A Webinar on Webinars Karen G. Schneider Community Librarian Equinox 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

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….

Surveys! Polls! Questions!

Roles: presenters, organizers, panelists, attendees

Hand off the keyboard and mouse to someone else!

Boot people out of sessions!

Loss of kinesthetic (body language) cues Not standardized Attention economics: people tend to multitask Stress factor Webinar drawbacks

Loss of kinesthetic (body language) cues

Not standardized

Attention economics: people tend to multitask

Stress factor

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?

2.2 Dress for Success VOIP: The free-n-easy equipment setup Example: Logitech ClearChat Comfort USB Headset OR… +

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 situated Test equipment Explore 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” time Build 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 reminders Helps 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? Webex Gotowebinar Centra Adobe OPAL DimDim Etc. What features do they like? Hate? Miss? Take advantage of trial offers.

4.2 Identify and rank requirements: Mandatory Highly desired Desired Be aware: These products are rapidly 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

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

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

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

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.com 1-877-OPEN-ILS Equinox: http:// www.esilibrary.com Evergreen: http://www.evergreen-ils.org

Karen G. Schneider

kgs @esilibrary.com

1-877-OPEN-ILS

Equinox: http:// www.esilibrary.com

Evergreen: http://www.evergreen-ils.org