Strategies to Maximize Asynchronous Learning

This chapter provides suggestions on how educators and learners can thrive in asynchronous learning environments. A review of what constitutes an asynchronous environment and how it contrasts to synchronous learning environments is discussed. Constructivist, social constructivist, constructivist learning environments, and active learning strategies are reviewed in the context of asynchronous learning. In addition, key tools, applications, and strategies that can be used to support successful asynchronous learning environments are reviewed. This includes the inherent tools within a learning management system, video, and collaboration tools. Finally, educator best practices and recommended areas of future research are discussed. Within the best practices section, strategies to create a more effective and empathic learning environment are discussed.

Reimagining Engagement

This article explores how to successfully adapt simulations developed for traditional classrooms for synchronous platforms. Acknowledging the importance of the co-construction of knowledge and the impact of active learning in classrooms, this article explores instructional design approaches, logistical issues, and pedagogical considerations for translating successful in-person simulations to online synchronous learning environments. An example from a graduate level intercultural communication course is described as a platform for addressing lessons learned and sharing best practices. By reimagining five areas of adaptation, including materials, technology, grouping students, communication, and the role of the facilitator, faculty can examine critical junctures at the intersection of content knowledge, technology know-how, training pedagogy, and instructional design to conduct successful synchronous simulations.

Impact of Self-Directed Learning and Educational Technology Readiness on Synchronous E-Learning

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has had severe global impacts in many aspects of education. Asian countries and regions have been the first responders to move entirely online since the epidemic started. The aim of this paper is two-folded. First, this study investigates the correlations in order to understand the compounded effects on presences in the participating synchronous learning environments. Second, this paper provide empirical evidence and insights for educators on the future trends of learning and instructional strategy in online teaching. This study investigated students’ perception of synchronous e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic for the better design of the e-learning teaching pedagogy and determines how the key factors of e-learning perception are inter-correlated enabling educators to focus on. The study has important implications that student readiness in educational technology is critical to assist the recent practice in implementing online learning.

Impact of self-directed learning and educational technologies readiness on synchronous e-learning

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has had severe global impacts in many aspects of education. Asian countries and regions have been the first responders to move entirely online since the epidemic started. The aim of this paper is two-folded. First, this study investigates the correlations in order to understand the compounded effects on presences in the participating synchronous learning environments. Second, this paper provide empirical evidence and insights for educators on the future trends of learning and instructional strategy in online teaching. This study investigated students’ perception of synchronous e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic for the better design of the e-learning teaching pedagogy and determines how the key factors of e-learning perception are inter-correlated enabling educators to focus on. The study has important implications that student readiness in educational technology is critical to assist the recent practice in implementing online learning.

Teaching and learning through Moodle, Google Doc and Zoom: Fostering student engagement in (a)synchronous learning environments

Collaborative online learning depends on the teacher's ability to create conditions for student interaction and engagement. The paper presents the type of activities that can foster them, as well as the results of the investigation into the levels of student engagement in online learning environment which was created by a combination of Moodle, Zoom and Google Documents. The focus is on the level of student engagement in relation to the type of interaction in the online learning environment, their previous experience with blended learning and their overall attitudes toward online classes. Toward this end, a convergent parallel mixed methods study was conducted by means of a 30-item questionnaire constructed for the purpose of this study. The questionnaire included both Likert-scale questions, aimed at collecting quantitative data, and open-ended questions, aimed at collecting qualitative data. Qualitative analysis of the respondents' comments reveals that online tools are most valued for their interactive and collaborative potential (the availability of emoticons, chatting and screen sharing in Zoom, the possibility of small group collaboration in Zoom Rooms and whole class collaboration in Google Docs). The most important quantitative results reveal that all students report medium to high levels of online classroom engagement in the presented scenarios. However, while the students who had previous experience with blended learning constructed their engagement on the basis of both online peer collaboration (in Zoom Rooms) and teacher-fronted instruction (Zoom), those with no previous experience with blended learning formed their engagement only on the basis of small group work (Zoom Rooms).

Optimizing the Technological Design of a Blended Synchronous Learning Environment

Blended synchronous learning has the potential to increase students’ co-presence and improve upon the flexibility and accessibility of course offerings if designed well. However, this method of instruction has yet to realize that potential. This exploratory study used qualitative methods to iteratively design, assess, and refine the technological design of a blended synchronous learning environment to improve the experience for students and instructors. Across three iterations, a combination of qualitative data collection and analysis procedures were used to examine the influence of design decisions on the experiences of the instructor and students. The findings resulted in a set of design recommendations that can serve as a guide for future research on the effective design of blended synchronous learning environments.