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

kgs@esilibrary.com1-877-OPEN-ILS

•Equinox: http://www.esilibrary.com•Evergreen: http://www.evergreen-ils.org