In a traditional face-to-face class, assignments are almost always due at the beginning of a class period. For example, if you have class on MWF from 9:30AM – 10:20AM your assignments will almost always be due on one of those days at 9:30AM. Or, perhaps 11:59PM the night before.

A good online class should function in a similar fashion. However, because the class is more flexible and there is no specific meeting time the instructor has to create a consistent schedule often using the dropbox in conjunction with the assignment list section of a syllabus.

Here are some examples for a class that has a weekly discussion post, a weekly journal entry and a few essays.

Good:

• Discussion are due by 11:59PM every Wednesday.
• Journal entries are due by 11:59PM every Sunday.
• Essay 1 – due by 11:59PM Monday Oct. 1
• Essay 2 – due by 11:59PM Friday Nov. 16

Here I never have to wonder what time my assignments are due after first reading the syllabus; they will always be due by 11:59PM, regardless of the assignment type, and so I can make sure to have them in on time. For my weekly work I know it’s always due on same day at the same time every single week. I don’t have to check back or waste time confirming it. It’s consistent and that will help me schedule my work so that I can submit everything on time.

Bad:

• Discussion 1 – due by 4:00PM Tuesday Oct. 2
• Discussion 2 – due by 8:30PM Saturday Oct. 13
• Discussion 3 – due by 2:56 Wednesday Oct. 17
• Journal 1 – due by 8:47AM Wednesday Oct. 3
• Journal 2 – no date or time listed
• Essay 1 – due by 2:30AM Friday Oct.19
• Essay 2 – due Wednesday Oct. 31 no time listed

Nothing is consistent. I have to double-check (and probably triple and quadruple) all of the assignments because they are all so different. There’s no pattern for me to follow. Some assignments do not have clear due dates or times listed and I have to contact my instructor to get that information. This all will take a lot of extra time and effort on my part and will make meeting my instructor’s expectations of submitting work completed and on time very difficult.