10 Benefits of Asynchronous Learning

One of the hottest types of learning these days is asynchronous learning. In fact, you have probably done asynchronous learning at some point in time and not even realized it. In this article, we will take a look at ten of the top benefits of asynchronous learning. 

1. Flexibility

One of the benefits of asynchronous learning is the flexibility that it affords a learner. You have the freedom to learn where you want, when you want, and on what device you want.

A good example of this is courses in EdApp’s completely free editable course library. With this award-winning platform, you get mobile-first learning courses so that your learners have the choice of where and when they want to learn. They won’t have to deal with a clunky interface unlike other learning management systems, as the app is built for mobile but can also be accessed via desktop.

2. Affordability

Another great benefit of asynchronous learning is that it can be less expensive than synchronous learning. This is for several reasons, but one of the biggest is that you don’t need a live teacher. Instead, the teacher can record their lesson and allow any number of students to view it at a later time. This can be a big time-saver when multiplied across several semesters if a lesson involves a large lecture component.

Many online asynchronous classes are free, including a wide library of courses on EdApp. This makes trying out an asynchronous class a risk-free venture.

3. Pacing

The third advantage of asynchronous learning is pacing. Not every student learns the same amount of content at the same pace as others. A lesson that one student can master in a few hours may take another student a few days.

This is also especially true for employee training. Business workers are often busy, so being able to do their lessons at their own pace is a great advantage. With EdApp, learners can receive their lessons in bite-sized microlessons. That lets them easily digest as much content as they need in the time that they have. 

4. Freedom from geography

Learners can also enjoy asynchronous learning because it allows them to be free from the constraints of geography. It doesn’t matter where a student is located, they can easily complete their learning assignments over the Internet.

This is especially helpful for employees who have to travel a lot. With a mobile teaching application like EdApp, they can get their lessons or new product updates delivered straight to their device, no matter where in the world they are. 

5. Access to information

Another benefit of asynchronous learning is that learners can have easier access to supplemental materials. These materials may allow learners to better understand the lesson. In a synchronous learning environment, learners may have many questions that get left unanswered if the lecture moves too fast. But if the lesson is delivered asynchronously, a student may pause the lecture and seek help before getting too far behind.

Video learning is also supported in EdApp. Videos can be embedded into lessons so learners can have full control over the input of their lectures. The drag-and-drop interface makes adding video content a breeze. 

6. Ownership of learning

In an asynchronous learning environment, learners are better able to take control of their learning. Because they have the freedom to do their work at their own pace and prioritize what they want, they can feel that they have more ownership over what they are learning, rather than having to follow a teacher’s exact schedule.

EdApp also gives learners a sense of ownership. They can manage their own courses and even enroll in different courses through EdApp. For example, there are numerous free courses on EdApp including courses on leadership and customer service. These are available in EdApp’s course library.

7. Collaborative tools

Another great benefit of asynchronous learning is that even though learners may be physically separate, there is still ample room for collaboration in asynchronous learning. In fact, it can be done even more easily in many cases because so many different tools allow for online sharing. So, students can be more prepared to collaborate while working at their computers than they can when in a traditional classroom.

These sorts of collaborative tools can be readily integrated into a training LMS. Learners can take advantage of EdApp’s collaborative learning tools, such as Discussions, where they can communicate with each other through a forum-like space.

8. Scalable learning

An asynchronous class also opens up your courses to be received at a much larger scale than a synchronous course can. Any number of people can view the content and participate in taking exams and online discussions. This type of scale could not be achieved in a typical classroom setting.

Learning at scale can be achieved through a learning technology like EdApp. Simply add as many users as you would like to your courses through the course management administration page.

9. Broader social groups

Asynchronous learning can also be a good way to broaden your horizons as you can meet learners who aren’t in your immediate area. Learning alongside others with different backgrounds allows learners to see new viewpoints that they may have not considered before, which can lead to a greater understanding of the lesson in a larger context.

You can also prepare for social learning alongside people of different cultures by taking training courses in cultural awareness. For example, EdApp features a course called Indigenous People and Cultural Awareness that can help in learning cross-cultural communication.

10. Reinforcement of learning

Lastly, you can reinforce key concepts through asynchronous learning. You can easily watch a lecture over and over again, engage in discussions in online forums, or complete supplemental activities.

Another great idea for reinforcing learning is through spaced repetition. EdApp takes advantage of this by determining the optimal time to deliver a microlesson to students so that they can better engrain the material into their long-term memory.

But what exactly is asynchronous learning?

Asynchronous learning involves learning that happens at the learner’s own pace. That means you can view lectures, finish assignments, and take exams at any point before their deadlines. That’s in contrast to other learning methods like synchronous learning, in which you need to attend lectures when they are being given and sit for exams at their specified times. As you can see, choosing asynchronous learning over synchronous learning gives a lot of freedom to the learner. But that’s just one of the benefits.

Conclusion

We have taken a good look at the benefits of asynchronous learning. Even though there will always be a place for synchronous learning, we have seen that there are still many advantages for asynchronous learning. We’ve also seen how this type of learning can be realized to its maximum effect through the use of a top asynchronous learning platform like EdApp. What is your favorite advantage of asynchronous learning?