Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is a theory of motivation and human development that proposes that all individuals have three innate psychological needs: the need for autonomy, the need for relatedness, and the need for competence.

Autonomy is the need to feel in control of one's own life and to make one's own choices. Relatedness is the need to feel connected to others and to experience a sense of belonging. Competence is the need to feel capable of achieving one's goals and to master new skills.

SDT suggests that when these three needs are satisfied, individuals are more likely to be motivated, engaged, and successful in their endeavors. Conversely, when these needs are not satisfied, individuals are more likely to experience amotivation, disengagement, and failure.

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These activities occur in real-time, where students and instructors engage in learning activities simultaneously, while they might not be present in the same physical location (hybrid learning model). These activities require participants to be present at a specific time and often involve direct interaction and communication. Some examples of synchronous learning activities in blended learning might include live face-to-face or virtual classes, these are online classes conducted through video conferencing platforms, where instructors deliver lectures, facilitate discussions, and engage in real-time interactions with students. A synchronous setting though, does not have to be a passive learning setting, as collaborative group work often happens synchronously. It entails that the collaboration of students working together in real-time to complete tasks, brainstorm ideas, and discuss project progress.