synchroronous and asynchronous
both types of discussions are great learning experiences.
Synchronous works best with fewer people. This also makes it take more time. This often why synchronous is not a requirement for most online course. I think it would be great to initiate more synchronous chats but I find that outside of office hours I tend to only use them for students that need one on one help. Though I'm constantly searching for a way to us synchronous chats for the entire class without overwhelming the chat room with posts.
I must also respectfully disagree. While little upfront engagement is immediately required, I put in significantly more time managing and contributing to my class' asynchronous discussions. Because the conversations take place over several days, I continually return to read and comment on new posts. That said, I believe it's worth it because of the great discussions that often occur if students are sufficiently motivated and encouraged.
~Michael Slotemaker
Most schools I taught in require both synchronous and asynchronous. Each of these two formats has their own advantages. Asynchronous can be very formal where students need to submit a well thought post that might need to be supported by references in addition to be engaged in an intellectual discussion. Students like synchronous chats more as they can provide a relaxing environment to speak their mind.
Vickie,
Making it part of an assignment is a good idea, It gives the feel of being part of the class.
Shelly Crider
Hello Shelly,
I have trouble with 100% participation with synchronous discussion. The synchronous discussion is recorded and the student can review at any time. I always ask the students to review the record discussion for direction on completing assignments.
Jessica,
Incorporating both will allow capture of more learning styles.
Shelly Crider
I do, but we record the lectures so that students can come back and review them when they're free. It is hard to find a time that works for everyone, but being able to record really works nicely.
If at all possible, I think it is a good idea to incorporate both into an online class. Students learn in different ways, and exposing them to the information in several different forums seems to be a good insurance policy.
I love synchronous communication. Online lectures are fun and informative. However, I use conferencing where the students can see a power point and hear me speak. They respond in text. This allows for a visual as well, which is nice.
Asynchronous communication seems to work better to get students to communicate with one another. It's nice to show them they all have strengths and to encourage them to share these with one another.
Both types have their pros and cons. With synchronous, it's more lively and real time but it can be confusing to follow. Asynchronous allows for more easy organization, but depending on when students check their accounts and respond, the lapse in time can allow things to go stale.
Cathy,
There is always time for explaining how to get back on track.
Shelly Crider
With the synchroronous, if the discussion gets off track, I can redirect back to the subject matter. With asynchronous, if the students go off track, it is too late to put the students back on track.
Yes, it is difficult to get everybody to participate, but that's true of any kind of interaction. I keep track of who is actively participating in the discussion and call out students who are just passively lurking (although this is harder to do in larger settings).
do you ever have trouble having 100% participation with the synchronous discussions online?
In my experience, asynchronous can be more difficult. When I have an asynchronous discussion, I want to provide timely feedback on the comments; this is difficult to do when it can come in at any hour of the day or night. I'm already used to doing "synchronous" sessions in my on-the-ground courses - it's not that difficult for me to sit down at a designated day and time and facilitate a discussion with everybody at once.
I love having the synchronous discussions! It feels a lot more like being in a classroom when I give lectures live via web cam.
that is true! So do we go with easy or do we mix it up some?
Lisa,
I agree with this, but asynchrous is much easier on instructors.
Sincerely,
Vince
Lisa....which have you participated in and how did you like that type of discussion?
