructor in a reasonable length of time and returned electronically, and of course, exams or projects.

What sets online classes apart is that most are delivered asynchronously. There is no set meeting time where everyone gets together at once. (Although you will find variation in this as well with some hybrid online classes meeting synchronously either online or face-to-face for some class meetings.) Some folks have trouble keeping up with the work without the weekly check-in class so often instructors will have weekly assignments to keep folks on track. It is important to be self-motivated to sit down and log in every day or several times a week to keep up.

Online classes are writing intensive. Participating in the discussions, creating assignments, and communicating with the instructor is predominantly done in writing. For some students, this gives them the opportunity to think about their response and edit it before submitting it. Students with this learning style are less apt to speak up spontaneously in a live class because they want time to think about their answer first. In an online class, everyone participates and those who want more time have more time. Many online instructors report that they get to know their students better in an online class than in a face-to-face class because of the writing intensive nature of the classes.

The flexibility of an online class is appealing to working adults who can participate in the class when it is convenient for them. In fact, data show that the highest level of participation in an online class is between the hours of 9 p.m. to midnight and 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. (after the kids are in bed or before everyone is up). It does require regular check-ins as the asynchronous nature of the class means class mates are posting responses and assignments at all times of the day and night. It is easy to get behind without regular check-ins.

Some people have told me they are intimidated by the thought of taking an online class. My advice? Dive in! The learning management systems upon which the classes are built and offered are sophisticated and complex but have purposely been designed to be easy for the end-user to use. If you know how to point and click and drag, or use your finger to tap on an electronic notebook, you can take an online class. Many colleges have demonstration classes where you can try out the system before you register. There is also usually a tutorial that walks you through how the system works. I strongly advise not to skip the tutorial. In fact, go through it more than once until you are comfortable. You can always come back to it if you forget how to do something.

Online classes have proven to be very appealing to working adults because of the flexibility, convenience and reduced cost. There's no need for a baby sitter, or putting gas in the car and driving an hour to class and back again. It doesn't conflict with choir practice or the kid's soccer game. You can curl up on your couch in your pajamas and get a college degree. What's not to like about that? How do you find a high quality online course or program? That's another column.

Sue McCullough is director of the University of Maine Frederick E. Hutchinson Center Center and associate dean, Division of Lifelong Learning