I've decided to get an online university degree through distance education instead of attending a traditional school. In such a program, students don't have to attend classes in a regular classroom. Instead, they go online and interact with fellow students and the teacher in a virtual classroom using bulletin boards or other Internet tools. Also, students sometimes share ideas through text or voice chat. Students still have to do assignments, write papers, and take tests, but everything is done online at a student's own convenience. The students sometimes work at their own pace depending on the class schedule, but getting an online university degree can provide more flexibility and study options than before.