What is a Webinar?

Though the description may look complicated, it’s really easy to participate in a webinar. There is no elaborate setup required. All the technological stuff happens behind the scenes. All you need is an internet connection and a computer with working speakers. You could participate from your home, your office, or even a conference room with several people looking at the same screen!

This overview should cover the basics of registering for and logging into a webinar.

What is a webinar?
A webinar is a web-based seminar, where participants can see and interact with a live presentation in an online meeting room. During the presentation, participants can hear (and talk) through a computer and internet connection.

Steps to participate in a webinar, using DimDim:
• Register using the blue DimDim widget, which is embedded in the online description of the event: http://www.tbied.org/events/
• A meeting invitation will be sent to the email you used to register.
• Click on the Join Meeting button in your email invitation.
• Enter your name and join the meeting room.
• Enjoy the presentation.

What to expect:
When you register through DimDim, you will receive an invitation email containing meeting information and a link to the meeting room. On the day of the webinar, when it is time for the meeting to begin, you will get another email invitation with meeting information and a link to the meeting room. When it’s time to start, click on the link in either email. A new window or tab will open in your browser. Enter your name and press “Join.”

You may encounter a “Meeting Waiting Area” message, telling you that the “meeting host has requested participants to wait in this waiting area. You will enter the meeting room when the host starts the meeting.” You are in the right place: the host will let everyone in when s/he is ready to start the meeting.

When you enter the meeting room, you should see your name in the Participants List. The meeting may ask for permission to use your webcam and microphone. Say “Deny”; only the host needs to be on camera. Once everyone has logged in, the host will give a short greeting.

The host can share the contents of his or her screen, give a presentation, follow discussion in the Public Chat area, and take questions sent through Private Chat. The host can also give a participant temporary control of the meeting (through “presenter” status) or “assign microphone” so that a participant can speak over through their computer microphone and be heard by everyone.

• Participants can click on their name and select “Set Mood” to send an alert or give an opinion during the presentation. The host is likely to see and respond to these icons more quickly than a message sent through Public Chat.
• Participants can address specific questions to anyone using Private Chat: click the green icon next to a name, and select “chat privately.”
• To send a message to everyone, write in the Public Chat area.
• For larger groups, it may be helpful to designate one person to collect and type questions as they are submitted by attendees; this would help make sure that everyone gets to participate and that the presenter can respond to questions in a timely manner. Send questions to the presenter using Private Chat.

At the end of the presentation, there will be a link to an evaluation survey. Please complete the 3 minute survey. We use submitted evaluations to estimate participation and make changes based on feedback.

Can my computer handle it?
System Requirements
• High bandwidth intranet (like a DSL connection at an ESD)
• Mac OSX 10.4, Windows XP.SP2 or higher, or Linux
Browser Requirements
• Safari 2, Internet Explorer 6, Firefox 2.0 or higher
• Adobe Flash Player 10 (or above)

Questions?
Contact Laura Johnson
johnsonlm@wou.edu
541–346-0573