The document discusses the advantages and disadvantages of synchronous online learning as well as strategies for facilitation. The key advantages include social interaction, immediate feedback, quality learning through interactive participation, and increased student retention due to flexibility. Some disadvantages are scheduling conflicts due to different time zones, class size limitations, technical difficulties, and less opportunity for reflection. Facilitation strategies include preparing in advance, managing and directing the session, using non-verbal cues, planning for technical issues, and leveraging tools like text/video chat, webinars and virtual worlds.

2. THE ADVANTAGES OF SYNCHRONOUS ONLINE
LEARNING
 Social Interaction
 Immediate Feedback
 Quality Learning
 Interactive Participation
 Student Retention

3. SOCIAL INTERACTION
Excellent for social interactions and
discussing multiple topics in one
session (UOPX, 2011).

4. IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK
Provides immediate feedback and
detailed collaboration between
instructor and students (UOPX, 2011).

5. QUALITY LEARNING
 Online learning allows students to gain
confidence in their work, since online learning
delivery lowers social and other obstacles to
education (UOPX, 2011).
 Quality of teaching are amongst the best
because the physical barrier of distance is
eliminated. Instructors around the world can
teach at any online school (UPOX, 2011).

6. INTERACTIVE PARTICIPATION
 Synchronous learning motivates students
and increased participate (UOPX, 2011).
 Learners are eager to participate and be
involved in the learning process (UPOX,
2011).

7. STUDENT RETENTION
 Flexibility of attending class from any
location and technological device (UOPX,
2011).
 Reduce cost for potential learners
compared to the traditional classroom and
in person training (UOPX, 2011).

8. THE DISADVANTAGES OF SYNCHRONOUS
ONLINE LEARNING
 Scheduling Conflicts
 Class size Limitations
 Technical Difficulties
 Less Reflection

9. SCHEDULING CONFLICTS
 The instructor and students may be in
different time zones causing scheduling
conflicts (UOPX, 2011).
 Personal schedule may be affected by lack
of convenience of course scheduling
(UOPX, 2011).

10. TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
 Possibility of unstable or unsupported technology
(UPOX, 2011).
 Access to internet and other technology may be a
problem for adult learners (UOPX, 2011).
 Requires technological knowledge. Students may
lack confidence in using various technological
devices and software (UOPX, 2011).

11. CLASS SIZE LIMITATIONS
 The large group, the more difficult the
challenge of running a smooth and
productive online chat (UOPX, 2011).
 Too time spent discussing the detailed
questions or concerns of one participant
results in distraction (UOPX, 2011).

12. LESS REFLECTION
 Learners may spend time discussing
material not related to the topic of
discussion (UOPX, 2011).
 Can lead to distractions due to time spent
on various other subjects (UOPX, 2011).

13. FACILITATION STRATEGIES OF SYNCHRONOUS
ONLINE LEARNING
 Prepare in Advance
 Manage and Direct
 Use Non-Verbal Cues
 Use Virtual Environment
 Plan for Glitches

14. PREPARE IN ADVANCE
Email or post the purpose of the chat
session several days in advance. If
appropriate, include an agenda, assignment
to be completed ahead of time, or other
resources that participates will need to
prepare for the session (Bastable, 2008).

15. MANAGE AND DIRECT
Make a list of the direct points to be covered
during the session. The list should be well
organized, easy to follow, and placed so
that it can be easily seen during the chat.
Chat sessions often move so quickly that
there is little time for the facilitator to make
to make sense of crumpled or scribbled
notes (Bastable, 2008) .

16. USE NON-VERBAL CUES
Abbreviations like BTW (by the way) and
emoticons [symbols that represent emotions
or facial expressions such as ;) for winking ]
are commonly used(Bastable, 2008) .

17. USE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT
Virtual reality often includes 3D imagery and
some sort of tracking device such as data
gloves, which enables the user to point to
and manipulate computer-generated objects
in a computer-produced world(Bitter &
Legacy, 2008) .

18. PLAN FOR GLITCHES
Sign on to the chat session early and
encourage participants to do so as well. You
want to be able to handle unexpected
problems before the session begins
(Bastable, 2008).

19. TOOLS TO ENHANCE LEARNING
 Text and Instant Messaging
 Webinars
 Video Conferencing
 Virtual Worlds
 Internet Relay Chat

20. TEXT AND INSTANT MESSAGING
Instant messaging (IM) is real-time synchronous
communication: both parties must be online at the same
time. The most popular instant messaging providers are
Skype, AIM, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo!
Messenger (Bitter & Legacy, 2008).
Text messaging is a short message, usually 500
characters or less and the recipient does not need to be
online at the same time the message is sent (Bitter &
Legacy, 2008).

21. WEBINARS
Webinars are web-based seminars. By
using a telephone and the internet, a
broad audience of attendees can
participate in a seminar without having
to leave their desks (Anonymous,
2013).

22. VIDEOCONFERENCING
Videoconferencing is a live, two-way,
interactive electronic means of
message exchange (Bitter &
Legacy,2008) .

23. VIRTUAL WORLDS
Wikipedia defines virtual environments
and virtual reality (VR) as technology
that allows a user to interact with a
computer-simulated environment
(Bitter & Legacy,2008)

24. INTERNET RELAY CHAT
Internet relay chat (IRC) is a
synchronous or real-time conferencing
conversation tool that lets multiple
discussions go on at the same time
(Bitter & Legacy,2008) .

25. VIDEO ELEMENT OF SYNCHRONOUS ONLINE
LEARNING

26. REFERENCES
Bitter, G.G., & Legacy, J.M.(2008). Using technology in the classroom. Retrieved from
https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/eReader.aspx?
Bastables, S.B. (2008). Technology in education. Nurse as educator. Principles of
teaching and learning for nursing practice (pp.542). Sudbury, MA: Jones and
Bartlett Publishers
Edwards, K. (Producer). (2012). Synchronous learning . Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJqiwk_ywjw
Keating, S.B. (2011). Effect of informatics and technology on curriculum development
and evaluation. Curriculum development and evaluation in nursing second edition (pp.
345), New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
UOPXAET531. (2011). Advantages and disadvantages of synchronous learning. Retrieved from
http://uopxaet531.wikispaces.com/Advantages+and+Disadvantages+of+Synchr
onous+Learning