The Value of Web Conferencing

By: Patricia Pippert, M.A.

One of the challenges for any business committed to providing quality training to its employees is to provide that training in a consistent, time-efficient, and cost-effective manner. Particularly as the economy is in flux and as organizations scramble to maximize their training dollars, while being prudent about travel costs, a viable alternative is to effectively utilize web conferences.

Web conferences (also known as webinars or webcasts) are used to conduct live meetings or presentations via the Internet and a telephone conference line. It allows participants from around the globe to see and hear the same presentation simultaneously as well as to have a collaborative experience. Not only can the audience receive the same message and/or training from the presenter, but the presenter has the ability to:

• poll the audience and post results (true/false, multiple choice, short answer)
• conduct question and answer sessions that allow full participation between the audience and the presenter
• form “break-out” rooms for small groups of the audience to discuss issues privately from the larger group
• monitor a “chat room” where presenter and audience can typographically record their thoughts and comments
• see a list of names of participants and answer their concerns and questions as they raise their “virtual hand”

The key to utilizing web conferences successfully is to enlist a seasoned presenter – someone who has knowledge of the content they are training, but someone who also knows the technology and various platforms of web conferences. A presenter who is experienced in conducting web conferences knows that a different skill set is required to train effectively in the “web classroom” vs. the live classroom. Our consultants are well-versed in conducting web conferences and know how to engage the audience to make it the most effective learning experience it can be.