If you are curious what an online learning environment might be like, you may want to check out some online demos.  Actual demos will give you a better idea of what learning online can be like than any amount of advice.

Before you go basing you entire opinion of online learning on a demo, there are several things to consider.  Since there are so many different technologies, learning providers, subjects and levels of courses you may not get an accurate impression from a demo.

For example, if you wish to learn a new IT topic at your own pace with a CBT, a demo from a learning provider that you are considering might be very applicable.  However, If you really want to get your MBA online, trying the same CBT demo of an IT topic will give you very little idea what an online MBA might be like.

The learner (seeking to get an online MBA) might enquire what vendor, of online course delivery systems, the college he is considering uses.  If that vendor has a demo it will help him get a feel for the learning environment, but won't give him a good feel for the student interaction, or the particular program he is considering (it is hard to simulate class discussion in a demo).

Once you determine the type of course you wish to take, and the type of provider you may choose, your demo time can be more productive.  We recommend that you sample a couple of the online learning demos that are available, to get a better idea of the wide variety of online learning environments and tools that exist today.  

In order to get an idea how an online college course might be structured, take a look at a syllabus of an online masters course at George Mason University instructed by Chris Dede (a pioneer in distance learning technologies).  Keep in mind this course uses a wide variety of technologies, but does not use a course delivery system offered by one of the vendors.  This course also happens to contain some great distance learning references!