Learning in Real Time: Synchronous Teaching and Learning Online » (1st Edition)

Jonathan Finkelstein is the founder and executive producer of LearningTimes and the president of the LearningTimes Network. As an educator, technologist, industry expert, and producer, he focuses on creating engaging Web-based programs and practices that help reinvent collaboration and community.

Learning in Real Time is a concise and practical resource for education professionals teaching live and online or those wanting to humanize and improve interaction in their online courses by adding a synchronous learning component. The book offers keen insight into the world of synchronous learning tools, guides instructors in evaluating how and when to use them, and illustrates how educators can develop their own strategies and styles in implementing such tools to improve online learning.

A pioneer in the development of synchronous learning theories and platforms, Finkelstein catalogs real-time learning venues, describes good practices for facilitating synchronous learning, and offers examples to demonstrate how real-time techniques can enhance student learning. While each chapter considers the academic context of faculty members looking to incorporate such interaction, the book will also be a valuable resource to instructional designers, trainers, tutors, advising staff, librarians, and anyone involved in professional development, course design, or providing student support services.

Learning in Real Time is the fourth book in the Jossey-Bass Guides to Online Teaching and Learning series, which offers concrete and practical resources to help higher education practitioners meet the challenges of the online learning environment.

"Good instruction is all about people. Learning in Real Time focuses on people, relationships, and the power of human dialog. Instructors, learning technologists, and administrators will benefit from Finkelstein's commentary and common sense."

—Diana G. Oblinger, vice president, EDUCAUSE

"Jam-packed with extremely practical strategies and well-crafted activity ideas, Learning in Real Time goes well beyond the tools and deftly focuses on the process of effective live online learning and collaboration. Anyone teaching, presenting, coaching, or collaborating online will end up with a marked-up, highlighted, and dog-eared copy of this book parked next to their computer."

—Alan Levine, The New Media Consortium (NMC)

"Finkelstein's real-world guidance on real-time learning advances the cause of quality instruction–online and offline. This book represents an important contribution to the field."

—Deborah L.G. Hutti, associate vice president for educational services, Lake Land College