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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/1404
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I think it depends on what you're looking for. People take writing classes for several reasons: to receive instruction from a teacher; to meet other writers; to have your work critiqued by a group; to be part of a community of like-minded souls.

So let's break down the answers according to those motivations.

Let's say at the outset that you should choose where to take your class based on the qualifications of the institution. It might be affiliated with a "real" as well as a virtual organization, such as New York Writers Workshop or Gotham. Or it might be affiliated with a major magazine, such as Writer's Digest. If you choose to take an online class, make sure it's with a well known, reputable outfit, and with teachers who have credentials in the kind(s) of writing they teach.

Now for the wanting to receive instruction from a teacher motivation. The way online classes often work is that you have a set amount of time to correspond one-on-one with your teacher, the teacher will read and comment on assignments, and be available during the time of the class.

There are limitations to electronic communication (lack of facial expression, tone of voice, etc.) but there are also advantages to it (people sometimes communicate more clearly in writing) so whether a virtual or physical classroom works best is largely an individual matter. If you're looking for critique and feedback about your work, I'd say that the skill of the teacher matters a lot more than whether you meet face to face or not. However, skill is sometimes more quickly assessed in person--several weeks can go by in an online setting before you know if you and the teacher really "jell".

Moving on to meeting other writers...in physical workshops, the interaction often continues after the class has ended, with members of the group meeting up in a coffee shop to keep workshopping and talking. This is harder to accomplish with an online class, in part because knowing whom you click with can be harder to assess. But it has been done with online classes creating Yahoo groups to continue the interaction.

Group critique is often the most valuable part of taking a writing class--and it's always a hard thing to get, at least when you're talking about good group critique. Some people will have edits to offer no matter what, even if a piece is working well--they're editors and that's what they do. Some people will praise everything; others will dislike everything. Finding people who can really tap into your intent as writer and figure out where your piece hits it or goes awry is like finding gold in the California gold rush. You're as likely to find such people in an online class as a physical one--but without the extra chatting and interaction that happens in a "real" class it can take longer to figure out who's who.

The writers community stuff is basically answered by the above. There are online communities that are at least as stable and long-lasting as physical ones. They can offer support, interaction, an exchange of ideas, and inspiration. The chance that any one class will lead to such a community is small--but so is the chance that one physical class will.

In short, if you're someone who is comfortable online, doesn't require the subtleties of physical interaction, and you can find an excellent outfit, online classes can provide instruction, critique, and even some fellow writers to meet.

Original score: 13