Instructors must understand that asynchronous discussions occur at different moments within a given weekly timeframe and are the heart of any online course. In contrast, synchronous discussions occur in real-time and are often called chat sessions and afford opportunities for socializing. Moreover, instructors should recognize that there is no specific learning style. Instead, students can have more than one learning style to different degrees. When giving feedback, the wording must encourage participation, confidence, and motivation and be constructive when needed.
