Webinars
As I am completing an eLearning subject as part of my university studies, I come across some of the latest technologies that could be used for eLearning.
However, Webinars have become one of the most impressive I have seen yet. Organisations are starting to utilise Webinars such as Webex. Webinars such as Webex allows the facilitation of online seminar’s with easy access for users. Webinars are much more interactive, and help to engage learners in a number of ways.
Participants in Webinars (depending on the access given by facilitators), can listen and speak to the facilitator (like skype) in an online seminar with lecture slides. Participants are provided with a chat interface, in which they could ask questions to other participants and the facilitator. Participants can even draw and write on the slides themselves, with everyone being able to view what has been drawn or written. This usually ends up in humourous collaborative situations in which a myriad of squigley lines and randomly placed texts are created. Through this process, collaboration occurs and new ideas are created. Facilitators can also even conduct live anonymous voting polls to determine how participants are responding to the information.
This highly interactive synchronous technology has enabled participants to enjoy a more engaging learning experience, as they interact with real people online rather than a program. Some of the advantages of Webinars, over more traditional eLearning technologies are:
1) They are more engaging
2) More Interactive
3) Easy to use
4) Help cut’s training costs (Decreases the need for facilitators or participants to travel for training)
4) Facilitate ‘real-time’ human communication
Therefore, in my opinion; webinars will become even more popular within organisations, due to its ability to engage participants, it’s flexibility and its ease of use. Webinars have already have an excellent reception from participants in various industries.
