Many of the things that make online learning so attractive to students, such as the flexibility of anytime, anywhere access, can also make it more challenging. Without the benefit of the structure and familiarity of a face-to-face course, less organized students can quickly lose their way. And while students have spent their entire K-12 education immersed in face-to-face learning, most have no idea what it takes to succeed in the online classroom. In fact, many students enroll in an online course thinking it will be easier than a traditional course. This lack of preparation and understanding leads many online students to struggle and, at times, drop out.
