Implementation Communications technologies by Gilly Salmon Distributed learning environments optimally incorporate technologies to enhance communication among students and between the students and the instructor. These technologies include email, online discussion groups, and videoconferencing.
Synchronous technologies facilitate real-time interaction.
This means that students from a variety of locations communicate online during the same period of time. Synchronous sessions can also involve participants meeting online at a specified time to watch presentations or share software applications. Commonly used synchronous technologies are audio conferencing by phone and teleconferencing. The communications technologies related to synchronous discussion groups are evolving rapidly and will afford many exciting opportunities in the future. For example, the instructor might take students on a tour of selected Web sites.