| "Aren't teleseminars being superseded by | | | | completed webinar to an audio-only presentation, |
| webinars?" | | | | a recorded webinar likewise can't be accessed in |
| This is a reasonable question. A webinar, in case | | | | the car or while running or walking as a |
| you're not sure, is a seminar that people listen to | | | | teleseminar can. |
| and watch on the web, via their computer, while | | | | * Bigger learning curve. The last two times I |
| a teleseminar involves listening only, via the | | | | participated in webinar-based conferences, I was |
| telephone or computer. | | | | required to take part in a one-hour training session |
| Webinars have numerous disadvantages in | | | | first, so I would understand how to operate the |
| comparison to teleseminars: | | | | controls while presenting. For me, having to |
| * Increased preparation time. For a webinar, you | | | | simultaneously think about moving the slides and |
| need to prepare visuals as well as what you'll say. | | | | giving my talk makes a webinar much more |
| Generally there is a Powerpoint-style | | | | stressful than a teleseminar. I'm still tense giving a |
| accompaniment to the talking that must be | | | | webinar, even after more than a dozen times. |
| organized, written and polished ahead of time. If | | | | The interface is so much simpler for running a |
| you use photographs or other graphics instead of | | | | teleseminar that only a short run-through is |
| bulleted summaries of your points, those still must | | | | needed, if that, for a first-timer to feel relaxed |
| be prepared. The recommended guideline is about | | | | while presenting. |
| one slide per one minute of presentation. That | | | | Webinars do have some advantages over |
| means 60 slides are needed for a one-hour | | | | teleseminars: |
| webinar, or a bit fewer if you're planning a | | | | * Visuals. For teaching how to do something, or |
| question-and-answer session at the end. For me, | | | | for keeping the audience engaged in more than |
| webinars take five to ten times as much | | | | one perceptual channel, webinars rule. |
| preparation time as teleseminars. | | | | * Higher tech. As the question implied, webinars |
| * Added costs. Webinars require a reliable hosting | | | | appear more "advanced" than teleseminars. In |
| service that you need to pay for. Some | | | | some markets this is a significant plus. |
| high-quality teleseminar vendors, however, are | | | | * Bells and whistles. One webinar I led last year |
| free. | | | | incorporated real-time polling of the audience. It |
| * Technology barriers. People who have dialup | | | | was very cool to be able to ask a question and |
| service or Satellite Internet usually cannot | | | | get participants' instant answers. That's not |
| participate in webinars. Some corporate folks can't | | | | available with most teleseminar systems. |
| join a webinar because of their company firewall. | | | | To make the right decision between these two |
| And serious technical glitches are multiple times | | | | modes of presentation, think about the subject |
| more common with webinars than teleseminars. | | | | matter you are teaching, the expectations of |
| * Computer dependency. Participants must be at | | | | your audience, their technology setup, whether it's |
| a computer to access a webinar. If you expect | | | | a work or non-work presentation, your budget |
| people to participate from the office, this is not a | | | | and your own comfort level with the two types |
| problem. If you target a consumer audience, | | | | of technology. |
| webinars are less of a fit. Unless you convert a | | | | Good luck with your teaching program! |