Asynchronous discussions are those that do not occur in real time. Class Discussion boards with threads, where topics are posted, questions are asked, problems are issued, and students can post comments or responses at any time. Synchronous discussions are face-to-face conversations that occur in real time. Some examples of this might be blackboard collaborate - Skype, and even online chats where text is used for immediate communication instead of video.
Both of these discussion types are often part of online education and each one has an impact on learning. I believe that a blend of both should be used for a successful online experience. for example, synchronous discussions are more personal and resemble face-to-face discussions because they occur in real time and participants can interact with each other spontaneously and on a more personal level. Sometimes, in an online educational environment, the synchronous discussions create obstacles for learners who are in different time zones or on different schedules so care must be taken when using this type of method.
Asynchronous discussions offer learners time to think prior to responding, and give them the opportunity to read and respond on their schedules with more time for reflections. This type of discussion is normally completed as a written assignment, which also reinforces the reflective opportunities, making many students more careful since they are submitting something in writing. Shy students benefit from this because they have no reason to be shy anymore and this increases their confidence and capacity for learning.
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