Teacher Creation Course Synchronous and asynchronous online lessons
Recent years have been witness to major changes in teaching and learning and amongst those ground-breaking approaches, we came to learn about the synchronous and asynchronous online lessons.
A synchronous online lesson is a type of educational session that occurs in real-time and involves interaction between instructors and learners over the internet. In a synchronous online lesson, participants are required to be online and present at the same time to engage in activities, such as live lectures, discussions, Q&A sessions, group work, or presentations through using various online platforms and tools.
In contrast, an asynchronous online lesson is the provision of ready made educational materials, such as lectures, assignments, and discussions, which learners can access at their own pace and time. In asynchronous learning, participants do not need to be online at the same time. Instead, they can access the learning materials and complete tasks according to their own schedules and preferences.
Evidently there are pros and cons in either of the above described methods lesson delivery. A concise list of these pros and cons is the one below:
Synchronous Online Lessons:
Pros:
- Real-time interaction, including immediate feedback, clarification of issues, and discussions.
- Sense of community, facilitating cohesive learning among participants.
- Simulation of a traditional classroom experience.
- Provision of a structured learning schedule and routine.
- Accountability becoming a key factor.
Cons:
- Schedule constraints requiring specific time availability for participants.
- Reliance on technical suitability and internet stability.
- Need for adherence to scheduled class times limits flexibility.
- Evident pressure of time constraints for discussions or activities.
Asynchronous Online Lessons:
Pros:
- Flexibility allowing for access and completion of work at one’s own pace and convenience.
- Accessibility accommodating various schedules, living styles and time zones.
- Facilitation of autonomous learning.
- Provision of opportunities for reflection and critical thinking.
- Flexibility in overcoming technical issues.
Cons:
- Breading feelings of isolation due to lack of real-time interaction.
- Absence of immediate feedback from instructors or peers.
- Potential for procrastination, such as the “I will do it later!” attitude.
- Absence of structured class times may cause self-discipline and accountability issues.
- Inability to build a sense of community among learners.
Ultimately, a good course should make use of both, the provision of synchronous and asynchronous online lessons attempting to utilise mostly the advantages of either one.
This is what one could call blended online learning, which combines elements of both synchronous and asynchronous online lessons. In this type of blended learning environment, students may engage in a combination of virtual classroom activities and of distant online learning experiences.
This approach allows for flexibility, personalisation, and integration of various instructional methods to meet the diverse needs of learners.
