Teaching asynchronously
Asynchronous learning refers to learning in which engagement with learning material and learning activities occurs at the pace and level that is set by the learner. Activities may involve collaborative learning or individual engagement with material but learning events can occur at any time and not as part of a scheduled set of tutorial sessions or real-time learning contexts. Synchronous learning, on the other hand, refers to learning contexts which require real-time interaction between students, teachers and peer-to-peer interaction. This kind of learning can occur in technology-mediated contexts (synchronous online) or more traditional face-to-face learning environments.
The following table outlines the differences and limitations between online synchronous and asynchronous learning.
| Type of Online Learning | Definition | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fully Asynchronous
100 percent asynchronous |
Anytime and anywhere online learning |
|
|
|
Fully Synchronous
100 percent synchronous |
Real-time online learning in which students can participate from anywhere |
|
|
Adapted from EDUCAUSE Review .
Why use it?
Asynchronous learning opens up opportunities to think creatively about the design of online learning environments that use this modality. Considerations and questions include:
- Which learning technologies will you use?
- How will you develop the learning community?
- How will you help to scaffold your students?
- What are the features of your asynchronous learning designs?
