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A STUDY ON ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WEBINARS AS A LEARNINGTOOL Mr. Danish Khan
Assistant Professor of Commerce, College of Professional Studies - ATC, Indore 750, Azad Nagar, Near Noorani Masjid, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Dr. Unmekha Tare Principal, SICA College, Indore
101 Sainath Enclave, 41-B Sainath Colony, Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Abstract - Due to this global pandemic situation Digital Learning (E-Learning) has become increasingly popular among the learners, trainers and professionals. Apart from the various virtual classroom initiatives, Webinars (Virtual Seminars) also become the growing trend now days. Learners and the trainers both are attracted towards the benefits of webinars during this pandemic situation, such as flexibility of time and place. Webinars is less expensive than traditional classroom training programs and instructions. Corporate managers are also considering the webinars as the most cost-effective ways to deliver series of training to their employees. Although the foremost benefits of webinars is also discussed in the various previous studies. In the recent times during COVID-19 Pandemic the question on effectiveness of webinars is raised on a large scale, it becomes a critical issue of why some of the learners are dissatisfied with the learning experience of Webinars.
Therefore, this research paper investigates and presents the study on assessment of the effectiveness of webinars as a learning tool, the learning experience, the major issues among the learners related to satisfaction level and its post COVID opportunities over the seminars. The Study explores the learning experience of around 233 learners and trainers.
The study reveals that the webinars is slightly effective than the traditional classroom seminars but with some relative issues and also explores the post COVID scenario of Webinars. The Implications of the research findings can help the trainers to adopt some productive measures and design effective learning environment.
Keywords: Webinars, Web Conferencing, Seminars, Learning Technology, Technology acceptance.
1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Webinars for Learning
In the educational system nowadays using digital technologies has become the common choice for training and learning purposes. Webinars are one of the digital technological tools for learning. The use of webinars has now gained numerous attentions in recent years. Gegenfurtner & Ebner (2019) defines webinars as “A seminar that happens online over the Internet rather than offline in a traditional classroom” they further define it as
“web-based seminars, in which students and teachers are connected, live across distant geographical locations using shared virtual platforms and interact synchronously in real- time via voice over IP and web camera equipment”. The utmost advantage of using webinars over the face to face seminars is the degree of flexibility it provides to its learners and the trainers as well. On the other hand, a traditional seminar has locational limitations.
Interactions among the participants in webinars are live and in real-time. There are a number of platforms and applications that can be used for hosting any live seminars.
Technically in one webinar, it can host up to 3000 participants. For participants, the technical necessities comprise a fast internet connection with a browser or application installed on their devices such as laptops, mobile phones, or tablets. Features provided by the different platforms include screen sharing, live videos, presentations, and also the live polls, chats for making real-time interaction smoother between the participants and the waiting room facilities. This can also help in the systematic evaluation and performing follow up analysis by the hosts and facilitators for webinar effectiveness.
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1.2 Webinar hosting PlatformsAn ideal web-based online learning platform for webinars enables the learners to access and acquire the live sessions and also to make interactions with the global educators in real time. Some of the common webinar platforms that can be used to host live sessions remotely are shown in Figure.1:
These are some common platforms for hosting webinars which the educators and the learners are using for E-Learning as per survey. Unlike many webinar platforms they also offer hassle free live sessions and some of them automated configuration on paid as well as free subscriptions.
2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Ebner & Gegenfurtner (2019) concluded in their study, in education the technologies of e- learning is now become increasingly popular and webinars endow with a suitable supplement for face-to-face traditional learning, mostly when there is a necessity for locational flexibility.
Gegenfurtner et. al (2020) in their research study suggested the way to increase the effectiveness of digital training or learning by delivering webinars through evidence based recommendations as in the recent years it increasingly attracted the attention of webinars for training and development purposes.
Leung (2003) in his survey study found that over 85% of the cyber learners are satisfied with their learning experience through e-learning process and discussed the ways to improve their experiences like improving discussion forum and enhancing the multimedia and animation contents.
2.1 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this research study was to assess the reactions of the different participants like students, trainers and professional towards the webinars. In addition to this assessment of satisfaction levels among the participants, its effectiveness and also the challenging issues in comparison to seminars. The Research Question was: How effective are Webinars in promoting learning and which characteristics moderate the effectiveness of webinars?
