Synchronous Learning Tips and Tools

Pros:

• Remains closest to the in-class experience.
• Allows students to see and talk with each other, offering a space of closeness and connection.
• Removes the need to create your own content and upload it.
• Many platforms include the ability to record the session for the benefit of those who can’t join.

Cons:

• Video conferencing a lecture is harder for students to follow; consider uploading lecture notes in addition to the live session.
• It may be unreasonable to expect students who have returned home to different time zones to join your regular session (especially if your class is in the early morning). Pair your synchronous meeting with an asynchronous element by recording your sessions and relaxing attendance policies.
• It is strongly advised not to change the meeting time of your class, as that can easily result in time conflicts with students’ other classes. If you must change the meeting time of your class, consider holding synchronous sessions in between class blocks to minimize the chance of conflicts.
• Can suck up bandwidth, leading to technical errors that disrupt synchronous learning.

Please reference Fordham’s Information Technology website for Synchronous Tools. Blackboard has its own synchronous learning platform, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra.