Web conferencing allows for real-time communication between geographically dispersed locations through internet technologies. It can be used for meetings, training, lectures, and presentations. Key features include screen sharing, video/audio chat, file sharing. Some tools used for web conferencing include WebEx, Tinychat, and Adobe ConnectNow. While it provides benefits like reduced costs and improved access, limitations include technical difficulties, lack of in-person interaction, and security concerns. Universities have implemented web conferencing to enhance distance education.

1. Sultan Qaboos University
College of Education
Instructional and learning technologies
Web
conferencing
Done by:
Ibtisam Al Farsi (90865)
Anwaar Al Hinaai (89555)
Course:
Distance Education

2. Definition of web- conferencing
Web conferencing refers to a service that allows conferencing events to be shared
with remote locations. In general the service is made possible by Internet
technologies, particularly on TCP/IP connections. The service allows real-time
point-to-point communications as well as multicast communications from one
sender to many receivers. It offers information of text-based messages, voice and
video chat to be shared simultaneously, across geographically dispersed locations.
Applications for web conferencing include meetings, training events, lectures, or
short presentations from any computer.
Objectives of using the web-conferencing in DE:
Use the internet to bring together meeting participants in an online forum for
communication.
The amount of travel and resources required is reduced significantly,
making it a cost-effective measure.
It is often easier for people to connect online, making each meeting more
efficient.
Allows them to share documents, desktops, sound, files and data with one
another just as if they were sitting at a table together.
Features of web-conferencing:
 Slide show presentations - where images are presented to the audience and
markup tools and a remote mouse pointer are used to engage the audience
while the presenter discusses slide content.
 Live or Streaming video - where full motion webcam, digital video camera
or multi-media files are pushed to the audience.
 VoIP (Real time audio communication through the computer via use of
headphones and speakers)
 Web tours - where URLs, data from forms, cookies, scripts and session data
can be pushed to other participants enabling them to be pushed though web
based logons, clicks, etc. This type of feature works well when
demonstrating websites where users themselves can also participate.

3.  Meeting Recording - where presentation activity is recorded on the client
side or server side for later viewing and/or distribution.
 Whiteboard with annotation (allowing the presenter and/or attendees to
highlight or mark items on the slide presentation. Or, simply make notes on
a blank whiteboard.)
 Text chat - For live question and answer sessions, limited to the people
connected to the meeting. Text chat may be public (echoed to all
participants) or private (between 2 participants).
 Polls and surveys (allows the presenter to conduct questions with multiple
choice answers directed to the audience)
 Screen sharing/desktop sharing/application sharing (where participants
can view anything the presenter currently has shown on their screen. Some
screen sharing applications allow for remote desktop control, allowing
participants to manipulate the presenters screen, although this is not widely
used.)
Advantages of the web-conferencing:
Save time, money and resources.
Easily accessible to everyone.
It involves real time communication.
Enhance learning via web. (Online teaching, online learning and e-learning).
Comes with features such as desktop and application sharing.
Web conferencing has a growing role in higher education, for example:
 enabling real-time online lectures, tutorials, support and group work for
students in different locations;
 improving communication and community building between staff and
distance students;
 allowing staff to use a virtual office to consult with students;
 involving guest speakers and external experts in lectures;
 assisting academic and support staff on different campuses in coordinating
their work with students; and
 connecting staff for participation in broader professional networks.

4. Limitation of web-conferencing:
Not all software is free, and the free software is limited in what it can
achieve.
More informal than face – to – face.
Requires suitable hardware and adequate training to be able to function.
Depend on the speed of internet.
Costs to maintain and keep up with new technology.
Technical difficulties. It require computer, microphones, social media
accounts and login information.
Security breaches.
Lack of actual face-to-face interactions and networking that most people
enjoy participating in at conventional conferences.
How web-conferencing are used to deliver and support
learning :”Tools”
WebEx: Users can share screens, files, schedule video conferences in
Outlook just like regular meetings, and easily pass the "presenter" title from
person to person so each participant can focus the meeting onto their shared
documents or computer screen as the need arises.
Tinychat: Sometimes your needs are as simple as getting some people
together, for free, and talking via computer as close to face-to-face
interaction as possible. Tinychat is a simple service that allows you to stream
up to 12 webcams simultaneously while participating in audio and text-
based chat.
Dimdim: offers a variety of packages ranging from basic and free accounts
to enterprise level accounts with tiered pricing. The free account gives you
full audio between all parties, public and private text chat, document sharing
of PDF and Powerpoint files, web page sharing, a shared whiteboard, and
scheduling functionality.
Adobe ConnectNow: is a web-based conferencing tool with a strong
emphasis on document sharing and collaboration. You can share your
screen, share documents, easily convert documents to PDFs, and create
workspaces to share and edit documents in.

5. Concerns about this technology:
The concern is related to three points:
Security Breaches (There's always some kind of security risk to communication
carried out online. In addition to the threat of hackers, you'll also have limited
control over people who may overhear the conference.
Technical Difficulties (The technological requirements for web conferencing can be
a disadvantage unless you do your homework. Most online web conference hosting
services are all-encompassing and only require that attendees have a computer,
Internet connection and login information).
Human Interaction (Perhaps the most significant drawback to web conferences is
the lack of actual face-to-face interactions and networking that most people enjoy
participating in at conventional conferences.
Case studies & examples:
University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus
Educational Support Services (ESS) in University of Colorado Denver provides centralized
technical (videoconferencing, webconferencing, classroom recording, and audiovisual support)
and logistical support for the three-part mission (education, patient care, and research) and the
Total Learning Environment Strategic Goals of the university in a cost efficient manner.
More information in this site:
http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/departments/EducationalSupportServices/Pages/ESS.aspx
University of Tasmania
http://www.teaching-learning.utas.edu.au/elearning/web-conferencing
Georgetown University: Web Conferencing—A Critical Skill for the
Connected World
http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/case-study-12-georgetown-university-web-
conferencing%E2%80%94-critical-skill-connected-world

6. References:
Read more: Advantages of Web Conferencing | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/about_4612105_advantages-web-conferencing.html#ixzz2A7nqGvTm
Read more: Advantages of Web Conferencing | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/about_4612105_advantages-web-conferencing.html#ixzz2A7nBysHw
Read more: Advantages of Web Conferencing | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/about_4612105_advantages-web-conferencing.html#ixzz2A7o5fG00
Read more: Disadvantages of Web Conferencing | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/list_6665514_disadvantages-conferencing.html#ixzz2A7q5lxB5