Webinar Reflection

I can't believe this is my last blog of the fall semester in EDUC 504, once again it seems like the class just started.  For this blog I would like to discuss my experience creating a webinar and listening to my classmates various webinars over the last week.  In 504 we recently had a small group project where in our groups we successfully created and presented a webinar introducing a Web2.0 tool.  A Web 2.0 tool is any website that uses technology beyond the static pages of earlier websites, in essence they are more user-friendly and interactive.  My group, which composed of my two good friends and fellow cohort members Cory Cotter and Alexander Griffiths, presented Museum Box as our Web 2.0 tool.  Museum box is a pretty cool website that allows the user to build a virtual museum box composed of information that the user wishes to present in a unique and visually pleasing fashion.  To be honest I didn't find Museum box to be anything special when compared to other methods of presentation like Prezi, or even PowerPoint, but at least the option is on the table if an educator wishes to try something new. 

            As far as the experience of being introduced to webinars through 504, and having the opportunity to hear some and then create our own, I thought this was very insightful.  I learned that a webinar is simply a presentation, lecture, workshop, or seminar that is transmitted over the web.  I found the idea of a webinar to be a really cool alternative to a traditional lecture or class.  I really enjoyed listening to my fellow classmates webinars that they created and thought the whole process was beneficial to know as a future educator.  I don't know if I ever see myself using a webinar in the classroom at least in the near future, but I definitely would not rule it out.  In order to use a webinar in a traditional high school classroom this would require all your students to have internet and computer access and I know at my placement at John Glenn high school this would be challenging.  Also I'm not sure the students would be fully engaged and appreciate the use of a webinar.  I could see webinars being really useful in more of a college setting where access to technology and student engagement and participation is much higher.