What is a webinar and why should you attend one?

 Image by English Online.  CC BY-SA

Have you ever joined a webinar? It’s an online meeting. People join webinars for different reasons.

Some people use them to learn new skills. Others use them to get course units for professional development. This is especially helpful for employees who need to stay up-to-date with their job. It helps them stay knowledgeable about their work and stay ahead in their career.

What is a webinar?

A webinar is an online seminar. It is a meeting that takes place over the internet. People can join the webinar from anywhere in the world. They can watch presentations, listen to speakers, and ask questions. Webinars are often used for:

• Business meetings
• Training sessions
• Educational lectures

It can be about any topic. It can have one speaker or a group of experts. It can be a lecture, workshop, or demonstration. It can also be a series of lectures, like a training course. Or, it can be like a conference with multiple speakers.

Webinars can be either live or recorded. Live webinars are called “synchronous”. Recorded webinars are called “asynchronous”.

Typically, a webinar is hosted by a person or an organization. They plan, set and advertise the event. People can find out about it through an advertisement or an email invitation. To join, participants may or may not need to register. Some webinars are paid, but many are for free.

The video below will explain the difference between a webinar and a video conference. It will also tell you about tools and features that platforms have to make webinars more interesting and interactive:

Why do you need to learn about webinars?

Are you one of those people who think that attending an online class or seminar is not as good as attending one in person? I understand why you might think that. We have been doing it this way for a long time. Also, there are some types of seminars that are better done face to face. For example, a networking conference.

Nowadays, it is very important to keep learning. Webinars are a great way to do this. They are convenient because you don’t need to travel to attend. Webinars are a safe and convenient choice.

Webinars are a great way to learn something new. They usually only take an hour, so they fit into busy schedules. You don’t have to get dressed up to attend. You can listen without distractions or other people talking. You can also listen again if there is a recording. Plus, if you don’t like the topic, you can tune out without being rude.

As the internet gets faster, new tools and features are introduced to make webinar platforms more interactive. This makes the webinar experience better and better.

How to join a webinar

You will need a computer with internet access to join. You may also need a headset and a microphone. On the day of the event, you will need to log into the internet and go to a specific website or access a page. Instructions may be posted or emailed to you. All you have to do is click a button to join the virtual room.

Webinar pages look different depending on the platform. Generally, you will see the speaker, some slides or notes, a list of people attending, and a chat box. You can also use your microphone and video to talk to the speaker and other participants.

Want to try attending a webinar? You might like it! If you’re registered with English Online, simply go to our events page and choose an event that you like. Go to Skype 15 minutes before the event starts and click on the link provided by the instructor. Have fun!
 
 
Source: What is a webinar? Elise Moreau, Lifewire. Accessed August 10, 2018.