3 METHODS 3.1 The Present Study
The present study has a major focus on the effectiveness of Webinars as a learning tool among the different participants and level of understanding and satisfaction in comparison to the traditional seminars followed by the recommendations for improvements and the
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problems faced by the participants and the trainers for webinar based learning. Further, the study sought the answers of a research questions i.e. How effective are Webinars in promoting learning and which characteristics moderate the effectiveness of webinars?3.2 Methodology
To answer the research questions and objectives as stated above a well structured questionnaire was framed to collect the necessary data and information which served as a primary data. The study conducts a survey with the help of Questionnaire to understand and assess the effectiveness of webinars as a learning tool. The collected data and information belongs to the 223 students and teachers of higher education system.
4 RESULTS – SURVEY FINDINGS
This research studied the satisfaction level among the 233 learners and educators.
Respondents were asked the different questions regarding their experience. The findings provide a summary and overview of the survey. (Figure.2) shows the Level of comfort of the respondents while attending any Seminar or Lecture through Online Platform.
(Figure.3) point out the various online platforms and application used by the learners and the educators, the survey shows that respondents feel more convenient using the platforms like Zoom and Google Meet and the least preferable platforms are Skype, school diary app and twitter.
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The survey shows there is a much better level of convenience to access the Online Applications for attending the webinars from Computers/Laptop/Mobiles Phones as shown in (figure.4) and 50% of the respondents feels satisfied and found webinar to be more effective in terms of learning and developing skills if compared to traditional seminars (Shown in figure.5).(Figure.6 & 7) shows there is a satisfactory Level of interaction between the Instructor and the participants in the webinar and they get the same level of understanding and quality of learning in webinars as compared to attending a live seminar but in both the cases 25% of the respondents found it unsatisfactory. 58% of the respondents found the main objective of the seminar or lecture are largely achieved through the webinars while 22% are neutral &
15% are dissatisfied.
(Figure.9) shows all the required technical support to attend a webinar is easily accessible by the respondents, on the other hand (figure.10) shows the overall satisfaction or dissatisfaction level with the virtual seminars among the respondents, out of which 60% are satisfied with their experience while 23% are neutral 11% are dissatisfied with their learning experience. (Figure.11) shows the stated difficulties faced by the respondents while attending the webinars.
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5 DISCUSSIONS – MAIN FINDINGS5.1 Problems (Issues & Challenges)
1. The personal touch is missing in the webinars. Human to human touch is necessary for education. The education which is being imparted in the classroom can't be matched with these virtual classrooms.
2. Using webinars as a learning tool is good in this pandemic situation but we cannot use this permanently to acquire and provide knowledge.
3. Webinars might help us to make good use of time and save it but the understanding level of traditional learning is way higher.
4. Considering the techno age, webinars are an important medium yet there are some aspects of traditional learning that cannot be achieved through virtual means.
5. The interaction that is emotional and social learning missing on this platform. The webinar will not have real-life experience and lack in gestures and postures of instructor
6. Very few good quality webinars are being conducted that can be considered effective.
Rests are ineffective with very basic information.
7. Sometimes maybe the instructor is highly qualified but the way of interaction not good and can’t develop the interest.
8. Most of the time the problems or doubts of attendees remain unsolved during the webinars as limitation of time and personal interaction which is comparatively low in the traditional seminars.
5.2 Benefits of Using Webinars as a Learning Tool
1. Circumstances teach people to adapt to new things. Webinars are one of those kinds.
To conduct webinars is a nice attempt to make people occupied in constructive things.
2. Convenient in terms of time and the cost as compare to offline/Live Seminars and also form a Simple and automated registration process to the participants to make more accessible.
3. As compared to the seminar, a webinar is more comfortable as here you can focus on content because of no disturbance by other participants.
4. Quality of learning and Understanding can be achieved using a webinar.
5. Mobility and accessibility made learning easy. Webinars can cover a huge crowd and large audiences in one go.
6. Webinars not only provide a wide variety of lessons but also helps to broaden the knowledge and skills complement or supplement in the field of the respective study.
