Early in their evolution, online classes may have been a bit dull or "flat" for some students. If your online course consisted merely of reading, receiving homework assignments via email from your instructor, and sending finished writing assignments back to your instructor via email, you may have felt a little disengaged from the learning process.

Fortunately, today's online courses are generally much more involved due to evolving technology. Educators know that real-time student interaction can speed up the learning process, and for this reason, many online tools facilitating real-time student/instructor interaction have been created. Chat rooms allow multiple parties to contribute their thoughts. Streaming audio and video allows real time interaction and also gives students a break from having to read chapters from a textbook. Live lectures from experts in a field are shown to students all over the world via web casts. Online laboratories can simulate the experience you'd have in a lab. For example, while performing a chemistry experiment using an online simulator, you'll still have to follow instructions carefully in order to realize a successful outcome. If you don't calculate a measurement properly, the computer will allow you to fail, and you'll have to go back to the drawing board--just like you'd have to do in the classroom.

These varied learning tools have effectively spiced up the online learning experience.