asynchronous and synchronous colloboration

I frequently collaborate in asynchronous and synchronous online environments.  As a Marine officer, I am student through the USMC online distance education program.  We use Elluminate Live as our primary method of synchronous collaboration.  In one particular class, we used Elluminate Live once a week for 10 weeks.  I have found that collaboration via Elluminate Live can be effective as long as everyone understands the capabilities and limitations of the software prior to the class.  The USMC online distance education program also uses discussion board forums to promote asynchronous collaboration.  While I prefer immediate feedback and communication via synchronous learning, I do respond well to discussion board forums.  I enjoy the flexibility of asynchronous learning and tend to thrive in that environment.

As a Liberty University student, I also collaborate in asynchronous and synchronous environments.  Until recently, the majority of my online education was through asynchronous learning.  The educational technology concentration has opened the door to synchronous learning.  I have participated in Elluminate Live, Skype, and Second Life.  Each synchronous software brings its positives and negatives and all generally break up the monotony of asynchronous learning.  I am confident in operating in Elluminate Live and Skype.  Second Life is new to me and I am not well versed in the capabilities to truly collaborate.  Regardless, I feel that I have the ability to operate in both asynchronous and synchronous learning environments.