What's the Big Idea? (Module 4)

“The force that propels the human spirit on the clear way forward and upward is the abstract spirit.” ~ Wassily Kandinsky

My topic is “using webinars to facilitate training.” Webinars have become a well known tool in recent years and many businesses and educational institutions use them on a regular basis. The term webinar is a shortened name for a “web -based seminar.” One of the benefits of utilizing webinars for training purposes is that they provide trainers with the ability to facilitate a course to a wider audience. Also since webinars are delivered via the Internet, participants do not have to be onsite or even in the same region.  This capability can be both a positive and negative for trainers and Instructional Designers.

A Negative: Webinars are not suitable for all types of training

I discovered this potential problem by taking an abstract view of webinars. Looking at things from an abstract point of view is a universal concept. According to the Root-Bernsteins, “…learning how to abstract in one discipline provides the key to understanding the abstractions of all disciplines (87).” As much as I appreciate the flexibility of using webinars, I realize that they do not work for all learning environments. For example, a webinar would not be the best way to teach a CPR course, but it is an excellent way to teach an introductory social media class.

A Positive: Webinars can be more cost effective than face to face classes.

I discovered this positive aspect to webinars through analogizing. The Sparks book states that, “In its most general sense, analogy refers to a functional resemblance between things that are otherwise unlike (137).” Take for example how the Internet is needed to deliver a webinar. A good analogy of that is in how a bridge is needed for a car to cross over a large body of water. To extend that analogy one could argue that in most instances, driving a car one hundred miles is cheaper than buying a plane ticket to fly the same distance. This is also a good case for using webinars for appropriate courses. For budgetary reasons, it is much cheaper to deliver content to an audience of people who live in five different cities via a webinar than it is to pay for them to fly to one place for a face to face class.    

As I continue to focus on whether to integrate more webinars into our training curriculum I will reference the positives and negatives to make a sound determination. They will be similar to the ones I provided in this post.  One of the things I will do immediately is include the cost effective aspect into my current evaluation report. Something that I am considering for the future is looking at webinars from a more abstract point of view. This course of action could prove to be quite productive. But for now, it is full speed ahead in my examination of webinars for my workplace and for my topic in this class.

How Do I Love Thee? (Module 4)

My topic is “using webinars to facilitate training.” This recent definition shows the evolution of the topic from first module. The emphasis is still on using webinars, but the title has been shortened somewhat. Okay, now on the essentials of this assignment. First, I’ll begin with a crucial element and benefit of webinars.  Each webinar can be archived for future viewing and review.

Consider this analogy:

The archive of a webinar stores files like PDFs, Word documents, and videos in the same manner that a jewelry box holds earrings, necklaces, and bracelets all in one central location.

But let’s not stop there. Below is a poem I created to offer a more abstract portrait of the analogy I used for my topic. It’s called:

"The Beauty of the Archives"

As I scan the archives from left to right and then again from right to left

I glance upon the gems otherwise known as word docs, video clips, and PDFs

Each spectacular file is as beautiful as a diamond, ruby, emerald, and yes even a pearl

And let’s not forget that these keepsakes can be accessed from almost anywhere in the world

Now it may seem silly to think of an archive as being more precious than silver or gold

Yet for me, waxing poetic about the beauty of webinar archives never grows old

Zoom In (Module 4)

The topic I have chosen to research for this class is "using webinars for training purposes." The major element needed to faciliate a webinar to students is a computer. For this Zoom In assignment I have created abstracted images of a computer screen in the same manner as Henri Mattise (pg. 80).

Normal view:

Fuzzy View:

Distorted view:

Grayscale view:



What's the Big Idea? (Module 3)

"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.” ~ Edward de Bono

Patterns are integral part of our lives, therefore it should not come as any surprise that they are also can be featured prominently in a multitude of educational environments. Since my topic content area involves using webinars for training/educational purposes, I decided to link the information described in the Sparks book with this particular subject matter.

So where do I begin?

I believe one of the most important takeaways from the section about patterns is the references to a jigsaw puzzle. Two statements resonated with me the most.

The first statement is:

“The most critical part of research is not getting the data, but making sense of it (105).”

