A new school experience comes with unfamiliar terms this year. Here are some decoded

While each school year comes with its own uncertainties, this year will be exceptionally unfamiliar as many schools switch to exclusively online learning.

School instruction models each have their own methods and resources that might sound foreign to many parents. “Synchronous learning,” “Clever” and “Flipgrid” are a few terms that may appear on a student’s syllabus this semester.

Here are some common words schools are using, decoded.

What is synchronous learning?

Synchronous learning and asynchronous learning are methods of instruction that differ based on the time and structure of a class, according to Bryn Mawr College.

Synchronous learning involves real-time, face-to-face interaction between an instructor and a group of students. It offers “a more structured approach to learning,” according to a column in The Diamondback.

“In synchronous learning, students usually go through the learning path together, accompanied by their instructor who is able to provide support while students are completing tasks and activities,” according to Bryn Mawr.

The Maryland State Board of Education is considering implementing a synchronous learning program that requires schools to include “three and a half hours a day of real time learning,” WBAL reported.

In Texas, Fort Bend Independent School District (ISD) and Clear Creek ISD will also use a synchronous learning plan, according to KTRK.

The method will involve video chat platforms that students will use to interact with the instructor at a set time, The Martha’s Vineyard Times reported. Schools might use teleconferencing software like Zoom or Google Meets to schedule live meetings.

One drawback to this method is it doesn’t allow for much flexibility in pace — some students learn in different ways at varying paces, The Diamondback reported.

And what is asynchronous learning?

Asynchronous learning, however, does not involve real-time instruction.

“It does not require having the teacher and the student engaged at the same time,” Tamika Brown, chief academic officer for the El Paso Independent School District, told KFOX14. “If a student completes the work at any point in that day, through midnight, that could be considered daily progress. It could be considered turning in the assignment if it’s something that has to be turned in. And the student would be marked present for the day.”

The method of online learning has its own benefits and challenges. While it offers a schedule that caters to each student’s individual needs, it lacks interactivity.

Some instructors prefer asynchronous learning because not every student’s internet connectivity is reliable, according to Bryn Mawr.

“It only takes one glitch or two glitches in connectivity or audio/video troubles to affect the overall quality of the meeting,” the college wrote.

Asynchronous learning is the most common form of online instruction, according to Bryn Mawr.

This method uses platforms like Google Classroom, Clever, IXL or another system that allows instructors to build learning plans that students can access on their own, Bryn Mawr said.

Flipgrid is another platform that might be used in asynchronous learning. The software allows students to respond to a discussion topic by recording and sharing short videos with their class.

NoRedInk is another software program that could be used in asynchronous classes to assign students practice exercises, assessments and tests.

Many schools will likely offer a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning, such as schools under the All-Island School Committee’s jurisdiction in Massachusetts, according to The Martha’s Vineyard Times. The structure of a student’s learning model will depend on their needs, preference of instruction and age group.

This story was originally published August 31, 2020 at 12:54 PM with the headline "A new school experience comes with unfamiliar terms this year. Here are some decoded."