Synchronous and asynchronous online learning are two educational methodologies that have significantly changed the course of education in this digital age. Both methods have unique advantages and shape the students’ educational journeys differently.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the nuts and bolts of these learning methods and discuss their benefits and suitability. We’ll also see how these methods can be combined for a better and more inclusive educational approach. Let’s get right to it!
Synchronous Learning and its Benefits
Synchronous learning is based on live, real-time interactions between learners and educators. It closely resembles the traditional classroom setting. The only difference is that these live interactions occur virtually, i.e., online.
Various forms of online learning are live lectures, live webinars, video conferences and other live sessions alike. A classic example is a scheduled video conference with the teacher delivering the lecture and students attending and asking questions simultaneously. Another one is virtual breakout rooms where students can collaborate on tasks in real-time.
Synchronous learning can provide you with various benefits. Some of them are as follows:
Instantaneous Feedback: As the education is being delivered live, students can ask any question as soon as it pops up in their minds and get feedback on their tasks immediately. In this way, any misconception gets corrected right away. It deepens students’ understanding and solidifies their concepts.
Interactivity: Synchronous learning allows you to communicate with teachers and peers directly.. Discussions, debates, and collaborative problem-solving create a vibrant and interactive learning atmosphere.
Sense of Community: Live interactions pave the way for more collaborative learning among students. It creates a sense of community among the students. This team spirit keeps students motivated and makes their learning experience more enriching.
Asynchronous Online Learning and its Benefits
Contrary to synchronous learning, asynchronous education is a more flexible and self-paced approach to study. It means you can study at your own schedule and access educational material like video lectures and notes whenever you want.
Examples include learning through pre-recorded video lectures, discussion boards, and digital assignments that you can complete at your can take and then complete and submit later on. Downloading a recorded lecture to watch it off the classic schedule also falls under asynchronous learning.
Asynchronous learning also has its own set of benefits such as:
Flexibility: Asynchronous learning allows students to study when it suits them best. It helps them better balance other commitments like sports, music, acting, entrepreneurship or other extracurricular activities. Also, for those who have a lot of things to juggle in a day, asynchronous learning can be a viable option.
Self-Paced Learning: This mode of learning is a boon for those who prefer to take time to digest and understand the course material. Students can revisit the recorded lecture anytime to fully grasp the concepts. They don’t have to pace up with other students in a live class.
Catering to Diverse Learning Styles: Different students have different learning styles. Asynchronous education is custom and self-paced. So it can be tailored to the individual needs of different students.
Choosing Between Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning
Whether you should go for synchronous learning or asynchronous learning depends upon your personal needs, preferences, and educational goals. Following are some factors that you should consider while making this decision.
Schedule and Time Commitment: If you have a lot of other commitments like work, sports, hobbies, etc., and a busy lifestyle, asynchronous learning will be more suitable for you because of its flexible nature. Synchronous learning that requires one to be present at a specific time for live sessions, might be difficult for you.
Learning Pace: If you learn slowly and take time to understand, asynchronous learning might suit you better. This type of learning is also a good fit for high-performing students. If you are a fast learner, you can quickly skip the lectures you already know or understand in a short time. If you want to study faster and not be bound by the schedule of a teacher or school, you may also prefer asynchronous learning to do that.
On the other hand, if you thrive in a structured environment and real-time interactions energize you, synchronous learning would be more appropriate for you.
Interactions: If a live class’s interaction and friendly environment motivate you, synchronous learning is your jam. Otherwise, you should choose asynchronous learning if you’re more of an independent learner.
Feedback and Support: If you think your questions and inquiries should be answered right away during the lesson, synchronous learning provides this benefit. As asynchronous learning is not live, feedback is usually delayed.
Now if you choose any of these two approaches, you’ll miss out on the advantages the other provides. Wouldn’t it be better if someone combined the benefits of both types of education into one new learning model?
Blending Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Learning
The blended or hybrid education model takes advantage of both learning types to create a better and more adaptable learning mode. Such a model integrates the real-time benefits of a synchronous approach with flexibility and asynchronous learning to create a more well-rounded approach.
For example, a course could have live scheduled classes for essential discussions supplemented with recorded videos, readings, and assignments. In this way, students can benefit from the community and interactivity of synchronous learning without compromising on the flexibility and convenience that asynchronous learning provides.
Global Town School’s Integrated Approach
Global Town School is a prime example of such an institution that has successfully integrated synchronous and asynchronous online learning in its programs.
By striking just the right balance between the two methods. As an online private school, Global Town School creates a learning environment that is not only engaging but also adaptable to the learning needs of each student.
We provide synchronous learning through live video lectures, presentations, and one-on-one coaching sessions. These real-time sessions clear student’s doubts, answer their questions, provide them with feedback, and keep them motivated.
In addition to these synchronous elements, we add pre-recorded lectures, digital readings, assignments, and other such stuff which is always accessible. This helps students further to fortify their learning outside the scheduled instruction hours. This creates an innovative and compelling educational mode that caters to students’ diverse needs and different learning styles.