That statement aptly sums up where I am in terms of researching my topic. I have gathered some interesting information, but I am not sure what I am going to do with it just yet. Will I apply (1) all of it, (2) most of it, (3) some of it, or (4) none of it? I don’t very seriously I will end up choosing the forth option. The problem I am discovering is that I may too many choices instead of not enough. The ultimate goal for me is to figure out is how webinars can improve the training process for the employees of my company.

Okay, moving along to the second statement that stood out for me. It is:

“The striking thing about pattern forming is not the complexity of the elements that are combined, but the cleverness and unexpectedness with which the combinations are made (130).”

A few weeks ago, I posted a sample webinar created by a few innovative folks at Google. Since then, I have seen a definitive pattern with exceptional webinars. They all contain certain essential elements like being easy to access and have user friendly interactive features.

In my daily practice, I have used Microsoft’s Live Meeting program to create and facilitate training modules. However, recently I have been invited to client training sessions that were presented uses Adobe Connect Pro. From a technical standpoint, Adobe is far superior to Live Meeting. I am currently considering creating a business case to purchase the Adobe software.

Here’s a brief video overview of Adobe Connect Pro:



I believe the Adobe software has options that would allow me to form patterns in our training modules that the users would easily come to recognize. It would also provide trainers to access their back office in one central program. Perhaps that can be considered an avenue to form a new pattern for them?

What is even more exciting is that with a program like Adobe Connect Pro, I can form new patterns of my own as it relates to the creation and delivery of professional training.

Reference:

Adobe Connect Pro Training. Retrieved from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KmJMrWjAgw&feature=related

How Do I Love Thee? (Module 3)

This particular assignment was somewhat of a challenge for me to complete. First of all, I didn’t immediately understand how patterns or patterning in general fit in with my content area topic, which focuses on the use of webinars in a training/educational environment. What I ultimately discovered is that understanding patterns can assist me with deciding which webinars work best with the type of curriculum I am creating for future presentations.

In the diverse realm of webinars, there are patterns that I use that are known as “best practices.” Best practices are a set of rules or guidelines that help define the most appropriate methods and/or approaches to a specific aspect of teaching. For me, the best practices that I adhere to are quite common among educators. They can be found through a variety of sources including websites, scholarly journals, and prominent e-learning professionals. I believe the best pattern that exists in my content area topic also allows me to be consistent with how I want to use webinars. It is a general distinction of what separates the webinar from other types of e-learning. Here is a simple table that explains why and how webinars are used:

While the above information is a tried and true formula to guide educators with using webinars, to properly address the requirements for this assignment I researched some additional methods to employ in the future.  I found information on the Adobe website that provides a specialized list of best practices for webinar use. From their list I am most interested in using the following two best practices that will benefit the presenters/trainers as well as the students/participants:

1.      Confirm registration

Make sure you send a confirmation e-mail upon registration. The confirmation should contain a short restatement of the value proposition, instructions for attending, an electronic calendar appointment (typically an iCal or vCal attachment), and a sentence letting them know that you will send a reminder message before the event. It is important to let them know that they should expect additional communications of value from you. Setting expectations helps reduce frustration at “e-mail overload” and builds a precedent of ongoing communications. (Example below)

2.      Send reminders

Reminder e-mails are a good idea before your event. Some companies send one reminder, others use two reminders. Avoid the urge to send more than two reminder e-mails, because you run the risk of changing their perception from value to harassment. A useful schedule for reminders is 24 hours before the event and 1–3 hours before the event. Make sure to briefly highlight the key value proposition for your audience in the reminder message. Many people may have forgotten the persuasive marketing points that made them want to register. You need to reestablish the idea that your event is worth their time. (Example below)



Of course not every best practice is suitable for every webinar situation, but the two I referenced from Adobe seem very adaptable most of the time. They also will create a pattern for everyone involved with the webinar. They will eventually understand and expect these two things to occur with each webinar coming from the training department.

References:

Web meetings, webinars and virtual classrooms compared. 2009. Onlignment.  Retrieved from: http://onlignment.com/2009/08/web-meetings-webinars-and-virtual-classrooms-compared/

Best Practices for Webinars. 2009. Adobe. Retrieved from: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatconnectpro/webconferencing/pdfs/Best_Practices_for_Webinars_v4_FINAL.pdf



Zoom In 3

From two different angles what do you see? (Hint: The answers are written at the bottom of this post).

Answers:

Image One: Do you see the image of a dog?

Image Two: Do you see the image of a fireman?