When developing communication tools for developing student interaction, both synchronous and asynchronous tools can be used. I am still working on learning and developing communication tools using our course Moodle platform but will use the following activities as examples.
Synchronous
Developing a schedule where students can prepare in advance and then meet for an online seminar in small groups. An example would be to ask students to choose an article and be ready to give an overview and lead a group discussion connecting back to the learning objectives of the course. The tool I would use would be the the online seminar tool similar to Collaborate on Blackboard. This way, discussion times and instructions could be set up in advance and students could then meet at the most convenient slot. The advantage of choosing the tool is to make sure everyone has access to it as it is part of the Moodle LMS. The disadvantage is that students may feel more comfortable with a tool such as Skype or Google Hangout.
Asynchronous
An example of communicating in asynchronous time is setting up assignments so that you are given the opportunity to respond to other students comments. When you submit your assignment (ie- a short paragraph or concept map etc) it goes into the bank of other student responses. You are then asked to reflect on three other student responses and your submitted responses are automatically recorded.
Synchronous and Asynchronous
A live webinar is an example of a communication tool that can be used in different ways. Students who are interested and available can take part in a live webinar where they listen to the professor speak and have the opportunity to ask questions or make comments. If this doesn’t fit into their schedule, they can instead watch the recorded webinar at a separate time.
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