{"id":4591,"date":"2015-02-23T14:00:54","date_gmt":"2015-02-23T14:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsletter.alt.ac.uk\/?p=4591"},"modified":"2015-02-23T14:00:54","modified_gmt":"2015-02-23T14:00:54","slug":"reclaiming-the-webinar-challenges-and-opportunities-for-live-online-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2015\/02\/reclaiming-the-webinar-challenges-and-opportunities-for-live-online-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Reclaiming the webinar: challenges and opportunities for live online learning"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong>Are webinars critical for distance learning? This question sparked lively conversation on the ALT mail list recently. The answers, from individuals with a wealth of experience in delivering live online learning, ranged from \u2018not critical\u2019, to \u2018important\u2019, to \u2018it depends on the context\u2019. Whatever the answer is in a particular situation, there was an underlying plea for educators to reclaim the \u2018webinar\u2019 to help move it away from any association with business-related marketing presentations towards being a platform for engaging synchronous learning \u2013 and there were examples given of how this is already being achieved.<\/p>\n

\"worldmap\"What live online learning offers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Synchronous approaches add social and personal dimensions to distance learning by allowing\u00a0immediate interaction with other people, although it should be noted that a sense of an educator presence can be created without live sessions (as some current MOOCs demonstrate). Regular live sessions can provide a structure and framework for learners which helps to keep them on track and within which they can share experiences and discuss learning. Well designed sessions offer opportunities for rich communication and interaction, using features such as chat, video and whiteboards. Diana Laurillard provided an example of using daily live sessions to keep people on track during a week-long international design challenge. There were also examples of the use of live sessions for independent student group work, to integrate on- and off-campus students and of sessions being led entirely by students.<\/p>\n

Facilitating live online learning<\/strong><\/p>\n

It can be difficult for facilitators to engage learners in synchronous sessions where there is limited visual contact and where learners might be easily distracted within their local environment. Dom Pates suggested that the facilitator needs to have furious multitasking skills to effectively troubleshoot individual technical problems and keep the larger audience engaged. Effective facilitation is critical and needs a blend of pedagogical and technical skills. Facilitators also need opportunities to practice \u2013 and to be inspired. To break away from the passive webinar experience the facilitator also needs to ensure that participants know that they will be expected to participate, \u00a0not just listen. Using breakout rooms for group activities is one strategy that can be used to transform a webinar into a more interactive, engaging, social learning experience.<\/p>\n

\"groupschema2\"Improving the learner experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

Evidence suggests that learners value live online experiences, and Tim Neumann reported that once students had experienced live online learning in one course, they began to demand them in other courses. Contributors to the discussion had experience of working with a wide range of software products, including Blackboard Collaborate, Adobe Connect, WebEx, Google Hangouts, WizIQ and Big Blue Button, but there was a general call for better, more reliable technology. In particular installation free fully browser based systems would make access easier for learners. Mobile access is also\u00a0important. Breakout rooms are generally regarded as essential for effective student interaction. It was also suggested that the use of recordings could be enhanced if software allowed these to be annotated privately or publicly, for example to allow time-linked discussions to continue after live sessions. Annotated recordings\u00a0could then be used to support additional\u00a0learner interaction and discourage passive webinar watching.<\/p>\n

\"large_CPDSignificant improvements in software are known to be in the pipeline, but this particular ALT mail list discussion highlighted the need for the ALT community to share experiences and issues with software developers to ensure that we get the tools we need to support effective teaching and learning and help us reclaim and repurpose those that were developed with other contexts in mind. So, are there any suggestions for a new word for a \u2018webinar\u2019?<\/p>\n

Acknowledgements and resources<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contributors to the ALT Mail list discussion included: Dawn Alderson, Clive Buckley, Will Burrows, Leonard Houx, Tim Neumann, Richard Oelmann, Dom Pates, Diana Laurillard, Gilly Salmon and Mike Wald.<\/p>\n

Images provided\u00a0by Tim Neumann, t.neumann@ioe.ac.uk.<\/p>\n

Teaching with web conferencing was the topic of a workshop at the ALT-C 2012 conference and resources from this are available from: http:\/\/archive.alt.ac.uk\/conference\/altc2012.alt.ac.uk\/attachments\/0002\/9641\/Resources_on_teaching_with_web_conferencing.pdf<\/p>\n

Join the ALT Mail list\u00a0https:\/\/www.alt.ac.uk\/get-involved\/mailing-lists<\/a><\/p>\n

Article compiled by Sarah Cornelius, ALT Newsletter Co-editor s.cornelius@abdn.ac.uk<\/a> @sarahcornelius. <\/p>\n

