The most common synchronous medium. Use audio like you do in a classroom. The instructor s voice is perhaps the most important content delivery method available in a synchronous classroom. Instructors should be cautious about depending too much on technology- based tools. Another avenue for interaction among and between participants and an instructor.
Private messaging allows learners to signal difficulties without disrupting a session.
Chat dialogues can be saved for future reference. Participants who are shy and reserved are more likely to interact when text chat options are available. Brainstorming sessions can be conducted and the results saved for later use. A technical support person can monitor the chat to identify and fix technical problems without interrupting the class. A subject matter expert can monitor a classroom in order to answer content-related questions that may be out of the scope of the current lecture.