What Are the Benefits of a Webinar for Attendees?
The term "Webinar," for Web-based seminar, refers to a workshop or lecture available on the Internet using Web conferencing technology. Take advantage of the benefits of online distance learning, using your computer and broadband Internet access to choose from a wide variety of webinars offering free or low-cost programs to improve workplace skills, earn a certificate or degree, or just savor the sheer joy of learning.
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Learn Online Conveniently
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Webinar delivery via the Internet enables participants to participate at home or some other nearby location, such as an Internet cafe. This promotes relaxed learning in a comfortable environment with facilities and supplemental materials close at hand. Minimal travel saves time, reducing expense, eliminating the stress of driving and allowing more time for preparation. Thanks to recording, viewing webinar material can often be scheduled around work, family and other demands.
Enjoy Low-Cost Learning
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Many companies subsidize free webinars as a marketing tool for building an audience of potential customers. Others have low-cost subscription options for their ongoing webinar series. You can get the most value from a technical webinar by reviewing it several times, along with other cost-cutting strategies, such as participating in webinars as a group to share materials and insights.
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Interactive Learning with Webinar Conferencing Tools
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Take advantage of live webinars and interact with the instructor using the presentation software's text chat or audio functions to ask questions, offer comments and share with other webinar attendees. New online micro-blogging technologies, such as Twitter and Tumblr, are being used in conjunction with live webinars as an external real-time communications channel, adding immediacy and community to webinars.
Multimedia Enriches Online Educational Webinars
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New conferencing technology gives webinar participants a rich learning environment. In addition to the traditional audio presentation with telephone or computer sound, slide sharing, video streaming, whiteboarding and screencasting are often used to enhance webinar visual presentations. Virtual world platforms have recently been introduced to create a totally immersive webinar learning experience, featuring a lobby, an auditorium, exhibits, conference rooms, a resource center and much more.
Earn a Certificate or Degree Using Webinars
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Attending webinars for a certificate or degree program puts you in the front row for every class. Take advantage of "knowledge marketing" webinars offered by increasing numbers of companies. Gain specialized skills, as well as certification, in such areas as software, marketing, computer technology and music. Certification webinars are also given by trade organizations, licensing agencies and professional standards groups. Increasingly, colleges and universities are using webinars as part of distance education for graduate and post-graduate degree programs costing far less than attending classes on campus. Some offer financial assistance and other aids for attending their webinar educational programs.
Network Using Webinars
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Interaction with Webinar attendees offers opportunities for social networking through the online educational experience shared by the participants. Some webinars have a community portal or a post-webinar member group supported by the presenters. Combine these with LinkedIn, Facebook and other Web social networking channels to establish mutually beneficial relationships with fellow webinar attendees.
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References
- USPTO:Trademark for WEBinar
- Journal of Interactive Online Learning: Use of the Webinar Tool (Elluminate) to Support Training: The Effects of Webinar-Learning Implementation from Student-Trainers' Perspective
- TMCnet: Benefits of the Webinar Format
- University of Idaho: Distance Learning at a Glance
- Communique': Virtual Trade Shows
Resources
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