Synchronous or Asynchronous? Consider Another Alternative to Online Delivery Courses

Abstract

Creating online courses that are interactive increases student satisfaction, improves performance and achieves better recall of outcome related content and assessment. Online content has been clearly established as an effective method of delivering courses to aviation students. Students can participate in the course from virtually any location in the world at any time. The alternatives to online courses have been traditional in the classroom classes or via internet access at a scheduled date and time, making the class synchronous, but substantially less convenient. The challenge has been to make the online learning experience better than the traditional in class experience. Student satisfaction, performance, and outcomes assessments were measured to assess the impact of the interactive designs. Surveys of over 50 students in four different courses indicate that interactive course design in online delivered aviation courses is more engaging, delivers content in a better format, and achieves better overall grades.

Author

• Steigerwald, Ed, D.B.A. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Online
• Interactive
• Courses
• Design
• Curriculum and Instruction