What Is A Webinar?
Short for Web-based seminar, a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the Web. A key feature of a Webinar is its interactive elements -- the ability to give, receive and discuss information. Contrast with Webcast, in which the data transmission is one way and does not allow interaction between the presenter and the audience.These online seminars use Webex to make them actual, live interactive learning experiences. Participants will be able to ask the instructor questions and get answers in real time. The instructor will be able to conduct polls and ask questions. Participants will receive course materials by e-mail prior to the seminar and will be able to view the instructor's PowerPoint slides during the seminar. These types of online courses have a much higher impact than simply reading material on the web. Webinars offer exceptional convenience and are very cost-effective. They are ideal for brown-bag lunch training. No travel is required and the site registration fee allows up to 12 participants to attend at each site. All participants can also earn one professional development hour (PDH) per seminar.
A webinar can be collaborative and include polling and question & answer sessions to allow full participation between the audience and the presenter. In some cases, the presenter may speak over a standard telephone line, while pointing out information being presented onscreen, and the audience can respond over their own telephones, speaker phones allowing the greatest comfort and convenience. There are web conferencing technologies on the market that have incorporated the use of VoIP audio technology, to allow for a completely web-based communication. Depending upon the provider, webinars may provide hidden or anonymous participant functionality, making participants unaware of other participants in the same meeting.