Helen Whitehead "Webinars inside and outside the institution", MELSIG, January 2015

Thursday, February 12, 2015 1

Webinarsinside and outside the institution

Helen Whitehead

(With thanks to Sally Hanford)MELSIG


Definition: what do we call it?

Synchronous classroom

online tutorial

webinar

Virtual classroom

Web conferencing

Online meeting

webcast

MELSIG

hangout

2/12/2015 3MELSIG


Webinar

“A formal or semi-formal organised event intended

for learning or knowledge sharing, where there is

an element of interactivity.”

• The online equivalent of a seminar

• Not a webcast – not a lecture – not an informal

meeting

MELSIG

2/12/2015 5MELSIG


Choosing techGeneral principles

MELSIG

Adobe ConnectHangoutLyncTwitterBlackboard Collaborate…

?


Choosing technology

• What kind of webinar?

• Who/where are the attendees?

• Is there a F2F event involved or is it

just online?

• What tech do you have available?

• How reliable is the tech?

• What support do you have?

MELSIG

Attendees in China?


Choosing technology – being creative

• How creative can you be with the tech?

• Can you combine tech for

different features?

• Does it have to be

synchronous? Can it be

time-limited asynchronous?

MELSIG


Planning

• Appropriate to course / participants

• Keep topic & title interesting,

attractive & short(?)

• Invite guest speakers

if appropriate

MELSIG

2/12/2015 MELSIG 10


Planning

• Marketing, invitations and registration

• Reminders & joining instructions

• Location, system, lighting, audio, wifi

• Test, test and test again

• Rehearse

• Test


Pre-webinar

• Host and speakers should join early

• Play music prior to start and/or have a

countdown timer

• Have a welcome message – mention setup

• Upload documents and test links


Roles

• For a small meeting, tutorial etc. there's probably

only a need for a Chair or Facilitator, who:

– hosts the meeting

– sends out invitations and reminders

– welcomes people

– leads the discussion

– invites people to speak or ask questions

MELSIG


Roles 2

In a large or public webinar,

there are probably up to

three roles:

• Speaker/s [ Presenter/s ]

– usually invited, and all they have to do is present

• Chair [ Host ]

• Moderator [ Host or Participant]

MELSIG


Roles 3 - Chair

• introduces the seminar

• introduces the speaker

• deals with the speaker's problems

• may sometimes move the

presentation on

• summarises at the end

• leads the discussion

MELSIG


Roles 4 - Moderator

• manages the tech, starts & stops recordings

• welcomes people

• deals with attendee problems

• uses the text chat/mute to

make sure nothing interrupts

• summarises quietly

the proceedings so far for latecomers

• monitoring hands up, sorting out turns

• opening polls and displaying resultsMELSIG


Format

• Short

• Simple

• Interactive

If it's just a lecture it might just as well be a webcast

or lecture recording…

Everyone learns from side-chat or discussion.

MELSIG


Fishbowl (Google Hangouts)

• Invited participants have an observed discussion

• Invite one or more students if possible

• Make sure everyone deserves their place

• Use Q&A creatively

• What other technologies

can be brought in to get

participation?

MELSIG

2/12/2015 MELSIG 19


At the start

• Allow arrival time

• Introductory activity / icebreakers

– Ask attendees to introduce themselves

– Use a poll or survey to find out about them &

establish prior knowledge

– Have a map to indicate their location

• Remind about recording

MELSIG

2/12/2015 Event Name and Venue 21

Where are you?

Mark your location on the

maps

Use an arrow if you are

outside of this area


Audience participation

• Establish any rules

– the mechanics of using the software

– the procedure to follow for making a contribution

– private, one-to-one messaging

– any rules for acceptable behaviour

MELSIG


Presentations & Whiteboard

• Load up Powerpoint in advance

• Check content!

• Keep the presentation under the control of the

main speaker where possible.

• Keep it visual and follow good practice for

presentations (unlike this slide!)

• Use Whiteboard to scribble, get feedback and

collaborate

MELSIG

2/12/2015 MELSIG 24

Inexperienced Experienced

Less comfortable with tech

Tech savvy


Polls

• Create a poll during the event to receive live

feedback – can be Yes/No or A, B, C, D

• Adjustments can be made during session, based

on poll results

• Results can help shape future sessions or

policies

MELSIG


Audio & video

• Everyone needs audio

• Manage the microphones

• Video limited to main participants

• Avoid a busy screen

• In a more tutorial situation maybe all have video

MELSIG


Chat

MELSIG


A & Q

MELSIG

Presenters Audience


Q & A

MELSIG

Presenters Audience


Q & A

MELSIG

Presenters Audience

• Be creative about using features available

• Add Twitter or a Google doc or a web page to

allow for chat


Managing the discussion

• Provide activities or ask questions

• Ask questions directly of quiet participants

• Tactfully restrain any dominant participants

• Use breakout groups

• Use Hand-up icon

• Use people's names when responding

• List participants and mark off when they contribute

MELSIG


Plenary

• End with a question and answer session

• Summarise what has happened

• Describe next steps and calls to action, if any

• Allow everyone to say their goodbyes

• Follow up with an email with a link to the

recording and any calls to action

MELSIG


Best webinar tip• ?

MELSIG


What to avoid?• ?

MELSIG


Questions?

MELSIG

Education

Helen Whitehead "Webinars inside and outside the institution", MELSIG, January 2015