Because I am taking online classes, my educational environment is structured to meet the needs of an asynchronous collaboration. I believe many people who take online courses choose this type of learning because it is more convenient and meet the needs of their busy schedules. For this very reason, asynchronous collaboration works best for me. As it relates to synchronous online environments, I have not used many of these methods-other than chatting. My husband takes online classes at Regent University and I have had the opportunity to observe audio and video conferencing. I believe both online environments are conducive to professional development and collaborative learning.
Alicia,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more about the preference of asynchronous learning for online education. I almost resent the presence of synchronous projects at times in distance education, and wonder how the future of distance learning will go with regard to forcing a sense of community among online learners? I think that web conferencing tools definitely have their place in education and the professional world, and am thankful for the options we have to suit our learning styles, even when they stretch us out of our comfort zones a bit.
This is my first time on your blog, nice to meet you. :)
Dyan Lester