What is Asynchronous Learning?
Today together with wow essay writing service we’re going to talk about what asynchronous learning is and when asynchronous format can be used effectively in online education.
What is Asynchronous Learning?
Asynchronous distance learning is a format in which there is a time delay in the contact between the student and the instructor. Usually, the instructor prepares and structures materials for study in advance, and students access and learn on a freelance schedule.
Asynchronous learning always involves delayed receipt of information. It may include reading textbooks, articles, blogs, websites, interactive presentations, taking electronic courses, tests, assignments, and exercises, watching recorded videos, or listening to audio recordings.
It is commonly believed that there is no communication between the instructor and students in asynchronous learning. It is not valid: the instructor and students can communicate via email or messenger within the educational platform. In the learning process, students receive not only new knowledge but also feedback — from the educational forum on the results of tests or the teacher after checking the students’ independent work.
In addition, there are courses (e.g., on Coursera) in which students evaluate each other’s homework. This form of learning can also be considered asynchronous.
What are the Features of Asynchronous Learning?
In describing the features of the asynchronous format, it is convenient to divide them into pros and cons.
Advantages:
- Broad geography. Asynchronous learning is available to trainees from anywhere in the world.
- Flexibility. Trainees can choose the trajectory and the schedule of training independently.
- Flow. Students do not need to join a group to start a course — they can start and finish any time.
- The convenience of management. Spending time at the start, you hardly waste time on individual students.
- Cheapness in the process. Once the course starts, there’s almost no cost.
- Freedom. You can do something else when the course is up and making money — like launching new routes.
Disadvantages:
- Responsibility. You need to prepare all training materials in advance: this is a serious investment of time and money at the start.
- Start-up costs. You need to buy or rent special equipment and software — for example, video cameras or a platform for organizing training.
- Non-universal. The asynchronous format is not suitable for all training programs (but more about that below).
- Low engagement. Students have to motivate themselves to learn and produce results. Also, there is no group dynamics, achieved in synchronous learning.
When Asynchronous Learning is Effective
The asynchronous format is suitable for learning both humanities and technical disciplines — and even dance and yoga.
Asynchronous learning is especially effective if you need to:
- Memorize a lot of theoretical material — the asynchronous format makes it easy to go back to lessons you’ve learned;
- To prepare for certification or testing — experts consider the asynchronous format as the most effective way to prepare for exams;
- to create a course for students with different levels of training — everyone will be able to choose their own pace and trajectory of learning;
- to conduct mass training, for example, on labor protection and fire safety — hundreds of people can be trained in asynchronous format simultaneously.
Asynchronous format should be used as the main one in corporate training and additional education: asynchronous format is more flexible. It allows learning at any convenient time, in any place. Asynchronous training should instead perform other functions of explaining difficult moments, increasing the motivation and involvement of the listener in the learning process.
When Asynchronous Learning is Ineffective
The asynchronous format is ineffective if the main focus of teaching a discipline is acquiring technical skills or mandatory interaction with the instructor. For example, an asynchronous design is inappropriate for learning to drive or play the guitar.
For some disciplines — for example, for teaching foreign languages — a mixed learning format is best: an asynchronous format for learning grammar and writing assignments and online interaction with the teacher to develop speaking skills. For example, an electronic course can complement a webinar, during which the essential points are emphasized orally. You can ask the teacher a question, and talk through the problematic issues.
