Brittany Tolleson

It is important to recognize that labs are possible in an asynchronous learning environment. Whether the instructor wants to conduct labs from a "live" perspective or wants to utilize other educational sites with similar labs conducted by others, labs are possible in an asynchronous environment and can prove to be a valuable learning tool. This is important to remember so that we do not shy away from self-directed learning by believing it is impossible in lab settings. 

I believe that it is important for instructors to consider feedback and check points along the way to gauge the progress and understanding of online learners. This is why time management and planning is essential for developing asynchronous courses and encouraging self-directed learnng.

In considering labs and experiments, I liked the suggestion that was provided regarding utilizing videos to conduct experiments. While some may feel that it is impossible to conduct labs in an online environment, it is important to note that it can still be done. 

While many believe that asynchronous courses have little interaction opportunities, I found that this is quite the opposite. An instructor can still create an ingaging environment and connections within an asynchornous course.