7. It's a good tool to listen and interact with people across the globe by sitting in the comfort of your own home, office without traveling. We can get the knowledge from
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very good and eminent professors from the world. It helps us to gain extraordinary knowledge without bearing much of a cost.8. Webinars help a wide range of people across the world to gain knowledge about a variety of subjects.
9. The benefit of attending the webinar is that you can attend one even when you can't be physically available at a particular place, you can access it anytime since it can be recorded and you can reach a larger audience or a globally diverse panel, this makes a webinar more ease for guests, organizers as well as participants.
10. Adopting and practicing webinars creates and enhances the frequency to conduct and attend effective sessions for the organizers as well as the learners.
5.3 Post-COVID Scenario (Learning Opportunities)
A massive transformation has been observed during the period of COVID-19. Numerous numbers of webinars were conducted throughout the pandemic situation regardless of quality, but it would not be wrong to say webinars will take over the place of seminars in the near future due to the convenient benefits it provides to the learners. However, the webinar conductors need to be aware of the possible future changes and opportunities.
Some possible predictions are:
1. The cost of webinars will continue to decrease compared to the traditional ones.
2. Due to the emerging awareness frequency of conducting webinars will increase and the quality as well.
3. Webinars will be more automated due to the technological changes and more acceptability will be enhanced in streaming via YouTube and Face book like platforms as reaching a large audience is effortless.
4. Instead of becoming presentation centric, webinars will be more speakers oriented.
As it will focus on the quality of the speakers then on the contents.
5. Large audience preferences on webinars over seminars will be increased due to the convenient benefits as discussed earlier.
5.4 Recommendations for Future Learning Practices
1. Session on the webinars should be more precise with subjects and sufficient time duration to interact people with their doubts and solutions.
2. Streaming on applications like YouTube should be used as the platform, so that the participants can use those recording for their further references.
3. Improvements on the part of technology, audio and video quality and also for the Admin rights should be made.
4. Hosting platforms for webinars should be more interactive and automated which will enhance the audience engagements.
5. Use of features like Live Polls and Questions should be increased so as to enhance the audience interactions.
6. Educators should focus on the open communications rather than making it monologue.
7. Educators and resource persons must take into consideration the good bandwidth and have fair accessibility.
8. Webinars should be promoted as it can make you reach up to a larger audience as required resources are less and information shared is more effectual.
5.5 Limitations & Future Research Directions
This research study is limited to the responses of 233 learners and educators; however, the conclusions and discussions are based on their experience of E-learning. Directions for the future research is the systematic research is needed to authenticate that learners are actually obtaining skills that are being delivered through webinars and that webinars are the best way for learning conveniently.
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6 CONCLUSIONSThe current scenario of COVID-19 has disrupted the complete education sector but also creates awareness for webinars. To answer the research question survey was done of around 223 respondents. The study shows that people are accepting e-learning due to its convenient benefits. The study findings can help the instructors to conduct more effective webinars. Additionally there are much needed technical and operational improvements on the part of educators and makers for the problems associated with the e-learning and their platforms. Summing up the results and discussions the emergence of webinar is enhanced positively due to COVID Scenario and now webinars found most suitable supplement for traditional seminars.
REFERENCES
1. Ebner, C., & Gegenfurtner, A. (2019). Learning and satisfaction in webinar, online, and face-to-face instruction: a meta-analysis. In Frontiers in Education (Vol. 4, p. 92). Frontiers.
2. Gegenfurtner, A., & Ebner, C. (2019). Webinars in higher education and professional training: a meta- analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Educational Research Review, 100293.
3. Gegenfurtner, A., Zitt, A., & Ebner, C. (2020). Evaluating webinar‐based training: a mixed methods study of trainee reactions toward digital web conferencing. International Journal of Training and Development, 24(1), 5-21.
4. Leung, H. K. (2003). Evaluating the effectiveness of e-learning. Computer Science Education, 13(2), 123- 136.
5. Liaw, S. S. (2008). Investigating students’ perceived satisfaction, behavioral intention, and effectiveness of e- learning: A case study of the Blackboard system. Computers & education, 51(2), 864-873.
6. Strother, J. B. (2002). An assessment of the effectiveness of e-learning in corporate training programs. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 3(1).
