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Asynchronous communication does not occur in real-time; participants “are not present in the same space and time�? as each other (http://csguide.auxservices.org/5.1.0.php, 2005). This form of communication can be found on the Internet in such forms as e-mail, listservs, discussion groups, weblogs, and forums (World Wide Learn, 2005).
E-mails can be sent at a different time and location to being received; the sender and receiver don’t have to be in the same space or time, hence it is an asynchronous communication tool. Listservs are an “ automatic e-mail service�? that sends e-mails which can be read by the recipient at any time. Listserv e-mails can’t usually be replied to, and are only sent to subscribers (World Wide Learn, 2005, table L). A weblog, which refers to the term “web log�? are a personal or group webpage in which written entries are added by the owner of the weblog and can be read and commented on by others at any time. Threaded discussions are based on a topic that is discussed by a group of people, who contribute at different times. They “like bulletin boards…one person leaves a message or asks a question, another person leaves a response to the first message�?, both of which do so at different times. Forums are where people share and exchange ideas on a particular topic, with entries being made at various times by those participating in the forum.
In many virtual classrooms, “the instruction is delivered at one time and the work can be done at a different time�? (Oregon Network Education, date unknown). When this is the case; the learning is self-directed, and asynchronous communication tools are used (Lehmann, 2004). Asynchronous tools in the virtual classroom allows students to participate on their own time schedule in various class activities, discussions, and other forms of communication with their teacher and fellow class (World Wide Learn, 2005, table A; Watkins, 2004). Both the teacher and the student benefit from asynchronous communication forms, such as discussion groups and forums, because the “entire discussion is recorded�?, points can be revised any time after or even during a discussion (Lehmann, 2004, p.19).
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Oxford (2005) “Asynchronous,�? retrieved September 5, 2005, from http://csguide.auxservices.org/5.1.0.php
Oregon Network Education (date unknown) “Glossary of terms,�? retrieved September 5, 2005, from http://oregonone.org/glossary.htm
Lehmann, K.J. (2004) “Successful Online Communication�?, in K.J. Lehmann (ed.) How to be a Great Online Teacher, USA: Scarecrow Education, pp. 9-16. ISBN 1578861128
Watkins, R. (2004) “E-learning Study Skills and Strategies,�? Distance Learning vol.1, no.3, pp. 32-34.
World Wide Learn. 2005. E-Learning Essentials. Types of E-Learning http://www.worldwidelearn.com/elearning-essentials/elearning-types.htm
Amy Thompson 14:00, 3 Oct 2005 (EST)
