I have never liked traditional physical education classes. From having to hurriedly change clothes, to feeling embarrassed at my lack of skill, there were many factors that made me dread this part of my day.

When I heard that an online version of the class was offered, I jumped at the chance to join for a semester. As I soon discovered, it’s a  great choice—for the right type of person.

How is it similar to regular PE? You exercise, obviously, and you need a doctor’s note if you wish to opt out for a while. That’s where the similarities end.

How are the classes different? I’ve come to the conclusion that online  PE requires more discipline and responsibility; for the one offered at my school, you have to fill out a weekly exercise log, complete assignments (which range from short reports to vocab tests to demonstrating a drill you’ve learned on camera), and watch videos. There’s no set period in which all of this is done—I actually completed my first assignment on my iPad at home.

So, should you sign up for this if your school offers it? Well, it depends on your interests and personality. Are you more introverted? Are you good at planning? Then by all means, take online gym. However, if you’re an extrovert, or if you tend to procrastinate, I’d suggest sticking with the tried-and-true approach.