Online training and education is becoming mainstream in this day and age. As more people are working from home, institutions are also jumping on board with remote on-the-job learning opportunities. While some people prefer this type of learning, others would rather have in-person courses. But with all the benefits, online learning isn’t going anywhere.
From the flexibility to eliminating the commute, educators, marketers, and working professionals are reaping the benefits of virtual learning. While in-person training and remote learning are two separate worlds, there are different formats for structuring these learning opportunities: synchronous and asynchronous.
Synchronous learning happens similarly to regular in-person training, only without physically being there. The training still happens in real-time, usually with a set schedule and other requirements, like logging in at specific times. Asynchronous learning, on the other hand, works a bit differently.
Related Reading: Ready to supercharge your corporate training videos? Check our our corporate training video production guide blog post.
Keep reading to learn more about asynchronous learning, including what it means, the benefits, and if there are any disadvantages to consider.
What is Asynchronous Learning?
Simply put, asynchronous learning is all about studying on your schedule. If you would rather wait until your schedule frees up to complete your training tasks, asynchronous learning makes that possible. This is a common learning style for college students. Once a student signs up for one of these courses, they’ll typically receive all the course material upfront for the entire semester: reading materials, video or audio lectures, assignments, quizzes, tests, and more. Once the class begins, all the student has to do is adhere to the required deadlines.
Asynchronous learning is also frequently used by marketers, professionals, and other educators. The flexibility of this learning style is very beneficial for those with full-time jobs. As it can be challenging to train your employees, giving them videos to watch on their own time is way more efficient.
Additionally, a teacher or manager can either make separate due dates for assignments or set one due date for all the training material. There are various asynchronous learning methods out there, but many of them involve self-guided lessons, virtual content libraries, pre-recorded videos, remote lectures, and online discussion boards.
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Benefits of Asynchronous Learning
While educators and team managers across the world enjoy implementing asynchronous learning practices, others hate it. Despite your preference, asynchronous learning comes with many undeniable benefits.
Cost-Effective
Many people choose this learning method because of the small price tag. In college, these courses don’t require daily in-person attendance by an instructor, leading to fewer costs for the educational institution. Rather than using the traditional method, asynchronous learning allows students and professionals to work through the training material independently while only occasionally talking with educators via email or social media. This is when asynchronous communication (conversations that don't occur in real-time) comes into play. When you send an email or text message, that’s a form of asynchronous communication.
Related Reading: What is Asynchronous Communication and Why Does it Matter?
Under the asynchronous learning method, video lectures, self-guided modules, and online libraries provide the opportunity to learn on your own terms with very little oversight. This can be especially beneficial for working professionals. While they may work 40+ hours to begin with, finding the time to train can be difficult. Asynchronous learning allows them to train whenever is most convenient for them!
Set Your Own Pace
Whether it's a senior IT professional or college freshmen, schedules can fill up quickly. This can lead to poor learning, stress, or even failing a training course. If you’re looking for an opportunity that works for the pace of your team, asynchronous learning is the answer. While there are still deadlines, asynchronous learning allows you to work at your own pace, which can be better suited for busy schedules and long work hours. Want to finish the entire training course within a week? Would you rather wait till the end of the month to complete the work? No matter your preference, asynchronous learning provides tons of flexibility.
As asynchronous learners can train when they want, they need a reliable platform with the accessibility they can depend on. Here at Viostream, our video platform features captions, interactive transcripts, keyboard controls, and much more. See for yourself.
Built for Your Schedule
Many people would enjoy taking more training courses, but their schedule gets in the way. This is one of the leading reasons why educators and teams love asynchronous learning. With this learning method, the training material may be available for a week, a couple of weeks, or much longer. This means you can access the material whenever it’s most convenient for you. Whether you work all day or have the graveyard shift, asynchronous learning can work for your schedule.
The way the material is presented also adds to the flexibility. For instance, you can listen to a class lecture on your drive to work, or you can take a quiz on your lunch break. No matter what your schedule looks like, asynchronous learning is designed for your needs.
Related Reading: Video for Training, Learning and Development (E-Book)
Disadvantages of Asynchronous Learning
While there are tons of benefits, there are also a few disadvantages to asynchronous learning. As we mentioned earlier, this type of education isn’t loved by everyone.
Here are some disadvantages to consider:
Less Support
As asynchronous learning often involves asynchronous communication, nothing happens in real-time. This can be frustrating for some people. Whether you have a question about a quiz or need clarification on a topic, you typically won’t get an immediate response. When you do get in touch with your manager or educator, you usually won’t receive the same kind of support as you would in an in-person classroom. If you prefer the more traditional class where you can talk to the educator face-to-face, asynchronous learning may not be right for you.
Isolation
If you enjoy being around others in a learning environment and you like the social aspect of education, asynchronous learning may not be your preferred learning style. While asynchronous learning means you’ll be talking over social media and other channels, asynchronous communication isn't the same as real-time interaction.
How Viostream Helps
In the world of asynchronous learning, high-quality video streaming is vital. This is where Viostream can help. Viostream is a leading enterprise-grade video platform for businesses of any size. Whether you’re a large organization or small business, we have the video solutions you can depend on.
To work with one of the top video platforms for business in the world, contact our customer support team to learn more about how Viostream's professional video hosting platform can help improve your business communications today.
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