I've learned that both synchronous and asynchronos communication are probably both important for most online courses. Students can learn at their own pace in asynchronous learning which will be great for advanced students who can delve further into the material for further mastery and application of the skills taught while slower students can take their time not feeling completely rushed to gain a better understanding of lessons presented, and working at their pace, may also be more comfortable to pursue further application of the lesson skills. At the same time, I believe the personal face to face time for many classes and presenting mini-lecture and guided practice is important for a feeling of connectedness with one another in learning and help in maintaining a general pace of the class.
I believe a blended online class with synchronous class lesson and meeting anywhere from daily to twice a week be useful in most online courses. This approach would likely be my goal if I were to design an online course or set of courses.
