What Is A Webinar?

Everybody knows how a seminar or a presentation looks like and how it is conducted. On one hand is the presenter and on the other the participants who listen and interact with the presenter. The only technology that is used here is the projector displaying the power point slides and maybe a laser pointer. Nobody ever thought that it could get better than this. However, imagine a scenario where you are sitting in your home or office and participating in a seminar thousands of miles away or maybe you are giving a lecture, which is being listened to by hundreds of students around the globe in real time, and also answering their questions and doubts. Well, that is what a webinar does. It uses modern technologies like the internet, computer and the speaker or headphone to cut across time, space, and money. This means that neither the speaker nor the participant needs to be physically present face-to-face. Instead, they are connected by the internet. Thus, you may present, listen to, or interact with various people, at the same time in various regions of the globe. To know more about the webinar go through the article below for the features, advantages, and disadvantages of a webinar.

Features, Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Webinar

Features

Power point and keynote slides can be presented and the audience is engaged with a markup tool and a remote mouse pointer.
It can display multimedia files, digital video camera, and full motion webcam.
Another feature is the real time audio communication by the use of headphones and speakers through a computer.
Web tours can be undertaken where URLs, scripts and session data can be used to push through web based logons, clicks etc.
The presentation activity can be recorded for later activity.
The presenter and the audience can mark items on the slide presentation.
People connected to the meeting can text chat for live question and answers.
It allows conducting polls and surveys.
Another feature includes the screen sharing and application sharing where the participants can see anything that the presenter has currently shown on the screen.

Advantages

As long as there is an internet access and a computer you can interact with people anywhere.
Enormous expense is saved against travel and material cost when a webinar is used. It is the most cost effective method of conducting meetings.
The participants can become a part of the meeting because of features like desktop control and instant polling.
Desktop files and computer files can be shared with all the participants.
The meetings can be conducted from 2 to more than a 1000 people anywhere in the world.
The meetings can be conducted in real time and it can be recorded from any point.
There is also a co-browsing facility so that two people can check the internet at the same time and in real time. This is especially good for training and research purposes.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage is the lack of interaction between the participators and the presenter as the entire seminar is conducted online.
The presenter is little more than a voice on the other end, so the instructor cannot gauge the level of understanding among the participants.
Brainstorming and sharing of thoughts are particularly minimal. The level of synergy is lost.
It proves to be a handicap when it comes to reinforcing the subject as it limits the ability to practice and refine new skills.
Also in webinars, the different learning styles of people cannot be addressed properly.

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