With the sudden need to move instruction into online spaces, many writing teachers are considering using tools like Zoom to hold synchronous classes with students. While that may work, there are some downsides, particularly if students leave the country (and therefore move to a different time zone) or don't have unrestricted access to the internet. 

I think what many instructors are hoping for is that synchronous class sessions will help them retain the sense of contact and immediacy they have in on-site courses. Daniel Stanford, author of this "Bandwidth Immediacy Matrix," suggests that instructors make us of low-bandwidth tools that nevertheless lend themselves to a sense of immediacy, like collaborative documents and group chat. 

We're not suggesting that all synchronous instruction should be avoided, but rather that a balance of approaches may be called for in these extraordinary circumstances.