Week 22 · Theme 3, Lesson 8 Choosing Between Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication · 3 lessons
1
Live or later? Two ways to communicate
ICT P5 Term 2, Theme 3: pp. 38–41
GoalTell live (synchronous) communication from later (asynchronous) communication and sort tools into the two kinds.
New words
synchronous · happening at the same time, in real timeasynchronous · not at the same time; the answer can come laterreal time · happening right now, as people talkreply · an answer to a message
Explanation
There are two main ways to communicate online. In live communication, called synchronous, everyone talks and listens at the same moment, like a phone call. Examples are a video chat, a live programme and an instant chat room. In later communication, called asynchronous, you send something and the other person answers when they are ready. Examples are an e-mail, a voice message, a text message and a recorded video. Think of a telephone call and a letter in the post box. You choose live when the matter is light and everyday and you need a quick answer. You choose later when the matter is serious or complicated, or when you write to someone in authority such as a principal, because they need time to think and answer.
Worked examples
Habiba wants to tell her friend, quickly, that she will be late. She uses a live chat. The friend answers in a few seconds. A light matter and a quick answer: live is a good choice.
Mina writes to the school principal to ask for a day for a school trip. He sends an e-mail with the reasons. The principal reads it, thinks and answers tomorrow. This is later communication.
Farida’s grandfather lives far away and is busy in the evening. She records a short video about her day. He watches it at night and sends a voice message back in the morning. Neither had to wait for the other.
Class activity
Sort the tools. On eight small cards write: video chat, e-mail, live programme, voice message, instant chat room, text message, recorded video, phone call. Make two columns, ‘live’ and ‘later’. Place each card in a column and say why. Note: a phone call is live. Then invent one message for each column, with a person and a reason, for example a thank-you to an uncle (later) or a question to a friend next to you (live).
Practice
1
What does synchronous mean?
Happening at the same time, in real time, like a live chat.
2
Name two tools that are asynchronous.
For example: e-mail and a recorded video (also voice or text messages).
3
Why is e-mail better when you write to a principal?
The principal can read, think and answer when ready.
4
Look at the picture. Which one is a live way to talk? Say the letter.
