Should I get my degree from a synchronous instructional program or an asynchronous instructional program?

Only one person can determine whether a synchronous program or an asynchronous program is best; the person planning to obtain the education. Both modes of education have benefits and drawbacks. It is important for the prospective learner to decide which type of learning fits her style best.

A student in an asynchronous instructional program needs to be self-motivated, self-directed, independent and responsible. Asynchronous programs usually are run through a discussion board, e-mail or texting. Learning is accomplished through reading the material provided and reading other participant’s comments. The course is structured to provide a format for learning, but deeper learning is dependent on the motivation of the student to continue to research the topic and conduct individual critical thinking. Although collaborative learning is an important aspect of asynchronous learning, most participants find it difficult to develop social connections with their fellow students.

If you are motivated, responsible, and self-directed and do not feel the need to build social relationships through your participation in a distance learning program, an asynchronous type of instructional program, may be best for you.

A student in a synchronous instructional program needs to have set times available that match the class meeting schedule. There is less flexibility for when learning occurs, but there is a higher level of social interaction between the students and between the students and instructor (Skylar, 2009). This interaction allows for stronger relationships to be built. Most agree that distance learning programs require a high level of self-direction, however, to participate in a synchronous instructional program, the learner must be willing to accept a greater amount of direction from the instructors. While the asynchronous method can be considered more learner-centered, the synchronous method weighs slightly higher on the instructor-centered side of the scale.

If you have a schedule that allows you to attend classes at a pre-set time on a regular basis, have a need to build relationships with the students and instructors in your class, and believe that you will benefit from a more structured educational setting, a synchronous type of instructional program may be the better choice.

References:

Skylar, A. A. (2009). A comparison of asynchronous online text-based lectures and synchronous interactive web conferencing lectures. Issues in Teacher Education, 18(2), 69-84. http://search.proquest.com/docview/233320705?accountid=3581