What is Web Conferencing?

Who do I contact to use the SUNY CPD Web Conferencing Services?

How do I participate in a web conference offered by the SUNY CPD?

Best practices for web conference users (Instructors & Participants)!

What is Web Conferencing?

Web Conferencing is the activity and tools necessary to hold group meetings, classes, or live presentations over the Internet. In the early years of the Internet, the terms "web conferencing" and "computer conferencing" were often use to refer to group discussions conducted within a message board (via posted text messages), but the term has evolved to refer specifically to "live" or "synchronous" meetings, while the posted message variety of discussion is called a "forum," "message board," or "bulletin board."

In a web conference, each participant sits at their own computer and is connected to other participants via the Internet. The most basic feature of a web conference is "screen sharing," whereby participants see whatever is on the presenter's screen. Usually this is accompanied by voice communication, either through a traditional telephone conference or through Voice Over IP (VoIP), although sometimes text chat is used in place of voice.**

The SUNY CPD has used Web Conferencing for:

• Online committee, staff, board meetings
• Online training of new software
• Professional Development
• Workshops
• Speakers

What is a Webinar?

A Webinar is a seminar conducted over the Internet. It is a type of web conferencing. In contrast to a Webcast, which is transmission of information in one direction only, a webinar is designed to be interactive between the presenter and the audience. A webinar is "live," where information is conveyed according to an agenda, with a starting and ending time.**

Typical Features of Web Conferencing Include:

• Slide presentations (PowerPoint)
• Application sharing
• Web browsing
• Annotation (allowing the instructor to highlight or mark items on the display)
• Public & Private text chat
• File Sharing
• Polls, Surveys, and Quizzes
• Group Breakout Rooms
• Multi-way audio (VoIP) and Streaming video
• Electronic Whiteboard
• Ability to be "archived," or recorded for future playback.
• Accessible to people with disabilities**

Who do I contact to use web conferencing services through the SUNY CPD?

If you would like more information about using web conferencing services through the SUNY CPD, contact: (315) 233-3052 or email info@cpd.suny.edu

The SUNY CPD uses for its web conferencing. For more information about what Horizon Wimba offers, please visit www.horizonwimba.com.

** This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Web Conference."