If you enjoyed reading this article we invite you to\u00a0join the Association for Learning Technology (ALT)<\/a>\u00a0as an individual member, and to encourage your own organisation to join ALT as an organisational or sponsoring member<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00a0Are webinars critical for distance learning? This question sparked lively conversation on the ALT mail list recently. The answers, from individuals with a wealth of experience in delivering live online learning, ranged from \u2018not critical\u2019, to \u2018important\u2019, to \u2018it depends on the context\u2019. Whatever the answer is in a particular situation, there was an underlying […]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[769,785,789,800,846,904,907,928,979,986,1023,1041,1043,1045],"class_list":["post-4591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-in-my-opinion","tag-clive-buckley","tag-dawn-alderson","tag-diana-laurillard","tag-dom-pates","tag-gilly-salmon","tag-leonard-houx","tag-live-online-learning","tag-mike-wald","tag-richard-oelmann","tag-sarah-cornelius","tag-tim-neumann","tag-web-conferencing","tag-webinar","tag-will-burrows"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10495,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2021\/04\/webinar-14th-april-1-2pm-the-use-of-learning-design-within-the-virtual-learning-environment-to-promote-students-metacognitive-skills\/","url_meta":{"origin":4591,"position":0},"title":"Webinar 14th April 1-2pm – The use of learning design within the virtual learning environment to promote students’ metacognitive skills","author":"Christina Vines","date":"9 April 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Our next webinar is on Wednesday 14th April 2021 1.00pm - 2.00pm. Use this\u00a0link to book your place. Title: The use of learning design within the virtual learning environment to promote students' metacognitive skills Speakers: Drs James Matthews, Crystal Fulton and Emma O'Neill, are UCD Fellows in Teaching and Academic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ELESIG"","block_context":{"text":"ELESIG","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/elesig\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":164,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2015\/03\/webinar-recording-living-and-learning-in-the-open-supporting-and-developing-open-courses\/","url_meta":{"origin":4591,"position":1},"title":"Webinar Recording: Living and learning in the open: Supporting and developing open courses","author":"ALT","date":"12 March 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"In this session Vivien Rolfe talks\u00a0to Martin Hawksey, Chief Innovation, Community and Technology Officer at the Association for Learning Technology (ALT), about the development of the Open Course in Technology Enhanced Learning (ocTEL). As part of this we explore how ALT Members supported the design, development and running of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Webinars"","block_context":{"text":"Webinars","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/webinar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7015,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2021\/03\/webinar-24th-march-2021-how-are-students-experiencing-learning-online-what-the-data-from-our-digital-experience-insights-2020-1-student-surveys-is-telling-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":4591,"position":2},"title":"Webinar 24th March 2021: How are students experiencing learning online? What the data from our digital experience insights 2020-1 student surveys is telling us","author":"Christina Vines","date":"24 March 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Notes from ELESIG 2021 Webinar Series: second webinar on Wednesday March 24th 2021, 1pm \u2013 2pm with presenters: Sarah Knight, Head of data and digital capability, Jisc Ruth Drysdale, Senior consultant, data and digital capability, Jisc Highlights With the continued pandemic, and the requirement of students in further and higher\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ELESIG"","block_context":{"text":"ELESIG","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/elesig\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4219,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2014\/09\/call-for-papers-learning-technology-innovation-in-higher-education-and-beyond\/","url_meta":{"origin":4591,"position":3},"title":"Call for Papers: Learning Technology innovation in Higher Education and beyond","author":"ALT","date":"18 September 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The call for papers for a Special Issue of\u00a0Research in Learning Technology, the Journal of the Association for Learning Technology has been issued at\u00a0http:\/\/go.alt.ac.uk\/1r87Xlp. All accepted papers will be published as a Special Issue of\u00a0Research in Learning Technology, \u201cLearning Technology innovation in Higher Education and beyond: Sharing global perspectives on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ALT news"","block_context":{"text":"ALT news","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/alt-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9862,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2022\/01\/alt-coolsig-confessions-of-a-learning-technologist\/","url_meta":{"origin":4591,"position":4},"title":"ALT CoOLSIG – Confessions of a Learning Technologist","author":"Christina Vines","date":"13 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Happy New Year! We hope you are keeping safe and well. We are looking forward to our first webinar of 2022, where we are being joined by two learning technologists working in UK higher education. \u2018Confessions of a Learning Technologist\u2019 is a chance to hear from two colleagues working in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Copyright and Online Learning SIG"","block_context":{"text":"Copyright and Online Learning SIG","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/coolsig\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CoOL SIG","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2022\/01\/Twitter-Post-1024x512-px-49.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2022\/01\/Twitter-Post-1024x512-px-49.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2022\/01\/Twitter-Post-1024x512-px-49.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1112\/2022\/01\/Twitter-Post-1024x512-px-49.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":192,"url":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/2015\/07\/webinar-recording-open-guilds-what-can-they-do-for-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":4591,"position":5},"title":"Webinar Recording: ‘Open Guilds’ \u2013 what can they do for me?","author":"ALT","date":"2 July 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The proliferation of free learning resources on the web and the increasing strength of the Open Education movement provide opportunities and challenges for both educators and the institutions that employ them. We need to find ways to embrace the potential of collaboration while respecting the rights of collaborators and co-creators.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Webinars"","block_context":{"text":"Webinars","link":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/category\/webinar\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6CxU9-1c3","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4591"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4591\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/altc.alt.ac.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}