Erik Amerikaner, Computer Applications Teacher,
Oak Park High School, Oak Park, California
As a busy teacher, how do you stay informed about cutting-edge teaching resources? How do you attend professional development seminars and presentations, when time and money are at a premium? Actually, the tools you need to keep up to date on new teaching techniques, products, and services are right in front of you.Many organizations have designed Webinars to inform, educate, and motivate their staff and customers. A Webinar is an Internet-based seminar that is available either live or prerecorded. If you attend a live Webinar, you can be a part of an interactive experience, with the opportunity to type in questions and comments for the speaker to respond to. That’s not possible in a prerecorded event, of course, but the advantage of a prerecorded Webinar is that it’s available 24/7, on your schedule.
A Webinar is usually an hour or less, and has the feel of a PowerPoint presentation. For a live event, you direct your Web browser to a hosting service or call a toll-free number at a predetermined time. The Webinar hosts might need to install a small program on your computer, which you can do when you register for the event. After the presenter’s remarks, you will have the opportunity to type in questions and comments that the presenter can respond to live.
Many organizations have Webinars available via an Internet link for future review so you can see and hear the presentation anytime. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill has developed Webinars to introduce new products for teachers. Our next webinar, Microsoft Office 2007: Tips & Tricks, will be held on April 30 at 4:00 P.M. EDT. Sign up here.
Webinars can be a powerful tool for your professional development, and best of all, they’re respectful of your time and budget.
Quote of the Month:
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."
— William Ward
