Part One: Advantages and Disadvantages of Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication

• Synchronous is real time, and asynchronous is time delayed.
• Synchronous communication takes place when people are connected at the same time (real time communication) whereas asynchronous communication does not require people to be online at the same time.

• Synchronous: phone calls, skype, text chat, face-to-face talk

• Asynchronous: snail post, e-mails, springdoo messages, blogs, forums, podcasts, videoblogs or vlogs

• Advantages: you can get an immediate response; instant feedback fosters communication; there seems to be a more emotional bonding effect between people when there is a possiblity to communicate in real time (synchronously), spontaneity.

• Weaknesses: there is less time to think about what you want to say or your response to another; time may be a limiting factor, e.g time zones; synchronous communication over the computer may be difficult because of the speed of data transaction with slower connections; you need extra equipment (speakers, microphone, webcamera)

• Advantages: you have time to think about what you want to say; time is not a constraint. You can receive the message whenever you have time and you can analyze the content of the message more carefully so the answer you give can be even more meaningful because it has gone through a process of elaboration.
• Weaknesses: no immediate response, especially where time is significant; you may not know if the other person has received your message; the message loses human contact.

text chat, e-conferencing, voice chat (Skype, Yahoo, GoogleTalk, MSN), video chat (also Skype and Yahoo)

• Skype (video, voice and text)
• Yahoo Messenger (text, video and voice)
• Chat function within an e-Learning platform
• Breeze e-conference, powwow - unsuccessfully
• Yahoo Messenger
• IEARN chat room

• If it is for learning purposes, give the chat very restricted and clear parameters, (the more participants, the more important the restrictions) including a goal to be reached within the time of the chat.
• To restrict the topic of the chat session so that its content is meaningful for all the participants
• To set the topic beforehand and give each participant some guidelines to be ready to contribute to the discussion.
• In the case of voice chat, to invite participants to talk but not to be too pushy. Some people need more time to gain confidence and feel better just listening.

Contributors

Illya, Silvana, Claudia

Part Two:

(Your answer here)Dennis

I'm an asynchronous fan on the whole. When I'm at my PC I'm working and don't want to be disturbed. I tend to ignore requests to chat, just as I tend to ignore 'phone calls - they are usually for my wife any way - and that's why I've got a telephone answering facility.

Of course there are exceptions. I've become a Skype user, and one friend and I often write backwards and forwards to each about TEFL matters, and music and life long after we meant to be in bed. Interestingly, we prefer this to talking to each other, which we do rarely. Similarly, I swap several message a day with another friend and colleague in England. We could easily voice Skype, but it never occurs to us to do so.

Conclusion? The written (electronic) word (1) leaves a trace as a record, (2) can be produced by the writer at his/her own convenience, (2) does not disturb the recipient and can be read at his/her convenience.

I've another TEFL friend, though, who hates writing. So we voice Skype. These days I have to comb my hair before I call because we've both got webcams.

I do sometimes use synchronous communication, though, for things like the Worldbridges webcasts, which I love.

In summary, personally I'm not too fond of asynchronicity, except for things like live presentations. I guess I'm lucky enough to be over the thrill of talking to people live and can now subside into using all our wonderful tools for appropriate purposes. It's clear to me that for teaching and learning purposes synchronicity is exciting and highly motivating.

(Your answer here)Dennis

I doubt if I know many because neither in "chat" not in text messaging do I use many short forms. I don't see the need. (Golly. Am I a purist campaigning for the full word and nothing but the full word?)I occasionally use things like:

IMHO - in my humble opinion.. (Very rarely. I'm not actually that humble.)

aka - also known as

asap - as soon as possible

btw - by the way

but I've noticed that people who use these forms frequently explain what they mean as well, thus defeating the purpose of employing them. It's probably better, any way, to write "alias" rather than "aka", because everyone understands "alias" and many people still don't understand "aka".

Incidentally, "chat" should be called "wrat" because it is written. "Chat" is a misnomer.

Dennis

Nothing funny has happened to me "wratting". The most useful session I've had was when a colleague in Romania was having a whole cluster of professional and personal problems - a real crisis. We were able to "wrat" for about an hour and I think it heloped the colleague greatly to be able to articulate and discuss the problems, getting immediate feedback.

(Your answer here or in the blog)