ASYNCHRONOUS. Literally means "not at the same time." An asynchronous course is one in which the instruction is delivered at one time and the work can be done at a different time. In asynchronous classes, students and teachers use e-mail, listservs or other technologies which allow them to communicate without having to be in the same place at the same time.
ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION. Two-way communication in which there is a time delay between a message being sent and received.