Synchronous Communications
From ElateWiki
Some learning situations may be enhanced with real-time or synchronous communications. These are now commonly integrated into online courses but are used fairly strategically and sparingly.
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Rationales for Synchronous Communications
Synchronous time is considered highly valuable because it involves restrictions on all the course members to meet online at a certain point in time. As such, these need to be valuable uses of time.
These are especially useful in the following situations:
when a guest speaker with an original skill set is presenting and will be entertaining live questions; when subject matter experts in different locales need to co-critique student portfolios; when an important and time-related decision has to be made and will require group decision-making; when a virtual team needs to work on troubleshooting or problem solving or co-designing; when a critical and time-serious issue is at hand and needs a fast and informed response by a cross-functional team, and some other situations.
These sessions are usually captured and archived for review by those who couldn't attend at the time or those who want to review the ideas.
Synchronous communications may occur one-on-one between the instructor and respective students. This may also occur for small-group interactions to promote the learning, with or without the instructor's presence.
Technologies for Synchronous Interactivity
Various learning / course management systems include embedded third-party (or built-in) Web conferencing, chat, and whiteboard technologies for synchronous interactivity and communications. These usually involve multiple channels of communications--audio and textual. These also include visual messages.
Also, voice over IP (VOIP) technologies offer free or low-cost audio interaction capabilities.
Micro-blogging (limited to 140 characters or so) allows for real-time interactions, as well.
Immersive 3D learning in virtual worlds also enables synchronous interactivity, through human-embodied avatars.
Pacing and Group Sizes
Pacing learning is important, or else synchronous communications can become disordered and noisy. Having more manageable group sizes is important, too, to head off disorder.
Some people conduct webinars and "mute" the audience, but leave open the chat channel for questions that are accrued by assistants to the presenters.
Pre-Event Preparation
Many prepare for synchronous events by designing lead-up exercises and resources for learners. This helps stretch out the learning time. This may also enhance the synchronous event's value.
Accessibility Considerations
Synchronous events should still be as accessible as possible. This means striving to offer transcription and using the text chat areas along with the audio and video. Post-event accessibility may also be created for the archived events, so those who are reviewing it may access alt text for the images, transcriptions for the audio and video, and so on.
Tag Team Supports
Many web conferences and presentations involve the use of a support team. These members will peruse the chat area for participant questions and will channel them to the presenter(s). Also, others will troubleshoot technological challenges. They will push out related URLs as needed to the participants. Many will also buffer the comments between the participants and the presenter.