Embracing Synchronicity in Distance Education: Unraveling the Paradox

Abstract

In this paper, I describe the challenges of introducing synchronicity in distance education in which the flexibility for students to learn anywhere and anytime has been most valued. With the wide diffusion of web conferencing systems such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become natural not only for traditional on-campus institutions, but also for distance education institutions to utilize synchronous communication tools for instructional delivery. There are advantages to utilize such tools while there are certain disadvantages especially for distance education institutions. This paper presents the results of synchronous web class trials at the Open University of Japan.