Flexible online educational experiences are necessary for our military-affiliated student population, which includes military spouses. In addition to deployments, military spouses navigate the challenges that arise from their service member’s permanent change-of-station (PCS) moves, temporary duty (TDY) assignments, field training exercises, and more. Reflecting on experiences as a military spouse, a former online student, and a current online educator, the format of online courses is an important factor to consider. An online course can be designed to deliver instruction using various formats, including asynchronous, synchronous, and hybrid formats. An asynchronous online course does not have scheduled meeting times. As an online student enrolled in asynchronous coursework, students can log into courses on different days and at different times than their instructor and peers.

Asynchronous courses provide the flexibility that military spouses need to successfully balance education with the demands of military life in the following ways:

1. Military spouse students can advance in the lesson content, leveraging personal flexibility during TDY assignments and field training exercises.

Asynchronous courses can utilize an organizational scheme. For example, courses can be organized so that lesson content is presented to students in weekly units. Having courses that featured weekly units made a difference in time management – I could easily merge my academic, personal, and professional schedules with the schedule of my husband, a service member. I was more likely to stay on track with assignment deadlines. Also, I could advance through the lesson content in an organized manner when I wanted to work ahead in the course. Having this flexibility was beneficial when my service member was scheduled for TDY assignments and field training exercises. Often, during these periods, I needed additional time for household duties. I could adjust my study schedule according to the specific day of the week.

2. Military spouse students can progress through their degree while planning PCS moves.

Spouses may experience multiple permanent change of station moves while they are online students. In these PCS moves, they need extra time in their schedules to pack their household goods, travel to the new duty station, enroll their children in the new school system, and more. Rather than placing educational goals on pause during these periods of change, military spouses can progress through asynchronous courses. Selecting asynchronous online courses means that spouses can assist with multiple PCS tasks during business hours when professional offices are open. In the late evenings or early morning hours, students can log into course webpages to watch pre-recorded lectures and read announcements from instructors. Upon reaching their new duty stations, military spouses can then adjust their time zone in the learning management system to sync with their new time zone. Offering asynchronous courses also means military spouses can continue earning their degree at their current institution (no drop outs, stop outs, or transferring is necessary).

3. Military spouse students can adjust their learning schedule when their service member is on leave.

Scheduled leave periods are invaluable for military families to complete household tasks such as car servicing, home repairs, appointment scheduling, and more. Asynchronous courses offer the flexibility to tend to these tasks while staying on track with lesson content. During these periods, students can adjust their learning schedule to read shorter segments of lesson content every day rather than longer segments on specific days of the week. With this adjustment, students can ask questions about the lesson content using the course communication tools on a daily basis. Accessible question-and-answer forums, in-course messaging, and virtual office hours are invaluable for asking questions about lesson content.

Tips for Online Instructors

How can online educators foster flexible asynchronous learning experiences for military spouses? Based on my experiences as a military spouse, a former online student, and a current online educator, I recommend specific elements in asynchronous courses.

1. First, instructors can create a master schedule that students can download at the start of a course. Today’s learning management systems make it possible to assign due dates to each assignment. However, military spouse students are working in various time zones, so having a master schedule can assist students as they prepare their study schedules.

2. Second, I encourage online educators to organize lesson content into weekly units and to select a specific day of the week for unit deadlines. For example, units can be due every Monday evening at 11:59 pm. Such consistency can help military spouse students who wish to work ahead in the courses.

3. Third, instructors can post an announcement for each unit of material. The announcement can provide an overview of the lesson content, assignment expectations, and deadlines. Such information assists military spouse students who may choose to work ahead in a course to accommodate leave periods, TDY assignments, and field training activities.

4. Fourth, I encourage multiple channels of communication in a course. For example, instructors can create an “Ask the Instructor” forum within their course. Students may use the forum to post questions about the course at their convenience.

Asynchronous coursework can provide military spouse students with flexible learning experiences that lead to degree completion and graduation. While this form of coursework is a great fit for the military community, asynchronous coursework also benefits other non-traditional students who may work full-time or live far away from their desired institution.

Article Topics

Military Friendly Institutions Serving Military in HigherEd Workplace Inclusion

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