The instructors at any online school or university should be fully certified in the subject taught, just like their brick-and-mortar peers. The academics should be comparable to offline programs as well, with a variety of learning modes, particularly audio and visual presentations. Materials provided should be appropriate for the learners and accessible for populations with special needs, for example, if pictures or diagrams are used, there should be a description of them for users with limited vision.
A good online course will allow for a variety of interactions between the instructor and learners. Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), instant messaging (IM), message boards, email lists, and dedicated systems such as Blackboard are all designed to allow for discussions between teachers and students, and also to facilitate students interact with each other. Some programs, such as the Florida Virtual School, require faculty to make phone calls weekly with parents and students to discuss progress and goals.
Equipment needed to complete an online course should be laid out clearly in a quality program. This should include hardware, peripherals such as mouse, keyboard, headset, drawing tablets, and software, such as a particular operating system, media players, or specialized programming tools. An example of this might be a course on VB.net that requires Microsoft Visual Studio, or a web design class that requires Adobe CS Suite.
Because online coursework takes place at student homes, if there are difficulties accessing course materials there must be a quick and responsive support system. Tech support should be available in various forms, easily accessible to users who are having difficulty. A well-balanced offering should include telephone options, email, a searchable wiki or knowledge base, and live chat, with available hours posted and easily found by the students.
A good support system for online students will include tutorials on how to access the materials and programs. Users who are new to online education should find the tutorials easily to understand, and they should not require specialized software.