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Synchronous Communication

By:Margaret Black

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What is synchronous communication?• Real time, any form of communication where the participants

are all communicating at the same time.

• Face to face

• Video or audio conferencing

• Back channel discussions

• Live webinars

• Collaborative documents/projects

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The Telephone

The telephone was the first form of technology that allowed us to have synchronous communication while being in separate locations

christian.senger

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Text conferencing

This was the first form of digital/computer synchronous communication

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Video ConferencingAllows participants to stream video and see each other as they communicate

scottfeldstein

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Shared ApplicationsAllow participants to work simultaneously and collaboratively on open documents and swap files instantly

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Social interaction is becoming increasingly recognized asbeing critical to the learning process (Bruffee, 1993; Lave, 1988)

vaXzine

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We have yet to explore or imagine all the ways synchronous communication will change and education will need to transform as a result.

Kimbowa

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Back Channel Discussions

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backchannel) defines backchanneling as “the practice of using networked computers to maintain a real-time online conversation alongside live spoken remarks.”

To learn more about how to successfully incorporate Back Channel Discussions I highly recommend

Get your students talking about what you want them to talk about; How to use backchanneling in your classroom by Kevin Jarrett and Mary Ann Devine, NJEA members

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Advantages and Disadvantages

• Immediacy

• Motivation

• Relevant and reflective of student’s lives

• Easy to lose focus

• It is hard to keep track of discussion threads

• Easily turns into a social forum

• Difficult to evaluate

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Give a purpose or focus to the discussion to direct it

• Solve a problem

• Debate an issue

• Ask open ended questions

• Plan a project

• Have students ask questions of experts

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Roll Playing Debate

Students play the roll of various figures from history and debate a topic. Example: Hitler and Mussolini debate Churchhill and Roosevelt about the issues around World War II.

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To Help Focus Discussions

• Become familiar with the environment and material presented

• Build in time and allow for exploration the first few times you use a new discussion tool

• Clearly define etiquette expectations

• Pose a problem

• Define tasks, set goals, requirements and boundaries

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To Help Focus Discussions

• Establish rolls and responsibilities

• Seek information

• Share information

• Monitor, support, and encourage

• Make sure all parties understand the content of the lesson or topic

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Great Synchronous Tools

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Elluminate

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Edistorm

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SKYPE!!!!!!

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Skype Resources

Around the World with 80 Schools Skype an Author Network Skype for Educators

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Glass Cubes

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Google Apps for Education

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Office Web Apps

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Verb

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Stroome

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Tok Box

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Wrap upSynchronous tools are real time communication tools that can be used to enhance your instruction whether in a live brick and mortar classroom, a blended environment, or an online classroom.

There are many applications out there that are free for educators that allow you to work collaboratively with your class on text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can also share your desk top in webinar demonstrations, manage projects together, brainstorm, and share files.

Perhaps one of the best synchronous tools out there are video conferencing applications like Skype which can bring experts and guests into your classroom from around the world.