Asynchronous
and Synchronous Facilitation
The online classroom was a concept that I was skeptical
of as an online learner, while at the same time eager for the challenge to
become a participant in the virtual classroom.
When I began studying for my first graduate degree the online classroom
still had that new car smell. It was in
2005 and the instructors in my health science program were either fully
committed to online facilitation, or they simply tried to copy and paste their
face-to-face (F2F) course into a learning management system (LMS). Simply put the instructors had either lifted
anchor and set sail to the shores of the online classroom, or remained tethered
to the beach.
The same analogy can be used for the consideration of asynchronous
and synchronous facilitation. Steven Tello,
associate director of distance learning, continuing studies, and corporate
education at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell found that asynchronous
discussions are:
most
appropriate for lasting, thoughtful contributions to an entire class or course
team. They are ideal for the sharing of course resource and materials, both as
postings within a course and as a place to share documents and media files. Threaded discussions can be organized around
lessons, topics, teams, or whatever makes the most sense within one’s course (para.
9).
The
social learning tool Flipgrid offers a discussion platform for all levels of
learning. As a student I have used
Flipgrid and found it allowed for spontaneous engagement as opposed to the LMS
discussion board. This YouTube video gives
a less than 2-minute peek into what Flipgrid is about.
Hanna et al. (2013)
found the use of synchronous online teaching tools will likely increase in the
future as they provide opportunities for immediate group interaction, decision making
and consensus which are important aspects of the collaborative process. As this video short explains Cisco Webex
allows for a class to assemble at the same time live collaborative learning is
best.
In my current organization the learning structure remains
tethered to F2F facilitation on land. It
is my goal to move the needle on the training and development into the 21st
century online learning environment. As a student I have used Flipgrid and Webex
and found both fun and engaging. If you
have suggestions of asynchronous and synchronous tools please share for, I am receptive
to new ideas.
References
Kelly,
R. (2004). The connection between instructional interaction and student
persistence.
Online
Classroom,
p7-8.
Hanna, E., Soren, B., Telner,
D., MacNeill, H., Lowe, M., Reeves, S (2013). Flying blind:
The experience of online
interprofessional facilitation. Journal
of Interprofessional Care, 27(4), 298-304.
doi: 10.3109/13561820.2012.723071
Pamela, I loved your integration of the technology and peer-reviewed references in your post. What is it about Flipgrid that appeals to you?
ReplyDeleteDr. Duggan,
DeleteFlipgrid is easy and fun for all ages. I instruct adults in the workforce with some of them being of a certain age, making easy technology very appealing. Because we all have our smart phones glued to our palms Flipgrid is easily accessible from the car, football field, or your favorite sofa. Most learners, even if they do not admit it, like being able to connect face-to-face with their instructor and classmates. Flipgrid is similar to FaceTime in that both are a virtual cafe for chit-chat; however, with Flipgrid the chit-chat is a meeting place for stimulating intellectual conversation.
Thank you for reading and leaving a comment.
Pamela
Flipgrid is fun and gives everyone a voice. I think that is important no matter what age your audience is. A tool I like to use is goformative.com. It allows for both synchronous and asynchronous learning to take place in the same site. You can build lessons with integrated reflections, with the ability to assess student's answers with real-time feedback. It is also easily imported into your LMS.
ReplyDelete