A webinar is a term derived from the words "web" and "seminar," and it refers to a live or pre-recorded interactive online event or presentation. It is typically conducted using video conferencing technology or webinar platforms.
During a webinar, a host or a panel of speakers can deliver a presentation, lecture, workshop, or training session to a virtual audience. Participants can join the webinar remotely from their computers or mobile devices, eliminating the need for physical attendance at a specific location.
Webinars often include features that enhance engagement, such as live chat, polls, Q&A sessions, and screen sharing. Participants can interact with the host and other attendees by asking questions, providing feedback, and participating in discussions through these features.
Webinars are commonly used for various purposes, such as educational events, professional training, product demonstrations, sales presentations, marketing campaigns, and team meetings. They allow for the dissemination of information, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing among a large number of participants regardless of their geographic locations.
The Benefits of Webinars for Corporate Training
Webinars offer several benefits for corporate training. Here are some key advantages:
Accessibility
Webinars provide flexibility and accessibility to participants. Employees can join training sessions from their own devices, eliminating the need for travel and reducing time and cost constraints. This allows for broader participation, including remote workers, employees in different locations, and those with scheduling conflicts.
Cost-effective
Hosting webinars for corporate training can be cost-effective compared to in-person training sessions. Expenses associated with venue rentals, travel, accommodation, and catering are significantly reduced or eliminated. This is particularly beneficial for organizations with a large and dispersed workforce or limited training budgets.
Scalability
Webinars can accommodate large numbers of participants simultaneously. Whether you have ten or hundreds of employees, webinars can scale to meet the training needs of your organization. This scalability allows for efficient and consistent training delivery across the entire workforce.
Interactivity and Engagement
Webinars can be interactive, incorporating features like live chat, polls, and Q&A sessions. These engagement tools encourage active participation, foster collaboration, and enable participants to ask questions, seek clarification, and provide feedback in real-time. This enhances the learning experience and promotes knowledge retention.
Recordings and On-demand Access
Webinars can be recorded and made available for on-demand access. This is particularly useful for employees who couldn't attend the live session or want to review the content later. Recordings allow participants to revisit the training material at their own pace, ensuring continuous learning and reinforcement of key concepts.
Global Reach
Webinars transcend geographical barriers, enabling organizations to deliver training to employees located in different regions or countries. This is especially advantageous for multinational corporations or those with remote teams. It ensures consistent training across diverse locations, aligning employees with organizational goals and standards.
Tracking and Analytics
Many webinar platforms provide analytics and tracking capabilities. Organizations can gather data on attendance, engagement levels, participation rates, and completion rates. These insights help measure the effectiveness of training programs, identify areas for improvement, and assess the impact of training on employee performance and productivity.
Convert Webinars to On-Demand Corporate Training Courses
Converting a webinar into an on-demand course involves transforming the live webinar content into a format that can be accessed and consumed at any time. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you with the process:
Review the webinar content: Start by reviewing the webinar recording and accompanying materials such as slides, handouts, or resources. Identify the main topics, key points, and learning objectives covered in the webinar.
Plan the course structure: Determine the structure and organization of the on-demand course. Break down the webinar content into logical modules or lessons. Consider the flow of information, sequencing of topics, and any additional content or exercises that may enhance the learning experience.
Edit and refine the content: Depending on the webinar format, you may need to edit the recording for clarity and brevity. Remove any specific references to the live event or time-bound interactions, such as time-sensitive polls or chat discussions. Ensure that the content is concise, coherent, and easily digestible for self-paced learning.
Enhance visual elements: Consider enhancing the visual aspects of the on-demand course. Adapt the webinar slides to be more visually appealing and suitable for standalone viewing. Add any necessary visual aids, graphics, or illustrations to support the content and enhance understanding.
Supplement with additional resources: Assess if any supplementary resources are needed to complement the on-demand course. This could include providing additional reading materials, handouts, quizzes, or interactive exercises to reinforce the learning objectives and provide a comprehensive learning experience.
Assess and address interactivity: As webinars are typically interactive, it is important to assess how to incorporate interactivity into the on-demand course. Determine if any interactive elements, such as quizzes, assessments, or knowledge checks, can be added to promote engagement and assess understanding.
Choose a suitable e-learning platform: Select an e-learning platform or a learning management system (LMS) to host and deliver the on-demand course. Ensure that the platform supports video playback, multimedia content, assessments, and tracking features that align with your training objectives.
Upload the content: Upload the edited webinar recording, slides, and any supplementary materials to the e-learning platform. Organize the content into the identified modules or lessons, providing clear navigation and instructions for learners.
Enhance the course experience: Consider additional features or functionalities that can enhance the on-demand course experience. This may include adding closed captions or transcripts to accommodate learners with hearing impairments or providing discussion forums where learners can ask questions or engage in discussions related to the course content.
Test and launch: Before launching the on-demand course, thoroughly test the content, functionality, and accessibility on the chosen e-learning platform. Make any necessary adjustments or fixes based on feedback or user testing. Once everything is in order, officially launch the on-demand course and promote it to your target audience.
Converting a webinar into an on-demand course requires thoughtful planning, content adaptation, and consideration of the self-paced learning experience. By repurposing the webinar content effectively, you can provide learners with the flexibility to access and benefit from the training whenever it suits them.
About LMS Portals
At LMS Portals, we provide our clients and partners with a SaaS-based, multi-tenant learning management system that allows you to launch a dedicated training environment (a portal) for each of your unique audiences.
The system includes built-in, SCORM-compliant course authoring software that enables most anyone to build engaging courses quickly and easily.
We also offer a complete library of ready-made courses, covering most every aspect of corporate training and employee development.
If you choose to, you can create Learning Paths to deliver courses in a logical progression and add structure to your training program. The system also supports Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) and provides tools for social learning.
Together, these features make the LMS Portals platform the ideal solution for offering your pre-recorded webinars as on-demand corporate training courses.
Contact us today to get started or visit our Partner Program pages