Strategies for Effective Online Learning: Asynchronous Scheduling

Lea Ann Lockard
1 day ago
5 min read

Originally posted October 29, 2024

By Lea Ann Lockard, Elevate e-Learning, Principal Consultant & President

In this revised blog post, I revisit the themes discussed in my original article from April 2024. As the field of online education continues to evolve, I’ve expanded on these ideas to include more recent insights and practical strategies for mastering asynchronous scheduling. This update aims to provide educators with an enhanced understanding of how to effectively integrate both synchronous and asynchronous instruction in their practice.

Online learning is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the increasing demand from parents and students for more personalized education. Online schools have substantial work to do to keep up with these advancements. Most online schools that emerged during the pandemic adopted a rigid synchronous scheduling approach, relying heavily on real-time Zoom classes. However, as time has progressed, we are coming to realize that this model is too expensive and inefficient to support learners, even for those who are best suited for an online learning environment.

In this blog series, we explore the essential "master scheduling" work needed to ensure that administrators and teachers have the mindset, training and support to overcome challenges in establishing effective asynchronous instruction. This series will demystify staffing and funding an online program by establishing an effective master schedule for the online school, which underscores the overall goal to have a high quality program in which students are meeting their academic and social goals.

The Need for Asynchronous Learning

As a seasoned administrator and consultant for online education, I’ve seen firsthand how asynchronous learning can transform the flexibility and personalization of instruction.

Asynchronous learning will foster student agency by giving them the autonomy to make choices about when and how they engage with course materials, within a structured time frame. This flexibility, particularly beneficial for diverse learning styles, allows students to work at their own pace within a pacing guide. Working at your own pace means slowing down for some students while others are able to master the material more quickly and move on. Research consistently shows that empowering students with greater autonomy, supported by guidance, leads to higher engagement and improved academic outcomes. While asynchronous learning can initially appear chaotic and difficult to manage for administrators and teachers, with the proper tools and training, educators often become inspired and find it difficult to return to traditional methods of teaching.

Online learning is increasingly recognized as a key approach to achieving the much-sought-after goal of personalized education. Parents are caring less and less about the overall class their student is part of and more about how their social, emotional and learning needs are being met. Ed Tech companies are specializing in leveraging technology and adaptive systems to create this personalization in the form of individualized learning paths.

However, these tools change the role of the teacher and can negate the purpose of the conventional master schedule. With asynchronous learning, many of the barriers master schedules are to address regarding time, place, and staff assignments are not needed. Many school administrators prefer synchronous models because they align with traditional operational practices and are easier to manage in terms of staffing and scheduling.

There is also a perception that asynchronous learning is more difficult to measure or track compared to synchronous instruction, not only due to the logistical challenges of blending the models but also because it requires a shift in institutional mindsets toward greater flexibility, personalization, and student autonomy. I look forward to delving into the incredible tracking systems that can be utilized when learning is asynchronous. It is profound when an online school can move from marking attendance in a synchronous session to monitoring data and interacting with students and their families in a well-established learning management system.

Strategies for Crafting Your Master Schedule

Define Objectives: Begin by outlining the specific goals for both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. What is the purpose and the skills you want students to develop in each format? How can the models complement each other in achieving goals? For example, if you set a standard that students will meet synchronously twice a week, what is the expected outcome of these two sessions?
Incorporate Flexibility: Rethink the rigid “master schedule” to include a blend of live sessions and flexible, self-paced assignments. This balance will accommodate students who thrive in a structured environment as well as those who benefit from a more independent or flexible approach. For example, in asynchronous learning, you can exchange the effort of tracking and discussing tardiness to discussing with students how to manage their time and remain organized to ensure productivity. I have been told many times by my graduates at Texas Connections Academy that they were better prepared for college than their counterparts who attended a traditional brick and mortar school.
Create Opportunities for Collaboration: Leverage both synchronous and asynchronous time for collaborative activities, discussions, and Q&A sessions. Asynchronous methodologies support peer-to-peer interaction as well as teacher-to-student with tools such as discussion boards. For example, asynchronous learning can allow students to pick times and places in which to meet on projects or to engage in discussion boards. Many students are more apt to engage in asynchronous learning during non-traditional school hours.
Utilize Technology: Invest in platforms and tools that facilitate both synchronous and asynchronous learning. Tools such as a learning management system (LMS) will help streamline course materials, assignments, and communication among teachers, students, parents and administrators. Researching and purchasing quality ed tech tools already on the market will accelerate your staff’s success. As your school progresses with engaging students asynchronously, your staff can consider creating their own tools. Keep your staff focused on creating opportunities for students through systems instead of creating tools to teach with.
Provide Training and Support: Ensure that teachers receive the support needed to establish both the asynchronous and synchronous learning mindset. Include training on every aspect of effective strategies. For example, don’t take for granted how important it is to train your staff of the efficiency and effectiveness of a phone call. In a school with asynchronous learning, teachers will spend a considerable amount of time on the telephone (or in online chats) with students and their parents. Make sure staff are equipped with how to handle this task with ease by seeking specialized training.

Making Asynchronous Learning Visible

In this blog series, I aim to make asynchronous learning as “visible” and doable as synchronous learning within the context of the conventional master scheduling. Through thoughtful scheduling and a commitment to embracing asynchronous learning, we can create a more dynamic and inclusive online learning environment for all students.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this updated perspective! How have your experiences in asynchronous learning changed?

Read the subsequent blog posts that continue the conversation about master scheduling:

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