Summary

Synchronous learning is a training approach where instructors and learners engage in real time, in person, online, or hybrid. Research shows that synchronous learning can reduce cognitive load for complex material and support deeper engagement through live interaction. This article explores what synchronous learning is, its benefits, and how L&D teams can apply it effectively.

Why Real-Time Learning Continues to Play a Role

The promises of eLearning are legion, and with good reason. An underlying idea of eLearning was that asynchronous learning could eliminate much of the time and expense associated with real-time, instructor-led, onsite learning.

While asynchronous and synchronous learning can produce similar learning outcomes, research shows that synchronous learning lowers the “cognitive load” among learners dealing with more complicated material. Additional benefits of synchronous learning include learner engagement, interactivity, and building new networks among students and instructors.

What Does Synchronous Learning Mean in eLearning?

eLearning encompasses both asynchronous and synchronous delivery methods. While asynchronous learning is an “anytime, anywhere” delivery method, synchronous learning is real-time learning. You can deliver it in a classroom, online, or through a blended approach that combines both, allowing learners to participate either in person or electronically, often referred to as hybrid learning.

Asynchronous learning’s ease of access and consistent delivery are particularly useful for process/procedure and compliance training because each learner receives the exact same information. However, synchronous delivery brings clear benefits that apply across many learning situations, not just synchronous formats.

What Are the Benefits of Synchronous Learning?

In a previous post, we detailed the benefits and drawbacks of eLearning in general. Here, let’s look at synchronous learning’s promise.

Real-time Interactivity

Through real-time interaction, in the classroom or virtually—or both, learners can:

• Interact directly with instructor and peers through screen sharing, digital whiteboards, polls and quizzes, and through breakout groups for discussions, problem-solving, project development, and more.
• Ask questions and make comments during the event (either verbally or through chat)
• Get immediate clarification. With synchronous learning, learners can ask multiple follow-ups for real-world examples and applications, from the instructor or their peers.

Instructor Moderation and Feedback

Instructors can comment and critique assignments, quizzes, poll results, or respond to questions in real-time, allowing learners to make quick adjustments to their understanding. With asynchronous content delivery, learners can replay the point they’d like to clarify, but it’s simply a repetition. Just-in-time responses from instructors or other learners in a synchronous session are especially valuable for complex or fast-changing subjects like technology, healthcare, data science, and information security. Instructors and instructional designers can retrieve measures of participation in text chat, browser focus reports, and other data on learner participation.

Reduction of Cognitive Load

Cognitive load refers to the total mental effort a learner uses to process and retain information, especially when the material is new or complex. Because the brain has limited capacity, reducing cognitive load helps learners absorb new material more effectively and perform new tasks with greater ease.

A study published found that the cognitive load experienced by students was lower in the synchronous setting compared to the asynchronous setting.

Consistent Schedule

Synchronous classes also offer schedule consistency. Scheduled times to attend lectures or join discussions can provide structure and predictability that keep learners on track and reduce the temptation to procrastinate.

Stronger Connections

Live discussions and group projects create new connections among students and instructors. With peer-to-peer learning, learners not only absorb new material but also build a sense of community and have new professional networks once the course is complete.

Pilot New Course Ideas

Before investing in the time and expense of developing a standalone, asynchronous course and then going through multiple iterations to polish it, you can pilot new ideas with a synchronous offering. Instructors gather valuable real-time feedback on how to present new material, engage learners, and help them master new content. Instructors and learners can make revision suggestions based on their experience in the pilot.

Synchronous Learning Considerations

Given the benefits of both asynchronous and synchronous learning, it is important to evaluate the criteria that influence delivery decisions.

• What are the goals or learning outcomes? What do you want learners to do as a result of having attended the session? What specific behaviors do you expect to change?
• What are the benefits of a live session? Will you record it and make it available for later reference? Will those who didn’t attend the original session have access to the recording?
• For virtual delivery, which live platform are you using: Zoom, Teams, Webex, GoToMeeting, Google Meet, etc.? Are there benefits to the session from using a particular platform’s built-in tools?
• Are time zones and an appropriate start time going to be issues for those who attend virtually?
• What are the technical and equipment requirements for those attending virtually? Are these requirements stated clearly ahead of the session? Will technical support or troubleshooting be available for those online during the session? How will online attendees communicate their need for assistance and to whom?
• Will you need to make accessibility provisions (real-time captioning, screen reader software, etc.)?
• Will onsite attendance be up to each learner, or will they have the choice about how to attend? If learners choose onsite or online attendance, how will you handle situations where only a few attend in person?
• What instructor and moderator considerations should you address?
  • Is the instructor/moderator experienced with live sessions, especially with pacing and timing, learner activities and debriefs, encouragement of reticent participants, and setting ground rules (cameras on/off, requirements for chat, requirements for group activity participation and report-out)?
  • Are instructors proficient in asking the types of questions that really engage learners? For example, avoiding yes/no questions and, instead, asking open-ended/thought-provoking questions and expecting thoughtful, detailed answers from learners, and then asking further questions to really get into the heart of the matter.
  • Are instructors expected to engage students with an activity in a defined time block (every 12-15 minutes, for example, so students don’t get bored and they are expected to do something)?
• What learner activities will be conducted and how frequently? For example:
  • Polls
  • Quizzes and interim checks for understanding
  • Scenarios the learners work through as an entire cohort, or through smaller breakout groups
• Are you providing in-session guides or tutorial materials that students can reference as the session progresses?
• Is sufficient time built into the session so that, if the questions and discussions run long, there’s still time to cover the didactic material?
• Will third parties/non-participants be observing the session in order to take notes for various purposes (piloting a new course idea, etc.)
• Are preparation activities required (readings, watching videos, completing projects, etc.)? Are those requirements clearly stated ahead of the session? What happens if learners don’t complete the pre-session work?
• Are you providing links to additional resources and websites?

Bringing Synchronous Learning into Practice

Choosing the right learning modality requires careful analysis and discussion, particularly among learners, instructors, and instructional designers, and should align with an organization’s broader learning strategy. Understanding delivery approach benefits and drawbacks helps decision-makers make informed choices and achieve learning objectives and performance outcomes. For organizations exploring synchronous, asynchronous, or blended approaches, working with experienced learning experts can support thoughtful design and effective execution.