Blog Reflection Week Seven (Chapters Seven and Eight)

2. What is the difference between asynchronous and synchronous communication? Name and describe the Internet communication tools that fall into each category.

The terms asynchronous and synchronous refer to the time lapse between the communicating parties. In synchronous communications, the participants are communicating at the same time. However, in asynchronous communications, the participants are conversing, but at different times. The Internet is a place with room for both types of communication, and can be a useful tool for writing and communication in educational environments.

The most common type of asynchronous communication available today, through the use of the Internet, is electronic mail, or email. As its name implies, email is an electronic alternative to postal mail, and works similarly in concept. A user creates a log-in name that works much like a post office box. Other users who know the email address can create and send electronic messages that are held your electronic mailbox until you retrieve them. Once they are retrieved, you have the option to keep and file, or delete the message. Email can be used in the classroom in many ways: as communication between the student and teacher (or the parent and teacher), as a turn in tray for assignments, and as a way to communicate globally through keypals (the electronic version of pen-pals). Another feature of email is the use of mailing lists in which the user can sign up to receive automatic emails from a certain company or organization.

A second type of asynchronous communication is discussion groups. Using discussion groups allows one person to communicate to several individuals, allowing each person to comment and respond on a message. These responses to a message create a “thread” or chain of responses by many users. In education, the use of discussion boards is a great way to cultivate literary think-and-responds.

Synchronous communication, as mentioned before, is one in which the participants are communicating with each other at the same time. Chat and instant messaging are examples of synchronous communication. Chat participants schedule a real time and a virtual location (chat room) in which they meet and type their messages for all others in the chat room to see. Other participants respond immediately to messages posted in the chat room. Whereas chat rooms are the virtual equivalent of conference calls, instant messaging is the virtual equivalent of a private telephone call. Basically, instant messaging is a one-on-one chat.

Another type of synchronous communication is videoconferencing. Videoconferencing allows participants to see and hear each other through the use video and audio equipment attached to their computers. Videoconferencing systems can range from low quality to highly sophisticated quality based on the capabilities of the components (computer speed, audio/video equipment, videoconferencing software, etc.)

The educational system is an appropriate place for all types of communication, but it’s up to the instructor (and/or administration) to decide which specific types work best for them. Using electronic communication, both synchronous and asynchronous can be beneficial to the teaching and learning process.