Educational Technology Innovation and Impact/Simulation/Asynchronous Learning

Asynchronous Learning

Asynchronous learning is the concept that students acquire the necessary skills and experience at different times and locations. Asynchronous learning is opposite to synchronous learning, where students must learn at the same time by activities such as attending a lecture or tutorial. An asynchronous learning environment provides students with teaching materials and tools for registration, instruction, and discussions outside of the classroom scenario and incorporates the ability to maintain communication with tutors and other students outside of rigid educational timetables. Asynchronous Learning Networks (ANL) make extensive use of software and the Internet, using packages such as blackboard, e-mail, or chat rooms, and is available so that people can post, read and respond to subject instruction, queries and messages all within the same shared space.

This type of study means that students can be located anywhere throughout the world, hence giving rise to the phrase “Global Learning”, or more commonly “Location Independent Learning” and is an ideal delivery mode for individuals in different geographical locations, for those whose work schedules or other obligations have previously kept them from furthering their education. It is this type of learning that occurs independently of time and space. Students are able to interact with course materials and with each other at a time of their choosing and it is through this medium that e-learning gets much of its appeal. Traditionally, students needed to be physically present to engage in learning with other students now students can engage with each other when it is most convenient.

A major advantage of this learning style is that it promotes more uniform participation by all students than either face-to-face or synchronous communication because all students have an equal opportunity to contribute and those who have trouble speaking up in traditional classroom environment because of language differences or other reasons can take time drafting a thoughtful written reply (Mitchell, 2002). By utilising the tools through an ANL, students are allowed time to think about a given subject and formulate their thoughts. Another advantage of the asynchronous environment is that the learning does not have to be geared to the average student. Those who want to research a subject in more depth can do so, and those who are slower learners can review material as many times as needed.

Many different teaching methodologies state "The teacher will appear when the student is ready". Asynchronous learning is no different and could be said to give the student more control and autonomy over the pace and style of his tuition and is therefore through this medium that the students thus become ready for the teacher.

References

1. Mitchell, A. (2002, October 24). New learning ecologies: Promoting learning in the digital age: A holistic approach. Paper presented at the New Learning Environments (RIBA HEDQF Conference), London

Bibliography

eLearnspace (2005) Asynchronous [On-line] Available: http://www.elearnspace.org/doing/asynchronous.htm Accessed: 17th April 2006

Daniels T & Pethel M (2005) Computer Mediated Instruction [On-line] In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Available : http://www.coe.uga.edu/epltt/cmc.htm. Accessed: 17th April 2006

IT Director Journal (2001) Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Learning [On-line] Available: http://www.it-director.com/article.php?articleid=2236 Accessed: 18th April 2006