The synchronous learning classroom is designed to connect a host classroom to one or more remote classrooms for a unique learning experience. Take a look at our training methods and materials, review our technology, and experience the active-learning strategies we found work best in synchronous environments.
Have you ever wanted to teach one class in two places at once? Though the Time Turners of the Harry Potter universe are a thing of fantasy, modern technology allows synchronous teaching to connect physical classrooms on multiple campuses. The synchronous learning classroom is designed to connect a host classroom to one or more remote classrooms for a synchronous learning experience. Both classrooms are equipped with wall-mounted monitors, microphones, Polycom cameras, and a Crestron system, allowing an instructor to communicate and monitor multiple classroom locations at once.
Having the necessary technology isn’t enough. For synchronous learning to be successful, you must also have properly prepared faculty, and ideally, adequately informed students. Faculty love workshops and being provided with lots of hands-on experience. Creating professional development resources for our synchronous learning pilot took a team of committed staff and faculty to ensure all the necessarily elements were in place before the first class began. The hands-on workshop focused on three elements: active-learning techniques, on camera presence, and managing immediacy with students at multiple locations. Our next problem was dealing with scaling the training to accommodate the demand? How do you asynchronously train faculty to teach in a synchronous environment?
During this presentation, we will share our experience implementing a pilot for the synchronous learning classroom at our institution. Take a look at our training methods and materials, review our technology, and experience the active-learning strategies we’ve found work best in a synchronous environment.
Level of Participation:
Training is a must when preparing faculty to deliver courses in a synchronous format. To keep students engaged at both locations, we practiced active learning techniques in our training workshops. In our presentation, we will engage the conference attendees by repeating two active learning exercises designed for large classes as demonstrated in the faculty’s professional development workshop. We will also solicit comments by asking attendees questions regarding their institutions take on synchronous course delivery and technology concerns. Finally, we will invite the attendees to share their thoughts and suggestions on social media during the presentation, which we will monitor and award a door prize for our favorite.
Session Goals:
Participants will leave the session with an understanding of the technology required to create synchronous learning classrooms as well as the challenges of providing professional development training for synchronous content delivery. Attendees will also learn practical active-learning techniques for effective teaching, regardless of how the course is delivered.