Asynchronous learning occurs when learner and teacher are not in the same place at the same time.

Woman in Turkey studying online

It can be compared with synchronous learning, where the learner and the teacher are in the same place at the same time. Both terms are used to define types of online learning.

Example
In online learning, e-mail and discussion threads on forums are asynchronous learning tools.

In the classroom
Asynchronous learning tools are potentially less powerful than synchronous tools such as videoconferencing and live chat, but they are often used by teachers to support classroom learning rather than as a substitute for it. For example, learners can send written homework to their teacher for correction, then revise and re-write it.

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