Hosting Webinars

Top tips for webinars from the University of the Arts, London

1. Have multiple back up arrangements for accessing the login url in case one route fails
2. If the system goes down, keep chatting as everyone logs back in so that they can hear that they are re-connected
3. Decide at the start what clock is being used for times if working internationally and give this a high profile ensuring all participants understand
4. The fifteen minutes before the official start time are important for welcoming participants and building a sense of community
5. Have an intro and closing slide with presenters names, websites
6. Ensure that the audio is as good as possible by avoiding multiple microphones in the same space and people speaking from noisy backgrounds
7. Provide an advice sheet for presenters
8. Ensure audience know how to tell who is speaking and where there is multiple use of one microphone then ensure the moderator indicates who is talking
9. Ensure that the moderator picks questions coming in through the text box if the main speaker does not spot them
10. Provide advice notes for participants covering:
    • Exit button
    • Talk button
    • Putting up hand
    • How to write in the text box
    • What to do if you lose contact
    • What to do if the whole system crashes
11. Understand that the role of the moderator is crucial and that must involve chairing the session so that discussion flows well and that all forms of participation through text box as well as oral questions and picked up and dealt with
12. It is important to have back-up for the moderator in case the moderator loses contact through system failure or own local internet connection