An Introduction To Web Conferencing

An Introduction to Web Conferencing
SchalkMerweLouw
Introduction To Emerging Technologies
University of Manitoba

1. What is web conferencing?
2. Features of web conferencing
3. Dimdim: online open source web conferencing
Signing up
Your home page
Hosting a meeting
4. The importance of web conferencing in higher education
5. Resources
Contents

Early years of the internet: Terms used to describe group discussions in message board and therefore not live.
These terms has evolved to refer specifically to “synchronous” or live meetings.
Web Conferencing is used to: conduct live meetings, train people or give presentations via the Internet.
In a web conference participants sit at their own computers and are connected to other participants via the internet.
What is web conferencing?

Participants have either a downloaded application on their PC’s or take part in a web based meeting by following a link sent to them to enter the conference.
The term Webinar describes a specific type of web conference.
It is in most cases one-way, speaker to audience, with limited audience participation, e.g. Webcasts.
Alternatively, presenters may speak over a telephone line while pointing out information presented on screen, participants can respond via their own telephone lines.

Most web conferencing technologies available today have incorporated VoIP technology allowing complete web-based communication.
Some providers or webinars may provide anonymous participation, hiding some of the participants in the meeting.

Slide show presentations: PowerPoint and Keynote slides are presented while the presenter discuss the slides.
Live or streaming video: Webcam, digital video camera or multi media files are presented to the audience.
VoIP: Real time audio communication.
Meeting recording: Presentation activity is recorded on either the client or server side.
Features of web conferencing

Whiteboard, Annotation: Highlight or mark items on the slide presentation and/or make notes on a blank whiteboard.
Text chat: Live question and answer sessions for people in the conference.
Polls & Surveys: Presenter directs multiple choice questions to the audience.
Screen-, Desktop- & Application sharing: Participants can view the presenters screen.
Features of web conferencing

As an example of web conferencing tools, we will explore dimdim.com
Didim differs from other web conferencing products as there is nothing needed to attend or host dimdim web events. No installation of software is required.
You can share documents, webcams, web pages, whiteboards, pass control to multiple presenters and record your meetings.
Lets get started...
Dimdim: online open source web conferencing

To sign up to dimdim enter the following URL: http://www.dimdim.com
Click on the sign up now button
Dimdim online open source web conferencing: Signing up.

You are required to provide a username, password and valid email address
Click on the sign up for Dimdim now button
Dimdim online open source web conferencing: Signing up.

Next you will be taken to your home page.
From here you can host meetings, search for meetings, join meetings, change your preferences and password and view tutorial videos.
With this account one can host meetings for up to 20 people free of charge. More than that and a premium account is needed.
The home page looks like this.
Dimdim online open source web conferencing: Your home page

Dimdim online open source web conferencing: Your home page

Dimdim online open source web conferencing: Hosting a meeting

At the University of the Free State, a lot of courses are either blended or totally off campus.
Off campus students are situated across the country and in some cases around the world
A major part of student life is interaction with other students on a social level and learning, as indicated by concurrent courses takes place through the connections we make.
The importance of web conferencing in higher education

The question then is how do we get students sitting in remote locations in South Africa and around the world together to give them that feeling of connectedness?
Simple, Web conferencing.
Web conferencing solves this problem, as a student will be able to interact via text or live video and audio with his/her fellow learners and lecturer.

The result of this virtual interaction is that the students do not feel alone and cut off from their peers, they are able to express their opinions, voice concerns and ask for assistance
Communal sharing of virtual whiteboards, desktops, web pages and files gives web conferencing that extra dimension of instant information sharing.
Web conferencing is of immense value to distance students and needs to be a part of all distance modules.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_conferencing
http://thinkofit.com/webconf/wcchoice.htm
http://www.webex.com/
http://www.dimdim.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oZuPzkRaXQ
Resources