What IS a webinar?
The word was made up several years ago by contracting the words "web based seminar" down to just "webinar". It is a seminar that is conducted over the internet.
What equipment do I need?
Any computer with internet connection will work for attending a webinar. It can be using any version of Windows or even a Mac. You can even attend a webinar with an iPad or iPhone. Just search for "GoToMeeting" the app store and install it.
Do I need a microphone and speakers?
You will want to HEAR what is said in the webinar so you will need EITHER speakers on your computer, or a headset to listen in. If you can hear music or other sounds on your computer then you already have what you need.
You will NOT need a microphone unless you are going to be speaking to the folks in the webinar. Normally, attendees do not need to speak. That is the job of the person hosting the meeting. Attendees normally just listen in.
Do I need a telephone for the webinar?
If you want to listen in to the audio portion of the webinar using your phone, you can do that. Sometimes people prefer that over listening in on their computer speakers because they have a noisy environment, (kids, pets, TV, spouse, etc) and the phone makes it easier to hear. Be aware that if you use a phone, then call charges or minutes used may be a factor. :-)
Do I need a webcam?
No. We normally show only our own computer desktop during a webinar. We don't turn on our webcam so you won't see our body, only our computer screen will be visible and only our voices will be heard. This means that you may attend wearing your pajamas or nothing at all if that is how you normally go about your house. Nobody will see you.
How do I interact and ask questions?
When you attend a meeting, a software program will be temporarily installed on your computer. The program will appear vertically on the right side of your screen. One of the tabs on the program says "QUESTIONS". You may click on that tab and ask questions. Only the host of the webinar will see your question and they will respond either in the same window (texting) or they may answer verbally as part of the presentation. We try to remember to read the questions out loud so attendees know what the question is, but sometimes we forget. Please ask us to read the question if we are in "forget mode".
What if I can't attend the meeting?
It happens all the time. A person will register for the webinar and then "life" happens and they can't attend. Don't worry. If that happens to you it's okay. You don't need to send us an email saying you can't attend. We understand.
Can I see the webinar after it is over?
We record all our webinars and put them up for members to see on our website. However, not all recordings come out okay. Sometimes technology fails and we get only an empty file or a partial recording. So we "TRY" to record every webinar. Members of our website have access to the recordings. We don't make most recordings available to the public because our members are paying us for access to the content where as non-members are not paying us and every view of the recorded video costs us server bandwidth fees.
What about problems during the webinar?
Sometimes the power will go out during a webinar. If your power goes out you can re-join the webinar when the power comes back on again if the webinar is still in progress. If OUR power goes out, then we will may or may not be back online before the webinar time is over.
The other problem that happens quite often is that our audio will not be in sync with the video. That is because sometimes our internet connection is too slow to get all the data (voice and video) up to the server at the same time. We can't fix that, but the video will catch up as soon as it can. Also, when you watch the recording afterwards, the video will be in sync.
New Designs On ATW FRI 6/7/2013!
For those with Membership to ATW - help yourself to the newest designs to download today. There are 1,964 sets of designs now available to you...
http://www.artisticthreadworks.com/designsearch
For those who are not yet members of ATW, what are you waiting for? Join us here...
http://www.artisticthreadworks.com/public/Whats_Next.cfm
For those who can't join, you can still help yourself to our freebies for the day here...
http://www.artisticthreadworks.com/public/department478.cfm
Our June Digitizing Webinars...
Our June "Webinars" are listed below in the "YouCanDigitize" section. Please sign up. Half of them are open to the public and half of them are for members of YCD only. We would love to see YOU in our webinars.
