Synchronous vs. asynchronous learning
Understanding the difference between synchronous and asynchronous learning is important. The key difference is how students connect with each other and their educator.
Synchronous learning is when educators and students are engaged in learning at the same time in the same virtual learning environment. With synchronous learning, educators set a specific time for students to meet and conduct class. They meet every day as they would if the school campus were open. Students join the video call every day, and for every class, to engage with their classmates as well as their educator. Class would be conducted similarly to how it's conducted when students meet face-to-face. When class isn't in session, students would complete and submit homework to their educator via online tools. Educators can provide feedback on assignments and reach out to students who need extra support.
Asynchronous learning is when students complete work related to their course on their own schedule because students and educators don't meet on a daily basis. Educators provide materials, video lessons, and assignments that students can review and complete within a designated time period (for example, one week). Throughout the week, students may participate in discussion threads, collaborate on a Word document or PowerPoint presentation for an assignment, or watch a video and respond to a prompt. Educators can organize one or two online meetings a week where they'll teach concepts and connect with the class as a whole. Educators can also set up virtual office hours where students can seek extra help or ask questions about the week's assignments.
Considerations
When a school is thinking about transitioning to a remote learning environment, the administration needs to consider numerous factors to determine:
- What type of learning environment they structure (synchronous or asynchronous)
- What classes are offered
- What additional support they provide students.
Educators should consider:
- Bandwidth at home. Bandwidth issues can impact educators and students alike. Families may not have Wi-Fi at all, or they may have a system with a slow bandwidth. With a school closure the entire family or multiple siblings will likely be home. If multiple family members need to access the internet for work and school, their bandwidth may be slower than anticipated. They may, therefore, need to work at different times, making synchronous learning impractical. Recording Teams calls or prerecording lessons can help with students who have bandwidth issues.
- Technology at home. Technology in each home differs. Some students have a desktop computer, others have a laptop or tablet, while others have only a phone to use (and some may not have anything). With a variety of devices in use, the tools you use with your students need to be available across platforms to ensure everyone can participate. Additionally, students may need to share devices with siblings or parents. If students are sharing a device with another family member, synchronous learning is impractical. Recording Teams calls or prerecording lessons can help with students who are sharing devices with siblings or parents.
- Other demands on students. In some situations, older siblings may be charged with the care of their younger siblings while the parents or guardians work. Additionally, for some students, school is a safe haven with a welcome structure. Finding a balance between providing students with content, materials, and work that allows them to continue their learning and giving students time to complete tasks when they're facing other demands is crucial for educators.
- Students' emotional needs. A situation that prompts a temporary school closing is shocking to students. Students need time to process and grieve. They will have questions about what will happen when they're home. They'll be confused about how it will all work. They'll be worried about their families and their friends. If the school closure goes longer than originally anticipated, more questions and concerns arise. As time passes, students' emotional needs change. Finding ways to ease students’ concerns and help them from the beginning to the end of the school closure is crucial. A stressed student can't learn. Ensuring counselors can connect with students who are most vulnerable is important. Additionally, educators should create a plan for how they gauge student stress, encourage student emotional expression in healthy ways, and keep students centered and uplifted during a stressful time.
- Electives. Many schools will wonder whether they need to include electives like art, music, and physical education in their Remote Learning plan. Studies show that in times of tragedy or trauma, ritual and normalcy help ease the stress of the event. Additionally, while some students thrive and shine in the academic setting, others excel in the art room or on the basketball court. Finding ways to incorporate creative outlets and physical play not only provides ritual and normalcy for students but also encourages them to step away from devices to play and create. If you can find a way to incorporate these elements into your students' days, it is well worth it for their mental and physical health.
Tip for Families Sharing a Device: If family members are sharing a device and signing in to Microsoft 365 and Teams online, sometimes signing out of one student's account and signing in with another student's account doesn't work and the second student still sees the first student's Teams. If families use InPrivate Browsers and/or different browsers, more than one student can be signed in at the same time. You can share these instructions with students who shareing a device.