An introduction to webinars Employability skills – the future is here and now JISC project – Students4WebES (Students for webinar employability skills)

Welcome An introduction to webinars Presenter: Owen Hanmer Information Officer, JISC RSC South East Guest Speaker: Phil Robinson South East Regional Manager, Santander Support: Ellen Lessner e-Learning Coordinator, Abingdon & Witney College

Aims What is a webinar? How will knowing about webinars help my employability skills? How will webinars work if I go to university? This session will be recorded and available to view via Moodle

What shall we call it? Online Conferencing Web Conferencing Webinar Webcast Online Seminar Web Conferencing…

Why do we need it? Meetings happen all the time Participants often need to travel Rooms need to be booked Presentation equipment might be required What happens if you cannot attend? Resources have to be handed out Web Conferencing…

What does it do? Low-cost replacement for Video Conferencing Allows people to meet online without leaving home, college or the office Provides video and sound communication Features an electronic whiteboard Delivers easy ways of running quizzes and recording votes Provides (almost) instantaneous recordings Web Conferencing…

What’s so good about it? Saves time Reduces travel and expense Convenience of attending from one’s desk Recordings available almost instantly Web Conferencing…

What’s the catch? Not all computers or mobile devices will work Decent Internet connection required Cannot assume all (or any) of your audience will be familiar with the system Each participant may have a very different experience (depending on kit and connection) Very easy to get lost during a session Resources take a long time to prepare Many systems are not free Web Conferencing…

Spoilt for choice Adobe Connect BigBlueButton Blackboard Collaborate Cisco WebEx There are over 30 systems to choose from. Here is a small selection: Citrix GoToMeeting DimDim Instant Presenter Skype Web Conferencing…

Adobe Connect

BigBlueButton

Blackboard Collaborate

Cisco WebEx

DimDim

Universal features found on most systems Chat Audio (microphones and speakers) Video (webcam) Whiteboard for holding uploaded presentation slides Application (screen) sharing Some participant feedback tools (emoticons, voting etc) Web Conferencing…

Additional features (higher-end systems) Recording facility Whiteboard drawing and text tools ‘Web tour’ (co-browsing) and ‘web push’ Breakout rooms File transfer library Integral quiz facility Remote desktop control Web Conferencing…

Typical limitations to consider Maximum number of participants (depends on program) File size limit on uploadable content Limited number of simultaneous audio and video channels Presentations loaded as image files (no dynamic content) Restrictions on what is captured in recordings Inability to play online video when application sharing Web Conferencing…

Common pitfalls Not preparing and testing the actual PC that will be used Joining sessions with speakers instead of headphones Hosting a session from a poor internet connection or slow PC Not optimising lighting conditions when using video Web Conferencing…

Phil Robinson Interview… South East Regional Manager Santander Corporate Banking

Aims achieved? I know what a webinar is Webinars + employability skills Webinars + teaching and learning Summary…

Thank you to… …Owen, Phil and the Professional Futures team Acknowledgments… Image courtesy of pat at FreeDigitalPhotos.netFreeDigitalPhotos.net