While both the synchronous and asynchronous e-learning are useful, they’ve their pros and cons which they help to deliver better learning program.
In this article, we’ll be exploring the synchronous and asynchronous e-learning, to know what they mean and how they can be of benefit to instructors to deliver a better learning experience.
What is synchronous learning?
Synchronous online learning refers to the learning process that involves a group of learners engaging in learning at the same time to achieve a common goal.
It’s more of a real-time learning involving an instructor or a tutor at the helm of the training room, leading the discussion.
Often, training gets delivered through virtual online classrooms, including webinars, video conferences, webcasts, telephone conferences, application sharing, interactive learning models, and live chat.
These synchronous technologies enable learners from anywhere across the globe to connect with ease and attend the training program to acquire skills and knowledge.
The online training, lectures, discussion, and presentation of lessons happen at a specific time interval, with the expectation that learners come online to attend the training.
What is asynchronous learning?
Asynchronous learning is a type of online learning that is based on constructivist theory. That’s, it’s more of a student-centered learning approach, stressing on the essence of the interaction between peers.
It utilizes online training resources to promote information sharing among a group of people, irrespective of time and place. In asynchronous learning, learners tend to attend learning at their own time and pace, interact with their colleagues to give or receive feedback, and acquire the learning goal.
An example of asynchronous learning can get seen in online training coursework that you can deliver through email, web, and message board.
Benefits of synchronous eLearning
Synchronous e-learning takes the style of traditional classroom training. It requires a tutor or an instructor to facilitate and deliver the training. Below are some of the benefits of synchronous e-learning;
Delivering improved learners outcomes
As an instructor, improving your learners’ outcomes is essential if you want to achieve a successful learning business. While that is true, one way to improve your learners’ outcomes is by having a professional online instructor available.
The instructors will be in charge of delivering training and answering questions at the same time. Apart from that, they also receive instant feedback from learners to help in improving the quality of their learning program.
With synchronous learning, instructors can easily interact with their learners to provide training that meets their needs.
Besides, instructors can also make use of data analytics to generate the necessary learning experience and further improve their learning outcomes.
Cost-effectiveness and time management
Unlike traditional classroom training, asynchronous e-learning program helps to reduce the cost of training. Part of the cost of training includes transportation, hotel, and meeting space cost that both learners and instructors need to achieve the best results.
With synchronous e-learning, learners do not need the extra cost of transporting to the classroom since they only meet online to acquire knowledge.
A virtual instructor-led training does not only help to save cost but also assists in reducing the time of travel.
To deliver collaborative, interactive, and engaging training
One of the most vital parts of synchronous e-learning is that it helps to deliver engaging, interactive, and collaborative learning.
Using a virtual classroom, you can easily offer collaborative tools like a whiteboard, to improve interactivity or screen sharing, for teaching others.
Using a virtual classroom, you can easily offer collaborative tools like a whiteboard, to improve interactivity or screen sharing, for teaching others.
Benefits of asynchronous eLearning
Just like the synchronous e-learning, asynchronous learning also helps to save cost and time compared to traditional classroom training. Apart from that, below are some other benefits of asynchronous learning;
Offers flexibility
With asynchronous learning, learners can learn with ease anytime, at their convenience. Learners get empowered to complete their asynchronous training activities from anywhere across the globe, at their most convenient time.
Asynchronous e-Learning helps instructors to offer their learners flexibility when receiving training.
Reinforce learning
With asynchronous learning, instructors can reinforce the learning activities that have been delivered earlier in the year.
Also, instructors can make use of discussion forums to enable learners to interact with their peers to acquire and retain knowledge.
Train and teach at scale
With asynchronous e-learning content like MOOCs, instructors can deliver a better learning experience to many learners without having to battle with scheduling a one-off session.
Although both the synchronous and asynchronous learning are useful for delivering better training experience, your learners will determine which is better for them.
Some learners will prefer synchronous e-learning because they want a face-to-face training experience with the online instructor. On the other hand, some learners will also prefer asynchronous e-learning because they want to learn and study at their convenient time and place.
Whichever the case, both synchronous and asynchronous e-learning learning styles have their pros and cons to online learning.
