Asynchronous and Synchronous Learning

Asynchronous learning allows the learner to determine the pace, location, and time instruction to occur.

Examples: traditional homework, computer-based learning or online courses, discussion boards, discussion

threads or posting, research, course assignments or projects, wiki development and participation, blogging, and

web quests.

Synchronous learning is instructor-led, training in a computer-mediated environment, with multiple

geographically located participants at the same time. Examples: traditional or virtual classroom, virtual lecture,

video conference, chat board, wikis, interactive learning management system, or various collaborative tools.

Comparison and Contrast of Synchronous and Asynchronous e-Learning

Synchronous e-Learning Asynchronous e-Learning

Computer –mediated learning environments Instructional programs delivered on a computer

Instructor-led Web-based, self-paced, self-study

Method nearest to classroom-style learning Participants follow preferred sequence of topics

Real-time method Participants interact with others through e-mail, online

discussion groups and online bulletin boards

Participants engaged at the same time in an instructional event These programs can be taken at any time by anyone;

participants can take short breaks without the risk of missing

valuable information

Live interaction between students and instructors via chat

postings and a common electronic black or whiteboard

Study a particular topic more closely as well as skip over

topics

Multiple geographically dispersed participants Course material is available when learner is prepared

Comprises a growing share of on-line training May or may not include options for synchronous or

asynchronous communication with others

Aka virtual classroom, remote live training, remote instructor-led

training

Requires frequent and relevant interactions to sustain attention

and promote learning

Advantages

- Convenience, reduced travel time and costs

- Less time away from the job

- Faster to develop and deploy training

- Higher completions rates than self-study

- Train a larger number at a lower cost

- Real-time interaction

- Collaborative learning activities

- Comprises 25% of all corporate training (10K + employees)

(Dolezalek, 2005; Gavin, 2002).

Advantages

- Convenience, reduced travel time and costs

-Self-paced

-Less mental load imposed on learners

-Screen real estate benefits from relevant visuals

-Comments are archived and organized by discussion and date

-Learner controls parameters – time, location

Disadvantages

-Technical challenges

- Lack of interaction and engagement

- Possible poor facilitation skills

Disadvantages

-Lack of social presence, no face-to-face interaction

-No frequent, relevant interaction to sustain attention

-Lack of collaborative learning activities

Clark, R.C., Kwinn, A. (2007), The new virtual classroom, evidence-based guidelines for synchronous e-learning, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., P. 3-

4, 6-9, 10-14, 249, 260.

Clark & Mayer (2008), E-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning,

P.7, 75.