Building Stronger Connections in Higher Education With Synchronous Online Learning

In case you missed it, a new era of digital learning has arrived in higher education. Students aren’t just looking for convenience, they’re craving interactive online learning environments that make education more engaging and meaningful. And research supports this sentiment, with retention rates increasing by up to 21% when students are enrolled in at least some online courses.

Online platforms provide unique opportunities for real-time connections between students and instructors, creating spaces where engagement thrives, access to quality instruction improves, and collaborative learning becomes more effective. This new era of digital learning is redefining how we think about education and the relationship between students and instructors, and it’s time for leaders in higher education to take note. Let’s explore why traditional asynchronous online learning has fallen short and how synchronous online programs offer a more flexible, engaging solution that can potentially improve the student-instructor relationship and increase student success.

Asynchronous online programs have missed the mark

Traditional asynchronous online learning—where students access course materials and complete assignments independently—has long been a staple of virtual education. While this format offers flexibility, it’s not without its challenges, and can hinder the overall learning experience. One of the key challenges with the asynchronous model is that it delays feedback and communication between students and instructors. Without real-time interaction, questions and concerns go unanswered for extended periods, causing students to lose momentum and feel disconnected from the course and the instructor.

This lack of immediate feedback is concerning, and not only impacts student performance but also contributes to lower engagement, threatening retention rates. The absence of real-time interaction can also lead to a less collaborative environment, making it more difficult for students and instructors to build a rapport that’s necessary for high engagement and long-term educational success. These shortcomings highlight the need for more interactive and synchronous learning experiences that nurture connection and enable immediacy in virtual classroom interactions.

Bridging the gap with synchronous online learning

Synchronous online learning programs present a dynamic solution that bridges the gaps created in traditional asynchronous environments. By enabling real-time interactions between students and instructors, these programs offer a much more engaging learning experience. Through live sessions, instructors can more easily build a rapport with students, connecting personally and building relationships that foster a more supportive learning environment. Synchronous online programs also allow for immediate feedback, which is crucial for keeping students on track and ensuring they have a clear understanding of course material.

In live online classroom environments, students receive immediate responses to their questions or concerns rather than waiting for delayed answers from instructors, which can disrupt the learning process. Regular check-ins and discussions during live sessions keep students engaged and focused, leading to better comprehension and, ultimately, higher retention rates. In synchronous online programs, students can more actively participate in discussions, ask questions freely, and engage in collaborative problem solving.

One study done by the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration has some interesting findings regarding the sense of community built in synchronous online learning programs. Here are some of the highlights:

• Students reported that a greater sense of community developed in their synchronous online courses.
• One student commented on their experience in synchronous courses vs. asynchronous, saying, “Synchronous classes were the best way to build community. I have no idea who was even in my other classes that were asynchronous.”
• A higher number of students placed more weight on the value of engaging with faculty than with peers. Essentially, the findings were that creating community with the instructor was perceived as more important than creating community with classroom peers.

The direct, consistent contact in synchronous online courses enhances the learning experience and ensures that students feel more supported and connected. Ultimately, synchronous programs create a more cohesive and effective educational environment that enables a healthier and more authentic relationship between students and instructors.

Amplify the benefits by choosing the right technology

Choosing the right technology is essential to fully harness the benefits of synchronous online learning. Purpose-built platforms designed specifically for online education provide tools that actively promote student engagement, like interactive whiteboards, real-time polls, and dynamic breakout rooms for group work.

These features help to create a collaborative learning environment where students are more likely to participate and stay engaged. The right platform will also include data-driven insights that allow instructors to measure student engagement levels and rely on quantitative rather than qualitative data to get a more accurate gauge of course effectiveness. This reliable data allows instructors to react to what’s working and what’s not, and improve and tailor courses to meet students’ needs.

The Class difference: Fostering connection with virtual learning

Class’s online learning program helps instructors create a true sense of community with students. With a powerful set of collaborative, active learning features, instructors can feel confident they’re equipped to provide the best learning environment possible. Enhanced breakout rooms, advanced chat features, instructional whiteboards, surveys and polling, interactive content sharing, and more allow instructors to create authentic, effective learning communities.

And leaders in higher education are seeing the benefits, as Corey Stevens, Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning Technology at Salt Lake Community College notes, “Online synchronous courses really offer accessibility and equity of experience. We can educate more students better because we have tools like Class to make that education better for them. So really it’s an important part of the toolbox in all of the different modalities that we have.”

Looking to strengthen the connection between students and instructors? Connect with a Class expert today and explore how the platform fosters real-time collaboration, engagement, and meaningful relationships in your higher education programs.