Synchronous Online Courses

In synchronous online courses, students and the instructor meet at an appointed day and time in a virtual space like Zoom, much as they would in a classroom or other physical space. Lectures, large and small group discussions, and activities all proceed as they might in a classroom, but mediated via technology.

Synchronous online formats are especially useful when the instructor and students cannot share the same space, such as during the height of an infectious disease outbreak, but everyone is on or near campus (or otherwise within the same or similar time zones).

Benefits:

  • Allows all participants to engage in real-time interactions (asking questions, discussing, providing feedback, etc.).
  • Provides structure and regularity to the online learning experience.

Challenges:

  • High potential for Zoom fatigue and resulting disengagement.
  • High potential for multitasking and distractions, especially during lectures.
  • Varying comfort levels with having cameras on and background spaces visible.
  • Potential difficulty for students in finding physical spaces from which to connect and participate.

Recommendations:

  • Intentionally leverage online synchronous time for interactivity between students and the instructor, or among students.
  • Discuss with students approaches to reducing Zoom fatigue, and engage them in conversation about the cognitive impacts of multitasking and how to reduce it.
  • Be selective about asking for cameras to be turned on during interactive segments, and walk students through how to put up a Zoom or Teams background.
  • Incorporate multiple short breakout activities in which each group records ideas on a shared document, slide set, or other virtual space.
  • Record and post synchronous class sessions for students who experience limitations in bandwidth or loss of internet service during the session.