Examples Of Synchronous Learning

As we’ve learned, the primary characteristic of synchronous learning is that it students generally learn about the same thing at the same time. Anytime this happens, learning can be described as ‘synchronous’–that is, it is unified by time.

What are some examples of synchronous learning? The most well-known examples of synchronous learning is a ‘live’ class lecture–in person, for example. In this kind of lecture, the students are learning the same thing at the same time so it is synchronous.

If, however, that lecture is delivered digitally and students can access it whenever they’d like–and thus watch it at different times–it is no longer ‘synchronous’ and is said to be asynchronous learning. If you stick to the ideas of time and access, it’s easy to determine if the learning is synchronous or asynchronous.

Note, then, that the following examples are most commonly synchronous but if that activity is altered to happen at different times, it is no longer synchronous. The point is that there are exceptions where one of the following may not indeed be synchronous. Don’t let that confuse you. : )

Examples Of Synchronous Learning

1. Live lecture (online or offline)

2. Whole class direct instruction

3. Quizzes (taken together)

4. Face-to-face group discussion

5. Digital breakout room discussion

6. Physical or online ‘live’ learning conferences

7. In-person, collaborative project-based learning

8. Debate

9. Socratic discussion

10. Learning stations

11. Reciprocal teaching

12. Standardized testing