What are some of the advantages that the asynchronous environment provides? What may be some of the disadvantages? What kinds of students most benefit from the asynchronous environment and why?
Asynchronous learning is the most rewarding and powerful experience because it provides ‘just-in-time” and “on-demand” student learning. Thus, online teaching and learning space has opened up a new dimension for students and instructors previously unavailable. Asynchronous learning is the most rewarding and powerful experience because it provides ‘just-in-time” and “on-demand” student learning. Unlike synchronous training, the learners do not need to fix up a schedule according to the predetermined time slot planned by the instructor. Asynchronous learning provides ‘any time-any place-anywhere’ teaching and learning possibilities.
Asynchronous learning is of two kinds: self-paced and facilitated.
Self-paced asynchronous learning consists of instructional material such as guided tutorials and assessment exercises that can be accessed by the learners online. There is no additional interaction among students or with the lecturer on regular basis. Although, students can ask any question or clarify doubts via e-mailing instructor. For example, CD-ROM and discussion forums are kind of self-paced asynchronous learning.
Facilitated asynchronous learning involves interaction among students and with the instructor but not in real time. The instruction material includes assignments, online reading material, or may be text, in case instructor requires that as course material, and assignments/quizzes. There are discussion boards where students get to know each other and respond to others. This kind of learning provides personalized attention and guidance from the teacher. Our MS program is one such example.
Advantages: Rudenstam and Scoenholtz-Read assert that, “In the asynchronous course ecologies of Teleland, architecture remains important for supporting course objectives.” Asynchronous discussion board facilitates new models of teaching and learning where knowledge is networked in the affordances of people, tools, and technologies to meet the learning objectives. Moreover, this kind of online learning has ability to build learning conditions that facilitate equitable participation for all students irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, language, and social-cultural backgrounds. The discussion boards used to facilitate asynchronous learning is a place where students can post questions and responses at any time. Also, students can read the postings and instructional material in nonlinear order. This helps in promoting critical thinking because it allows students to reflect and make use of resources such as books, tools, people and websites before they complete an assignment or respond to someone.
Disadvantages: Asynchronous learning has certain disadvantages. It may not be a learning solution for students who need prompt responses from instructors and have some kind of ‘technophobia’. Rudenstam and Scoenholtz-Read mention in ‘Presence in Teleland’ that building relationships with teachers can be a challenge for students who see teachers from a different angle. This is called as ’power distance’. It means that teachers is given due respect and high status. Thus, teachers' admiration and affirmation is very crucial for most Asian students, who strongly believe in this. This may not happen in asynchronous learning.
As an Indian, I highly respect my teachers whether they are in f2f or online. The teacher or GURU is next to God in Indian culture. I remember, once my personal trainer asked me to kick on the boxing glove he was wearing as a part of strength training. It was difficult for me because he was my ‘teacher’ and I simply can’t kick him!
Also, Piskurich, G.M. (2003) indicates that’ using asynchronous tools might slow down collaboration although it does not certainly eliminate it, nor does it eliminate the value that working with other people can create’.
Asynchronous learning works best for students who can’t do well in authoritative, linear, hierarchical and competitive traditional instruction atmosphere. Asynchronous learning environment provides an opportunity for dialogue, anonymity, and equality among students coming from any part of the world. It is also good for the instructors who face problems in f2f classes because of the large number of students and difference that exist in the accent and the way students respond in classes because of cultural differences. This is called as ‘Trait and state characteristics of the participants’ in ‘Presence in Teleland’s by Rudenstam and Scoenholtz-Read.
References:
Gee, J. P. (2007). Pleasure, learning, video games, and life: The projective stance. In Knobel, M. & Lankshear, C. (Eds.), A new literacies sampler (pp. 95–113), New York: Peter Lang.
Piskurich, G. M. Preparing learners for e-learning. San Fransico: Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer; 2003. p.73.Unlike synchronous training, the learners do not need to fix up a schedule according to the predetermined time slot planned by the instructor. Asynchronous learning provides ‘any time-any place-anywhere’ teaching and learning possibilities.
I totally agree with your statement, "Asynchronous environments can also make conversations and learning easier for students who need time to think and construct responses".
Yes, asynchronous learning environment is definitely a blessing for shy and slow thinkers but if we look at the other side of the coin, we’ll find that most of the responses in online discussions are articulated in written form. It may not favor some who are more inclined to vocal expression and look for visual cues. Moreover, text alone cannot ‘communicate the whole idea’, and it lacks the tone of the conversation’ also.
I think, in order to help students who “may not feel the connection to their classmates” instructor needs to reduce barriers and take steps to establish social relationships. Students should be given the opportunity to build confidence and competence with the online education process, fellow students and supporting technologies.
Many incarcerated people are actively involved in learning and building community with the people outside the jails. One such program is "Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program".
Their website describes their actual work. It says- "The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program creates avenues for social change through education and civic engagement. By generating opportunities for incarcerated and college students to come together and learn in the same classroom, Inside-Out opens the door for people to gain an education that emphasizes collaborative learning and problem-solving."
Source:http://www.insideoutcenter.org/
No comments:
Post a Comment