Teachers across the globe are beginning to look into distance education. Whether they are considering teaching a few online courses or using blended online models in some of their own classrooms, the fact that online learning is so new makes it an interesting area to explore. The main thing that stops many teachers from working with distance learning models, though, is the idea that an online course is easier. Maybe, without the direct presence of the teacher, or without physical location in a classroom, students will become less involved. The truth is, an online education can be just as academically rewarding as a traditional education. And, in fact, there are many ways that an online model pushes students even harder. Here are some things that make online education unexpectedly challenging.