Effectiveness of Audio Feedback in Distance Education

Abstract

Asynchronous online courses, with their flexibility, interaction, and open communication, may present drawbacks such as the lack of non-verbal cues in text-based communication. To increase both the verbal and nonverbal cues of asynchronous interactions, studies have proposed using asynchronous audio, specifically, instructional audio feedback. This increases retention of content in online courses, enhances learning community interactions, and is associated with the perception that the instructor cares more about the student. This session discusses the effectiveness of providing audio feedback for various researchbased and practice-based reasons in online learning environments.