Considerations associated with synchronous and asynchronous video use in online learning

Abstract

PurposeA substantial amount of the heavy lifting associated with getting face-to-face courses online as part of the emergency remote teaching response to the global COVID-19 pandemic has fallen, at times rather awkwardly at the feet of teachers and trainers. Teachers and trainers have had to become both learning designers, and online tutors overnight. In many instances what we have seen as part of this pivoting to online learning is the perpetuation of existing classroom based pedagogical approaches. This has, in most instances equated to the delivery of live lectures via video-conferencing software (such as Zoom and Skype), or previously recorded classroom-based lectures being reused.Design/methodology/approachThis paper explores the affordances of synchronous and asynchronous lecture video use in online learning based on the view that whilst pre-recorded videos are customary and can add added value to the online learning environment, they should be used based pedagogical pertinence, rather than through convenience or simply to save time.FindingsThe pedagogical nuances of online learning and student engagement must be broadly considered, so that the formation of conditions in which learning is most likely is at the forefront.Originality/valueThis is a viewpoint paper. Much of the paper is based on the views of the author – supported by references/research.