Live/Synchronous / Asynchronous / Blended

Live /Synchronous e-Learning: In this kind of learning, the participating persons communicate instantly and in the meanwhile, can also obtain the information. Examples of synchronous e-learning take in the real-time chart and audio/video conferencing or virtual classroom. Synchronous e-learning instantly offers the participant’s performance feedback. This provides a scope to adjust the training in order to suit the candidate’s requirement, depending upon the type of feedback that he/she has received.

Moreover, Synchronous e-learning accelerates the creation of communities or learning groups to boot a higher level of communication in order to provide improved understanding of a specific subject. This kind of learning enables better participation of the individuals.

The only drawback of this kind of learning is that it doesn’t provide scheduling logistics and self-paced learning. Furthermore, it calls for managing the availability of students at different time zones.

Asynchronous E-learning: Asynchronous E-learning is also called store and forward e-learning, in which the communication between participants doesn’t occur instantly. Examples of this kind of learning consist of taking up a course that is self-paced, posting messages to different discussion groups, and swapping e-mails with one or more mentors. Moreover, Asynchronous e-learning provides accessibility, convenience, and above all self-paced learning.

One of the main drawbacks of asynchronous e learning, however, is that a student might feel less motivated or isolated as in this method, there’s no opportunity for real time interaction among participants. In addition, asynchronous learning doesn’t provide immediate feedback on the performance of a student. Hence, if required, any modification to training, can be made only after completing the entire evaluation.

Blended Learning: Also known as mixed mode of learning, this kind of learning is a blend of workshops, usual face-to-face lectures, and tutorials with online learning through activities such as quizzes, emailing, tests, discussing with the help of discussion boards, and announcements.

In Blended Learning, students obtain their feedback from the online tests and quizzes. Nearly all reputed institutes online offer this kind of learning for the advantages of the learning communities.

In the world of distance learning, the classes can be asynchronous or synchronous. What is meant by this?

Synchronous learning occurs when two or more individuals communicate in real time. The examples of this kind of learning include sitting in a classroom, chatting through instant messaging, talking on the phone. Conversely, Asynchronous learning is considered as more flexible because technology like email, online forums, ecourses, video and audio recordings make it possible for the learner to participate whenever it is convenient for him/her.