Does Taking Collaborative Notes Really Help? A Comparative Analysis of Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Learning

Collaborative note-taking has become more popular for its benefits. In addition, with online learning development, more and more teachers and students tend to engage in the online synchronous or asynchronous learning mode. However, the effect of collaborative notes in different online learning modes has yet to be empirically investigated. This study compared the difference in notes quality and students' learning performance when taking collaborative notes between the two online learning modes. Results showed that (1) compared to the synchronous mode, students' collaborative notes quality is better in the asynchronous learning mode, and students could achieve higher learning gains; (2) students with low prior knowledge levels are more productive in producing high-quality notes and receive more significant learning gain from them. These findings suggested that teachers can adapt collaborative notes in online asynchronous learning of introductory courses to enhance students' learning outcomes.