In Real time
Same time, same online space. You and your instructor are together with your classmates in the same online space, working together in real-time. You’ll have regularly scheduled meetings and are expected to log in at designated times.
Examples of synchronous learning include classroom settings, live webinars or real-time video conferences. Students log in and join at scheduled times to explore content with the instructor, participate in class discussions, conduct group work activities, and/or complete assessments together (or “in sync”). Much like an in-person course, online synchronous courses include structure and deadlines.
Online synchronous courses include real-time course delivery and tools like Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate. You should prepare for these real-time sessions by completing assigned readings, compiling questions for your instructor and thinking about how you might be able to contribute to the next real-time session. Students may be asked to participate in video sharing, chat conversations, live polling and/or interactive whiteboard sessions.
The amount of real-time activities an individual instructor requires in an online synchronous course will probably vary. As the content expert, the instructor determines the best way to offer the material.
With most online synchronous courses, you are not required to be on campus at any time, but you are expected to participate from a location that is relatively free of distractions.