Question

WRITE A SUMMARY IN 150 WORDS OR LESS FOR THE INFORMATION BELOW

Synchronous learning is the kind of learning that happens in real time. This means that you, your classmates, and your instructor interact in a specific virtual place, through a specific online medium, at a specific time. In other words, it’s not exactly anywhere, anyhow, anytime. Methods of synchronous online learning include video conferencing, teleconferencing, live chatting, and live-streaming lectures.

What are the advantages of synchronous learning

• Classroom Engagement

If you’re the kind of learner that likes active discussion, immediate feedback, and a personal familiarity that you can only get through real-time interaction, you’re probably a candidate for a synchronous learning experience. This is an especially important distinction if you’re just making the transition from the traditional classroom to an online setting. The personal contact that you get through live videoconferencing, lecture broadcasts or messenger chatting can make it a lot easier to make the transition. Essentially, you can have all the personal engagement of a classroom without getting all sketched out about germs during cold and flu season.

• Dynamic Learning

This experience comes with more than just engagement though. There’s a case to be made that synchronous online learning is simply a superior way to learn, that it allows for a more dynamic exploration of topics, ideas and concepts than is possible in a medium with time lag. Videoconferencing, for instance, makes it possible to ask questions and receive answers mid-lesson; to discourse and debate with classmates at a brisk and exciting pace; to collectively drive a conversation into unexpected new directions. There is a speed and immediacy to synchronous online learning that, at its best, evokes the same level of accountability and engagement as classroom attendance. If you thrive at a swift pace, surrounded by competing and complementary ideas, this is as close as you’ll come to the real thing.

• Instructional Depth

With synchronous online learning, you’ll interact regularly and frequently with your professors. You’ll actually get to know your instructors. This is not just a good way to confirm your instructor’s credibility. It also provides regular opportunity for face-to-face discussion, individual guidance, and perhaps even the chance to establish a mentorship. If you’re the type of student that does your best work with the help of accessible and supportive instruction, you’re probably a synchronous learner.

What are the disadvantages of synchronous learning?

• Rigid Schedule

If you’ve chosen online learning because of your hectic and unpredictable work schedule, synchronous learning may present you with some challenges. The defining characteristic of this learning experience is its adherence to a set schedule. Lectures and class discussions will take place at established meeting times. If your job as a registered nurse keeps you on call at strange hours, or your parenting responsibilities render you fully occupied during the day time, or your hobby as an amateur storm-chaser means that you have to be ready to roll at a moment’s notice, you may have a hard time satisfying your course requirements. If flexibility is the number one reason that you’ve decided to go the online route, make sure you can manage your synchronous learning responsibility around your schedule.

• Technical Difficulties

The above concern is especially pressing if you’re a person on the go. If your work or life requires extensive travel, or at least the kind of mobility that forces you to complete coursework in weird places like coffee shops, airport terminals, and hotel lobbies, you’re probably always carrying a laptop and always searching for a wireless signal. That search could be pretty stressful if you’re desperately trying to log in for a videoconference, lecture, or heaven forbid, an exam. As a synchronous learner, technical difficulties like spotty internet, crashing hard drives, and dying batteries can become anything from an inconvenience to a disaster. Instead of logging in and sitting for your exam, you’re sweating profusely and sputtering profanities at your computer. Who has the time for that?

Synchronous learning is the kind of learning that happens in real time. This means that you, your classmates, and your instructor interact in a specific virtual place, through a specific online medium, at a specific time. In other words, it’s not exactly anywhere, anyhow, anytime. Methods of synchronous online learning include video conferencing, teleconferencing, live chatting, and live-streaming lectures.

What are the advantages of synchronous learning

• Classroom Engagement

If you’re the kind of learner that likes active discussion, immediate feedback, and a personal familiarity that you can only get through real-time interaction, you’re probably a candidate for a synchronous learning experience. This is an especially important distinction if you’re just making the transition from the traditional classroom to an online setting. The personal contact that you get through live videoconferencing, lecture broadcasts or messenger chatting can make it a lot easier to make the transition. Essentially, you can have all the personal engagement of a classroom without getting all sketched out about germs during cold and flu season.

• Dynamic Learning

This experience comes with more than just engagement though. There’s a case to be made that synchronous online learning is simply a superior way to learn, that it allows for a more dynamic exploration of topics, ideas and concepts than is possible in a medium with time lag. Videoconferencing, for instance, makes it possible to ask questions and receive answers mid-lesson; to discourse and debate with classmates at a brisk and exciting pace; to collectively drive a conversation into unexpected new directions. There is a speed and immediacy to synchronous online learning that, at its best, evokes the same level of accountability and engagement as classroom attendance. If you thrive at a swift pace, surrounded by competing and complementary ideas, this is as close as you’ll come to the real thing.

• Instructional Depth

With synchronous online learning, you’ll interact regularly and frequently with your professors. You’ll actually get to know your instructors. This is not just a good way to confirm your instructor’s credibility. It also provides regular opportunity for face-to-face discussion, individual guidance, and perhaps even the chance to establish a mentorship. If you’re the type of student that does your best work with the help of accessible and supportive instruction, you’re probably a synchronous learner.

What are the disadvantages of synchronous learning?

• Rigid Schedule

If you’ve chosen online learning because of your hectic and unpredictable work schedule, synchronous learning may present you with some challenges. The defining characteristic of this learning experience is its adherence to a set schedule. Lectures and class discussions will take place at established meeting times. If your job as a registered nurse keeps you on call at strange hours, or your parenting responsibilities render you fully occupied during the day time, or your hobby as an amateur storm-chaser means that you have to be ready to roll at a moment’s notice, you may have a hard time satisfying your course requirements. If flexibility is the number one reason that you’ve decided to go the online route, make sure you can manage your synchronous learning responsibility around your schedule.

• Technical Difficulties

The above concern is especially pressing if you’re a person on the go. If your work or life requires extensive travel, or at least the kind of mobility that forces you to complete coursework in weird places like coffee shops, airport terminals, and hotel lobbies, you’re probably always carrying a laptop and always searching for a wireless signal. That search could be pretty stressful if you’re desperately trying to log in for a videoconference, lecture, or heaven forbid, an exam. As a synchronous learner, technical difficulties like spotty internet, crashing hard drives, and dying batteries can become anything from an inconvenience to a disaster. Instead of logging in and sitting for your exam, you’re sweating profusely and sputtering profanities at your computer. Who has the time for that?

Answer 1

One of the most important advantages of synchronous learning is that it would provide a better classroom environment because of the variety of media used for the personal contact. Since students of this age is very tech savvy it becomes very easy for them to adopt to the classes using their own devices. Secondly, it helps the students learn at their own pace, time and distance is also not an issue. This would mean that time and space are overcome with the help of technology. Thirdly, they also have variety of materials which would suit the learning style and speed of the leaners. However, disadvantage is that there is a rigid schedule which one cannot break or miss. This would make people more stressed if it is accompanied by technical difficulties. Nevertheless, synchronous learning has changed the face of learning amidst the pandemic.

Thank you for the question. Please rate if you like the answer.