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Tips for attendees, presenters, and people evaluating webinar software.
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A Webinar on Webinars
Karen G. SchneiderCommunity LibrarianEquinox Software, Inc. “The Evergreen Experts”http://esilibrary.com March, 2009
Prologue: before we get started…Basic commands for GoToWebinar
•Testing your audio•Mute/unmute•Raising hands•Asking questions
So now are we in lockstep?
If stuff happens: Relax, don’t worry! Roll with it.
photo by Timothy de Ruyter
1. What is a webinar…
And why do you care?
“Web conferencing is used to conduct live meetings or presentations via the Internet.” — Wikipedia
Other characteristics…
Flexible communication
•Surveys! Polls! Questions!•Roles: presenters, organizers,
panelists, attendees•Hand off the keyboard and mouse to
someone else!•Boot people out of sessions!
And more….
•Loss of kinesthetic (body language) cues
•Not standardized•Attention economics:
people tend to multitask
•Stress factor
Webinar drawbacks
Key challenge for webinar participants:
Learning to relax, don’t worry, and roll with it.
photo by Timothy de Ruyter
2. Power Tips for Webinar Attendees
2.1 Read the instructions in advance
Do you have the right equipment?Have you downloaded the software?Are you sure your equipment works?Have you skimmed basic commands?
Example:Logitech ClearChat Comfort USB Headset
OR…+
2.2 Dress for SuccessVOIP: The free-n-easy equipment setup
O.k. alternative setup #1
Dial-in (usually $$) — supported by most software
O.k. alternative setup #2: Listening + Chat
+Widely supported; requires extensive
multitasking
Bad, bad, BAD setup: The dreaded webcam microphone
Echo, feedback, distortion, and collective misery
2.3 ONE person per PC, please!
2.4 Show up early
Get situatedTest equipmentExplore menus
2.5 Mute yourself when you aren’t talking
2.6 Identify yourself when you communicate
2.6 What are YOUR ideas?
And remember…Relax! Don’t worry! Roll with it!
3. Power Tips for Webinar Presenters
3.1 Pick the right software for your audience
(More on that in part 4)
3.2 Assume people won’t read the instructions in advance
Plan a little extra “getting situated” timeBuild in “webinar 101” at the beginning
Don’t assume tech expertise=webinar expertise
3.3 Use 2 or more monitors
First monitor: exploded webinar control panel Second monitor: your displayed screen
Third monitor: Twitter, Facebook, email from your mom, etc.
3.4 Have a wingman
The wingman… Responds to text chats
Repeats questions and assists with sensemaking remindersHelps with technical complications
Helps you remember to record sessions and save files
3.5 Assume control
Ask people to identify themselves, mute keyboards, etc. Mute people if they’re noisy
Redirect discussion when necessary
And remember…Relax! Don’t worry! Roll with it!
4. Selecting Webinar Software
4.1 Scan the field: what are people using?
WebexGotowebinar
CentraAdobe
OPALDimDim
Etc.
What features do they like? Hate? Miss?Take advantage of trial offers.
4.2 Identify and rank requirements:
MandatoryHighly desiredDesired
Be aware:These products arerapidly evolving!
4.3 Features of general importance
•Cost (and payment options)•Stability•Ease of use•Platform support (Windows? Mac? Linux?)•Display quality•Number of attendees who can attend a single
session•Audio service: Flexible VOIP/dial-in options•Chat function•Full duplexing versus half duplexing
4.4 Features important to Equinox
•All of the above, plus… if possible:
•Open source•Recording (video and transcripts)•Registration functions (register, remind, follow-
up)•Support for additional panelists and presenters•Hand over keyboard and mouse•Change presenters on the fly•Start meetings on the fly• Invite people to ongoing sessions
4.5 Other features to consider
•Video (“Brady Bunch”-style heads in boxes)▫Massive bandwidth drain
•Polling•Surveys•Voting•Feedback tools•Drawing tools•Rescheduling functions•Toll-free conference number options
4.6 What we’re going with (for now)
• Gotowebinar for public sessions▫ Windows/Mac workstation support▫ Generally good feature set▫ Supports huge number of attendees (1,000)▫ Chat function not well-designed for engagement ▫ Good value for the price▫ Month-to-month contract
• Webex small-business solution for developer/in-house sessions▫ Windows/Mac/Linux workstation support▫ Excellent feature set▫ Very pricy for large groups, reasonable for small groups▫ Month-to-month contract
And don’t forget: Relax, don’t worry! Roll with it.
photo by Timothy de Ruyter
Thanks!•Karen G. Schneider
•Equinox: http://www.esilibrary.com•Evergreen: http://www.evergreen-ils.org