Designing effective synchronous online learning

Abstract

Synchronous online learning is situated in synchronous webinars, virtual classrooms, and videoconferences, in which students and teachers communicate live over the Internet across distant geographical locations. Shared virtual platforms with voice-over-IP technology and webcams are used to interact ubiquitously and synchronously in real-time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of synchronous online learning environments in primary, secondary, higher, and continuous education has grown massively. In this chapter, we aim to identify design recommendations that help increase the effectiveness of synchronous online learning. First, we provide an overview of recent meta-analyses on the effectiveness of synchronous online learning compared to synchronous face-to-face and asynchronous online learning. Second, we use this empirical evidence to develop design principles that can guide teachers, trainers, and educators in designing effective synchronous online learning environments. Third, we discuss a research agenda for future studies on synchronous online learning, webinars, and videoconferences in education, and we reflect on some practical affordances, including the use of webcams and breakout rooms.

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