I have been doing quite a bit of reading this past week with regards to asynchronous vs. synchronous distance delivery. One thought that continues to come to mind is that there is not a right or wrong way of to deliver a course via distance.
Asynchronous delivery is the most common method used today for distance education. Defined as access to educational content is available at any time, and where interaction with one's peers and instructor is not accomplished in real-time. Synchronous delivery, on the other hand, is defined as receiving the content online but the interaction with peers and instructor are available in real-time (Pullen & Snow, 2007). Both methods have their advantages as well as disadvantages. It think that it comes down to the preferred method of the student as to which best meets their needs.
For me, I prefer the asynchronous delivery. I enjoy the fact that I do not have to be "plugged in" at a given time. Having said that, I have experienced asynchronous distance courses where I had no interaction with the professor as well as a synchronous course where I was "tied" to the computer for hours without a break. In the end, asynchronous delivery gives me the freedom to access my materials whenever I need them without worry. I have learned a great deal through this format and it has allowed me to reflect on the material before posting.
What works best for you? Asynchronous or synchronous?
Reference:
Pullen, M.J. & Snow. C. (2007). Integrating synchronous and asynchronous internet distributed education for maximum effectiveness. Educ Inf Technol, 12, 137-148.
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