As schools embrace flexible virtual learning options, educators need a clear, focused strategy to track performance data effectively—whether through synchronous, real-time, or asynchronous methods.
So, how do educators effectively blend and measure real-time accountability and self-paced student learning? In this article, we will explore the nuances of each approach and how to build understanding and make informed decisions based on the unique requirements of each of these learning modalities.
What Is Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Learning?
The effectiveness of virtual learning depends on a clear understanding of the roles synchronous and asynchronous methods play in student engagement. Clear definitions help teachers and families see how each approach fits their children’s learning styles to support personal growth. Programs like Independent Study often blend these methods to offer flexibility and support.
Here’s a closer look at the distinction between synchronous and asynchronous learning.
Synchronous Learning (Live Interaction)
In synchronous learning, teachers and students engage in two-way, real-time virtual instruction even when students are not physically present on campus. Students join virtual sessions with their instructor at scheduled times, ensuring the required instructional hours are met each day through real-time interactions. Attendance is recorded daily at a set time to meet funding requirements.
Synchronous learning offers the benefit of real-time interaction, allowing teachers to provide immediate feedback and track student engagement as it happens.
Asynchronous Learning
Asynchronous learning doesn’t require instructors and students to be present at the same time. It offers students the opportunity to learn at their own pace and at a time that works best for them. For example, students engage in reading assignments, watch pre-recorded video lessons, or participate in discussion boards.
With asynchronous instruction, students and educators do not inhabit the same virtual space simultaneously. As such, tracking participation and attendance requires additional considerations.
Tips for Effective Student Tracking in Virtual Learning
Synchronous and asynchronous educational delivery can be robust and meaningful, and implementing the following strategies can help ensure that it meets that potential.
Let’s examine best practices for tracking student engagement with synchronous vs. asynchronous virtual instruction.
Define Synchronous and Asynchronous Engagement
Simply being present on a synchronous video does not necessarily demonstrate attention to materials or interaction with the content.
To ensure educators and students have clear expectations, it’s important to define what counts as “attendance,” “participation,” or “engagement.” These definitions can be used to outline specific expectations for students, including:
- How and when students should respond to discussion posts
- How students demonstrate interaction with posted resources
- When students should complete check-in assignments to earn participation or attendance credit
Make sure you create these expectations in conjunction with board-approved local policies. Some policies even recommend or require specific methods for tracking student attendance, participation, and engagement.
Synchronous Learning Tracking Tips
Defining what constitutes engagement in a synchronous environment and determining the right tools to track students’ progress
- Video conferencing platforms often have built-in features that offer clear, codified ways to encourage and record participation. You can easily save or export the chat transcript to keep a record for later review.
- Record participation by automatically logging student participation based on who joins synchronous meetings or simply clicking a box in an activity dashboard.
- During live sessions, assess real-time feedback with quick polls, interactive quizzes, or by having students share their thoughts in the chat—giving you an immediate sense of their understanding.
Asynchronous Learning Tracking Tips
- Set clear deadlines for assignments so students know when their work is due. Track submission timestamps to measure promptness and participation. This will help you stay on top of who’s keeping up with deadlines and identify any students who might need a little extra encouragement to stay engaged.
- Learning management systems like Google Classroom and Edgenuity often play a key role in supporting self-paced learning. Look for tools that easily track instructional activity, coursework, and students time on task, giving you a clear picture of how students are engaging with class materials in different ways.
- Quantitative measures work best in tandem with more qualitative measures like active participation, responsiveness, and understanding that numbers alone can’t convey. For example, student self-assessments, peer reviews, and interactions with the content via discussion boards provide valuable insights into how students process and apply knowledge.
Blended Learning Tracking Practices
Over the past few years, one thing has become clear in education: combining real-time interaction with self-paced learning benefits students with different needs and preferences.
However, a school also needs to consider how to measure student competency and performance when offering Independent Study or virtual instructional programming with blended delivery methods. Schools with any mode of online instruction must report attendance checks, demonstrate student engagement, track learning progress, and collect student work samples to prepare for audits.
Here are a few tips to simplify — and enhance — student engagement tracking for blended learning:
Implement Live Support with Automated Tracking
Teachers can boost learning outcomes with simple strategies like weekly live office hours and an automated tracker for asynchronous activities. Real-time support gives students a chance to ask questions, while the tracker helps you spot who’s falling behind. This makes it easier to step in quickly, re-engage students, and address issues before missed work becomes a bigger problem.
Streamline Instructional Time Tracking
In light of new and likely future legislation like Senate Bill 153, tracking student work in both synchronous and asynchronous learning has become more nuanced. Simplify the process of instructional time tracking and student participation, even down to the total minutes of each class per day, with tools designed for virtual or hybrid instruction. That way, you can ensure compliance, assess engagement from both formats, and gain clarity of students’ progress.
Centralize Data With an Activity Dashboard
In blended learning, an activity dashboard helps educators understand student engagement at a glance. It offers a quick, clear view of each student’s academic journey, both in synchronous and asynchronous formats. Consider a strong tracking system that centralizes assignments and grades, making it easier for you to monitor progress and stay informed of a student’s overall progress.
Make Flexible Learning Work for Your Students
Flexible learning environments are offering new and exciting ways to deliver content to a wider range of students. When different teaching methods are combined with strong tracking tools, educators and students alike can receive the insights they need to make the most of asynchronous, synchronous, and blended learning experiences.
School Pathways’ integrated SIS suite solution offers highly responsive and individualized ways to track real-time student participation and engagement for a variety of educational delivery methods. Get in touch to learn how to track student engagement effectively.
