Webinar

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=WEBINAR =
 * What is it? **

 The word 'webinar' is short for //web seminar// - it is a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar which happens on the internet, instead of in a room. Participants click on a link which takes them to an online 'room' where they can listen to a speaker, see a Powerpoint, ask questions (via text or audio), watch on-screen demonstrations, see others using video, participate in polls etc. Sometimes the word //web conference// is used...its the same thing. :-)

**Point me to something** e-Gems are individual webinars which focus on e-learning and vocational education (VET). They occur 'live' but are also recorded so can be viewed anytime (asynchronously)

**What is happening in education?**
 * Educators are using the e-Gems sessions as free professional development that they can access in a lunchbreak!
 * Webinars are becoming a popular method of bringing a guest expert into a classroom or learning space, without the associated costs and issues. For example, a trainer organised for a chef from a leading hotel in Sydney to speak with his Hospitality students. The session was 'beamed into' the classroom but could also be accessed by external students from their own computers.

**Examples** The following links are all //archived// e-Gems sessions. While you won't be able to participate (because they are simply recordings and not happening live), they will effectively give you a 'feel' for what it is like to participate in a webinar. After you have clicked on a link (below), you will see a green 'View Session Recording' button.

> **Show me how...** For assistance with the e-Gems platform (Elluminate), the best place to go is the Elluminate Practice Area on the Framework website. Another great resource is Elluminate Troubleshooting. Elluminate Best Practice Briefs contain some short papers on the best way to use these technologies. Of course Elluminate is only one type of webinar technology however and you will find alternatives (including free ones) in the left hand column.
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 * Play doh, Lego, Nintendo...

'Participating in a webinar'' photo:: CC licensed Flickr photo by librarian in black
 * Acknowledgement**

Home I mentioned that the Framework use Elluminate as a web conferencing platform.While you can access a free trial from their website, you can actually have a fully-functional, and non-expiring VRoom from LearnCentral which will hold 3 people. The 'catch' is that you have to register with LearnCentral but this is free anyway, and is simply a social networking area for educators....there is no obligation to continue communicating there.