Week 7 Reflection

Week 7 (Chapter 7 and 8)

What is the difference between asynchronous and synchronous communication? Name and describe the Internet communication tools that fall into each category.

When discussing the differences between asynchronous and synchronous communication, it is important to understand that they both link students to other students across the globe. Both of these types of communication are Internet based, and offer amazing communication and educational possibilities. The main difference between synchronous communication and asynchronous communication is that synchronous communication is same time and asynchronous communication is time shifted.
There are several types of asynchronous communication. These include e-mail, discussion boards, and ,mailing lists. All of these types of communication are kind of like a post and respond type of communication that does not occur simultaneously. E-mail is a type of communication tool in which an address is set up on the Internet, almost like a digital post office box. Other people, too, set up these web addresses. The communication occurs when one person sends a messege to another persons e-mail address, and vice versa. This is a great way to send personal messeges, pictures, data, or other types of media or work. The response time is very quick, and there is no reliance on telephones or personal travel. Another type of asynchronous communication is a messege board. This is a place on the internet where a person can go to post information, state opinions, or get information. The exchange of ideas and information is central to messege boards, and these boards rely on post and response. There are all types of messege boards, and sometimes you have to become a member of a messege board in order to participate. Yet another type of asynchronous communication is mailing lists. Mailing lists require that people sign up to be included on a list that recieves a certain e-mail. This is very similar to joining a church, in which everyone recieves a weekly bulliten in the mail.
There are also several types of synchronous communication. These include chats and videoconferencing. Chats are communication situation in which people get on a certain website at the same time and digitally communicate with each other via typing messeges. Chats can occur between two people or a whole group of people, depending on the type of chat “room” that a person gets involved with. Another type of this type of communication is videoconferencing, which allows people of any location in the world to talk to each other via cameras that allow all parties to see each other and communicate effectively.