I need to take a long hard look at my current teaching practices (largely based on F2F), reflect on what I am now learning about syncronous and asyncronous online learning, and most likely make some significant changes to better facilitate meaningful educational experiences for my high school learners as we move forward in this uncertain world of COVID we find ourselves in.
I have learned a lot from the courses on synchronous and asynchronous learning. I find it necessary to provide both types of approaches with my students. I teach high school math courses and have seen some of my students struggle with asynchronous learning because they may have issues with procrastination. Some of my students need the structure synchronous learning provides while others need asynchronous learning due to personal needs. I find there is a need to provide for both.
After learning about the advantages and disadvantage of synchronous and asynchronous learning, I believe I will set my online classes as asynchronous. It is too hard to establish times for students to get together at the same time with all of the outside factors being considered.
I was using the discussion board to allow students to post questions and track interaction with the class. I am now going to have two discussion posts. One that is strictly for questions over the material and another that will allow me to ask deeper questions about the content.
effective communication is a must
While organization is important in both types of environments, it is more dio in an asynchronous environment, where students must be able to work on their own most of the time.
I learned the importance of organizing my online course for student success by investigating my learning style and considering the course content. The key factors to consider are important in any classroom and vital to the learning process. I was reminded of the dynamic syllabus. I see my teaching style as blended. Planning the use of my Learning Management System is critical. I plan to provide my students with a dynamic syllabus.
Communication, as always, is the key. Everyone needs to know the plan.
Each type will need to be determined by the content that needs to be delivered. I think anytime you can have actual interaction with students is a positive. Not all content must be done that way as we've found now through the pandemic situation. Regardless of the method chosen content needs to be well organized and students have a good understanding of what is expected of them.
Synchronous and asynchronous courses have their pros and cons, but regardless of which you use, it's critical to communicate well with students and to be as clear as possible when setting expectations.
Teachers need to be consistent in how they set up their online course. Synchonous meetings can be helpful in controlling the classroom content but is not always realistic because part of the beauty of online learning is that the student can do the work at their own space.
What I've learned through the remote learning process is that kids want to do stuff on their own schedule. A weekly scheduled zoom conference works, but the daily expectation to be on at a specific time is not something the kids like.
I learned it is important to organize the course material and communicate with students regardless of the methods of learning.
I appreciated the synchronous guidelines for students during a VC.
Asynchronous and Synchronous are good methods. It is best to choose a method that is conducive for effective learning for the students. Communication and organization of the course and it's expectactions are essentials for student success.
Communication using the correct method is vital, asynchronus and synchronus teaching is important and they both have benefits and downsides to both.
Asynchronus format definitely has an advantage over synchronus with students today. I do believe synchronus format can also be appropriate at times.
I think the importance of a syllabus has been a concept where I have to be more aware of and focus more energy.
In my past hybrid classes I have taught for welding inspection, there was not a clear path on how to proceed through the materials.
It’s hard to decide between asynchronous or synchronous all depends how you want to run a virtual classroom would you have more control to be synchronous. Or would students be more at ease with asynchronous which they can learn at there own pace so to say?
