If you are interested in taking a certain class online you may want to know a little more about it before you sign up. You can read through the class summary listed in the school catalog and you can read the brief description provided by the teacher but you still may not have a clear idea of what the class consists of and what the requirements are going to be. There are a few ways to find out more specifics before taking the plunge and signing up.
Search for information online. Many times you can type in the name of the class, the name of the school followed by words like syllabus, schedule, or outline. The information provided might be from a previous year and may even be a little outdated, but you can get a feel for what is going to be covered, how many assignments or quizzes you will have and even what projects are going to be required. This will work sometimes, but many teachers password protect these documents and in that case you will not have access.
Firsthand information is usually best, but where should you go to look for it? There are two sources that you may be able to track down in order to find out more. Go straight the the teacher and send an email that asks about the class. Feel free to request a copy of the syllabus or outline. If all else fails you can see if you have any fellow students that have already taken the class and ask them about it. Be aware that different people have different opinions of the difficulty and frequency of schoolwork.
