Students are expected to direct much or their own learning and manage their time effectively, without a teacher in front of them every day to guide them.
Communication is much more difficult when you do not have a teacher in the room to talk to. Instructors cannot tell if a student is having a problem, etc., unless students communicate those issues.
Assignments and expectations are not always clear - the instructor may think that they have communicated everything clearly, but the student may not be sure what they mean.
Instructions must be understood and followed very closely.
Meeting deadlines is critical in online learning - and teachers know exactly when work is submitted.
Online teamwork can be very challenging because of communication issues, etc..
BRVGS provided an online seminar on "How To Survive Online Learning" for a group of UVa Engineering Students. Please see the slideshow below for tips: