This page is related to Synchronous Sessions
Skip Ahead
At a Glance
The School of Professional Studies (SPS) has a teaching & learning model based on asynchronous learning. As the SPS student population is comprised of adult students at varying stages of their careers and lives, this works well. However, the asynchronous elements of a course are best when complemented with strategic, effective synchronous sessions. When asynchronous material is accompanied by synchronous sessions, students receive a bi-modal delivery of information and support that reinforces the building of peer-to-peer and student-to-instructor relationships.
Synchronous sessions are an integral part of the SPS teaching model. They foster community building, improve understanding, and promote lively discussions. We recommend utilizing sync sessions for interactive activities, such as group discussions, problem-solving exercises, social events, and guest speakers.
Students should be encouraged to either attend the sessions in person or view recorded sessions. Due to the global disruption caused by the pandemic, students continue to feel disconnected from their peers and instructors. Despite this shared experience, feelings of isolation may persist for many students. Synchronous sessions can help them feel like they are reconnecting with you, the instructor, and their peers.
Overview
Learning is a social process: the instructor’s active facilitation of learning and of faculty-student and student-student interactions is essential for students’ ability to engage with course materials and meet course learning outcomes.
Active engagement and regular feedback from instructors are major factors critical to student learning. Online synchronous sessions are an integral part of this online learning experience. They provide an opportunity for you and your students to interact in real-time in a way that is otherwise difficult to achieve in the design of an asynchronous course.
Environment
The goal of sync sessions is to create an inclusive learning environment that fosters engagement and meaningful learning. Here are some strategies to help implement a supportive learning environment in your sync sessions:
- Establish a relaxed and welcoming environment that encourages students to share questions, problems, and opinions.
- At the start of the sync session, let students know that there is no judgment and remind them to be respectful of each other’s contributions.
- Always remain sensitive and see why students do not turn on their video cameras during sessions. This includes creating an equitable and inclusive plan that encourages them to do so.
Best Practices
- Establish an informal, welcoming environment that encourages students to share questions, problems, and opinions.
- Let students know that there is no judgment at the start of the sync session to encourage conversation.
- Share clear expectations, objectives, and brief agenda/session overviews with students in advance through announcements. Be explicit that students will not be cold-called upon to speak during the session.
- Let students know that the sync session schedule will include unrecorded time at the end for additional questions and/or informal office hours.
- Provide a space for students to submit anonymous questions in advance (you can create a page in Canvas where students can add questions and agenda items anonymously by just adding a page and selecting the “Teachers and Students Can Edit This Page” option.
- Explicitly link sync sessions to course assignments/assessments and make sure this is clear to students in advance.
Build your student community through enjoyable and supportive interaction. Always welcome each student to your sync session by name, where possible. Make each student feel safe to speak up and ask questions. Encourage students to answer other students’ questions. Do not dominate the discussion.
Breakout Room Strategies
- Identify specific tasks with clear objectives and tangible takeaways.
- Specify time frame in advance depending on task/activity (typically 10-15 min max).
- Remind students that they can raise their hand during breakout rooms for assistance.
- Explain that activities in breakout rooms will not be recorded.
- Discuss instructions, tasks, and expectations and provide written instructions available during breakout room sessions (e.g. shared document to breakout rooms).
- Include specific follow up information in advance (What will happen after the breakout room? What are the expectations?).
- Drop in each breakout room to informally answer any questions or help encourage discussion.
Breakout room tip. If you are new to Zoom breakout rooms, be sure to rehearse your breakout room workflow with a TA, or co-teacher, colleague, or even a family member so you know exactly what to expect. Breakout rooms are only effective if you manage them properly!
Wrapping Up Sync Sessions
- Remind students of the next sync session date, time, topic, etc.
- Schedule to stay online after official sync session for additional questions and/or informal office hours (unrecorded).
- Exit ticket: create a short 3-item anonymous survey at the end of the sync session for student feedback (e.g. (1) The sync session was a valuable learning experience – Likert (2) I plan to attend additional sync sessions – Likert (3) Additional questions, concerns, suggestions – optional open-ended)
- Post a summary announcement with a link to the recording and any follow-up links, references, and/or action items
- Post recording (indicate that breakout rooms and student questions at the end were not recorded)
- Include date/time of next sync session with specific reference to its relationship to class assignments.
Offer teasers about future sessions If you have special guests coming to future sessions or even important social events, be sure to regularly advertise them at your sessions before you close. Communicate to students how these sessions will benefit them. This can boost attendance and get students excited about events that are unique to your class.
Conclusion
Synchronous sessions in SPS courses play a crucial role in enriching asynchronous learning. They allow instructors to provide immediate clarification and feedback directly to students. Moreover, synchronous sessions can add an element of personalized attention, which can be particularly beneficial for students who are struggling with the material. Most importantly, sync sessions help students to feel engaged in the learning process by providing opportunities for interaction and real-world learning.
Overall, by incorporating synchronous sessions into asynchronous learning, you can create a more dynamic and engaging learning experience for students and support their academic success.