2.2: Synchronous Communication Tools
- Page ID
- 27202
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Here is an overview of some standard synchronous communication tools:
- Video conferencing tools: Allow real-time video/audio communication between two or more people in different locations. Examples include Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Skype, and Webex. These facilitate meetings, presentations, collaboration, etc.
- Chat/instant messaging tools: Allow real-time text-based communication. Popular platforms include Slack, Microsoft Teams chat, Skype chat, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc. These allow quick conversations and collaboration.
- Phone/voice calls: One of the original synchronous communication mediums. Allows real-time voice conversations between two or more parties. Landline phones, mobile phones, and Voice over IP services facilitate voice calls.
- Screen sharing tools: Allow real-time, visual sharing of one's screen/display for collaboration, presentations, etc. Common examples include Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Skype screen share options. Dedicated screen sharers like Zoom's screen share option also exist.
- Online whiteboard tools: Allow real-time, visual collaboration by sharing a virtual whiteboard. Participants can draw, write, and brainstorm visually. Examples include Microsoft Whiteboard, Miro, and Mural.
- Virtual worlds: Persistent 3D virtual environments that allow real-time interaction through avatars. Second Life is a famous example.
Key benefits of synchronous tools are real-time communication, instant feedback, the ability to read visual/non-verbal cues, and improved engagement. Challenges can be scheduling aligning different time zones and tech scalability issues for large groups. (Claude)
Synchronous Communication Offered by Canvas and Other Learning Management Systems
Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas also offer options for synchronous communication. This places the instructor and students (or just students in some cases) in the exact online location where they can immediately respond to each other in a face-to-face classroom. The Chat tool is an always-on, text-only page within Canvas that anyone enrolled in a class can use. Adding Chat to Course Navigation is available on the Settings page. Note that all comments posted to the Chat tool are recorded and cannot be deleted.
A more fully functional tool for synchronous communication is Conferences, which includes a full suite of tools for live online lectures. However, the native Canvas tool is not recommended at this time. It is integrated with a program called BigBluebutton, which has not been evaluated to see if it meets California standards for universal design. Also, the default license is for recordings that cannot be downloaded and are retained for only two weeks, so an institution would need its contract to make the tool usable by students interested in reviewing archives of recorded sessions.
A better option for synchronous communication for California's community colleges is to link to the tools CCC Confer and ConferNow, which use the technology platforms Blackboard Collaborate and Zoom, respectively. These tools can be integrated via LTI with Canvas and are supported by the state chancellor's office. Please note that ConferNow is not yet certified as universally accessible.