Yesterday I was lecturing via a Zoom online call when I heard a strange whimpering cry coming from the audio feed of one of my students. Usually they all have their mics muted, but it turns out one student had forgotten to do this. And it just so happened that student was caring for 4 abandoned puppies who were snuggled under his t-shirt. After we all got a glimpse of the adorable puppies and shared a fun moment as a class, I reminded all the students to mute their mics and I continued with my lecture.
The current worldwide pandemic has forced many of us to change the way we communicate. If you are still presenting, chances are you are doing so in an online format. Even with the move to online presentations, there are still two major categories that need to be considered. The first is synchronous (live presentations presented at a specific time for all users). The second is asynchronous (pre-recorded presentations which can be watched at any time by users).
Researchers have identified the strengths of these two different methods of online presentations, and we’ll discuss them in detail. Researcher Caroline Haythornthwaite of Syracuse University explored the two types of online learning by seeking to answer the question, what are we doing when we learn online? She found that when we present or learn online, we shift between content-related tasks, planning, and social support. These three communication types can help us understand whether a synchronous or asynchronous presentation would work best.
Synchronous Online Presentations
Zoom calls and Microsoft Team meetings are examples of presentations that happen in a synchronous format. These types of presentations occur in real time. A presenter or host sets up a meeting time and an online meeting space. Listeners log in via video or audio feed to listen to the presentation or meeting as it happens. Stefan Hrastinski researched synchronous and asynchronous learning environments by breaking down the communication into Haythornthwaite’s 3 categories. Here’s what he found. In synchronous meetings and presentations:
57-58% of communication is content related
29-34% of communication involves planning
13-18% of communication is a form of social support
Research has found that synchronous presentations are best if you want to allow for or mimic the feel of a conversation. It allows listeners to feel more like participants rather than passive observers. It allows for questions to be asked and answered in the moment. Synchronous presentations also allow for social support. Don’t discount the value of the small talk exchanges that happen in the chat thread or before or after the presentation begins. And synchronous presentations allow for more nonverbal communication, especially when you can see the faces of the other people who are involved in the presentation or meeting.
Asynchronous Online Presentations
Asynchronous presentations are pre-recorded or don’t occur live within a specific timeframe. This type of online learning may involve videos the participants can watch on their own schedule. Or they may involve chat threads that occur over the course of a few days or weeks. Asynchronous presentations can still involve participation and interaction. However, they don’t require that all users participate at the same time or with all parties. When it comes to asynchronous meetings and presentations, Hrastinski found:
93-99% of communication is content related
1-5% of communication involves planning
1-2% of communication is a form of social support
Asynchronous presentations might work best if you have many users with complicated schedules. Some users will gladly trade the convenience of participating on their own timeline for the connection and social support they may get in a synchronous format. Another strength of this type of online presentation is that producing a video ahead of time also allows you to polish and edit your presentation. It also cuts down on some of the distractions that come with synchronous presentations, especially those that involve video and/or audio feed from all participants.
If you are looking to get the information out there in a polished and convenient format, an asynchronous online presentation will probably work best for you. However, if you want to foster social connection between yourself and participants or allow the opportunity for live Q & A, a synchronous presentation is your best bet.
At Ethos3, we build our presentation design and delivery theories on scientific research. Need help developing a synchronous or asynchronous presentation? We’ve got you.
