Happy Hour: A Design Case on Integrating Live Synchronous Web Meetings Into Asynchronous Online Courses

• In Event: 53.073 - Online Course Development as Design Cases

Abstract

Most online courses rely solely on asynchronous text-based online communication. This type of communication has affordances and constraints. Commonly cited constraints include the lack of visual cues and the time it takes for conversations to develop. Synchronous forms of communication can address some of these constraints. However, online educators often avoid using synchronous forms of communication in their courses. In this session, we will report on our design experiments where we integrated live synchronous web meetings into asynchronous online courses, collected student feedback, and made iterative changes and refinements based on student feedback over time.

Authors

• Patrick R. Lowenthal, Boise State University

• Joanna C. Dunlap, University of Colorado - Denver

• Chareen L. Snelson, Boise State University