Asynchronous works best for individual learning when students are interacting with the content; whereas synchronous is best for group learning when students are interacting with each other or the professor. Recent research suggests that strategically blending these two delivery modes provides optimal results in supporting student learning. (Moorhouse and Wong)
Considerations
- Are there any complex materials that require students to have more time pondering and reflecting on?
- Which topics are best learned through exchanges of perspectives among the students?
Best practices
- Asynchronous time can be used as preparation for the synchronous.
- Individual learning time can support group activities when students learn from each other, and you play the role of a facilitator.
- Students can develop a common foundation such as learning the terminology before joining the virtual classroom.
- You can use asynchronous activities to assess the perspectives and backgrounds of your students, which eventually will be the basis of your synchronous activities. See an example of blended (sync + async) learning in action by Dan Levy, The Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Balancing Act, Harvard Business Publishing Education
Patti Shank, Blending Asynchronous And Synchronous Digital Learning (elearningindustry.com)
Florence Martin, Drew Polly and Albert Ritzhaupt, Bichronous Online Learning: Blending Asynchronous and Synchronous Online Learning | EDUCAUSE
Moorhouse, B.L., Wong, K.M. Blending asynchronous and synchronous digital technologies and instructional approaches to facilitate remote learning. J. Comput. Educ. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40692-021-00195-8