Synchronous vs. Asynchronous

[Alpha]

I've never done any academic synchronous online learning but my first reaction is that it wouldn't make too much difference to me other than being tied to a time slot.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Learning: What’s the Difference? | EdTech Magazine

[studyingfortests]

I've never done any academic synchronous online learning but my first reaction is that it wouldn't make too much difference to me other than being tied to a time slot.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Learning: What’s the Difference? | EdTech Magazine

I have several friends who are doing synchronous online learning (all the CA community colleges in this area are still on remote learning.)  From talking to them, I'm not really convinced that much is happening that could not be just as effectively achieved through asynchronous links.

The online graduate program I start in January apparently makes extensive use of VoiceThread, which, as near as I understand it, sounds like a message board like this, only with video clips instead of text messages. I think the idea is some sort of middle ground between synchronous, where people can see each other, and asynch, which (at least in my experience) has always been text-based.  Apparently students and professors like it, but it sounds like a pain in the *ss to me.

I was, I guess, not surprised by the claim that the synchronous online classes outrank asynchronous classes in terms of learning retention. Yet I can't help but think this may have to do more with the learner and their method of engaging with the content than with sync vs async. I can read and re-read (or watch/re-watch) any content in an asynch format. Can't always do that if it's synch. And having the resources for review is something that, for me, definitely helps me to better retain the material.

As much as I like and have really benefitted from the "butts in seats" aspect of class... discussion, interchange, and sharing of ideas is definitely more lively than in any asynch class I've been in -- I feel like I have probably learned as much from asynch classes. And being able to do them at my convenience means, to me, I can focus and not be stressed by what I need to do before or after.  So for that reason, my preference would be for asynchronous.

[dfrecore]

My kid is at Purdue Global which has both; if you don't make it to "class" during the time period, then you have to write a summary to prove you watched the lesson. Needless to say, she races in to make it to class every week come hell or high water! She really doesn't care about which method, she's fine with either (she's done both).

What she DOES like though, is that she has to write a paper every week for her courses; seriously, it would kill me, but she says she feels like she learns the material much better this way.

[studyingfortests]

What she DOES like though, is that she has to write a paper every week for her courses; seriously, it would kill me, but she says she feels like she learns the material much better this way.

When I was taking butts-in-seats, I would go home from class and transcribe my hastily-written notes and synthesize the notes into study materials for that class. Much like writing a paper, though less formal. It absolutely made a huge difference in comprehension for me.

[ss20ts]

My kid is at Purdue Global which has both; if you don't make it to "class" during the time period, then you have to write a summary to prove you watched the lesson. Needless to say, she races in to make it to class every week come hell or high water!  She really doesn't care about which method, she's fine with either (she's done both).

What she DOES like though, is that she has to write a paper every week for her courses; seriously, it would kill me, but she says she feels like she learns the material much better this way.

Is it your husband who's in an ExcelTrack at PUG? Mine is and he doesn't have to attend the weekly video or write about it. I was wondering if that's one of the differences between the regular online program and the ExcelTrack programs. 

The paper every week sounds like what I had to deal with at CSU Global and Charleston Southern University. It gets VERY old quickly! We also had cited discussions along with responses. It was far more work than being in a class on campus. I don't miss that methodology at all!

[dfrecore]

My kid is at Purdue Global which has both; if you don't make it to "class" during the time period, then you have to write a summary to prove you watched the lesson. Needless to say, she races in to make it to class every week come hell or high water!  She really doesn't care about which method, she's fine with either (she's done both).

What she DOES like though, is that she has to write a paper every week for her courses; seriously, it would kill me, but she says she feels like she learns the material much better this way.

Is it your husband who's in an ExcelTrack at PUG? Mine is and he doesn't have to attend the weekly video or write about it. I was wondering if that's one of the differences between the regular online program and the ExcelTrack programs. 

The paper every week sounds like what I had to deal with at CSU Global and Charleston Southern University. It gets VERY old quickly! We also had cited discussions along with responses. It was far more work than being in a class on campus. I don't miss that methodology at all!

He applied but hasn't started (not sure yet if he will or not). So I don't know the format of the ExcelTrack courses.

Yes, I wouldn't like doing the paper each week, but I'm shocked that she doesn't mind at all.  To each his own - just goes to show how different learning styles like different formats, nothing works for everyone.  My son, I'm certain, would have dropped Day 1.

[LevelUP]

Asynchronous learning is excellent for people when it fits their learning style. For example, introverts that are great at coming up with their study plans or want to accelerate their learning like asynchronous learning.

Asynchronous learning with text and videos is a good start though it can be improved with interactive games. 

However, some students do poorly in asynchronous learning environments, and synchronous learning would give the highest percentage of success to a group of students.

Synchronous learning has advantages such as a set schedule, shared learning experience, peer-to-peer learning, and real-time interaction with the teacher. 

Synchronous learning is only as good as the quality of the teacher. The bigger the class size, usually the poorer the results.