Beyond Blank Screens: Designing Webinars for Interactivity

One in four students take some of their courses online, and two-thirds do so at a public institution in the same state where they live (Allen, Seaman, Pouline, & Straut, 2016; Allen & Seaman, 2017). This past spring, those numbers increased dramatically when the world turned upside down.

In early November, UMBC celebrates National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) with a series of lunchtime conversations. Our theme, Surviving to Thriving: Rocking the New Normal, celebrates all the successes and challenges our campus community has experienced as we continue to adapt, teach, and learn together during the pandemic. 

Beyond Blank Screens: Designing Webinars for Interactivity

Although web conferencing tools offer many opportunities to synchronously meet with your students, the experience is not quite a perfect match for the classroom experience. The rhythm of the conversation enhances and expands the interaction between students and instructors. While web conferencing tools support video for visual engagement, not all students want to be on camera. When faced with blank screens, how do we design our live sessions to maximize interactivity? Join our presenters and faculty experts to learn more about effective practices and common mistakes when planning and delivering synchronous sessions.

Our guests include:

• Dr Kate Drabinski, Senior Lecturer of Gender and Women’s Studies. She is also the Director of the Women Involved in Learning and Leadership (WILL) program, a co-curricular program and Living-Learning community sponsored by GWST.
• Dr. Elisabeth Arevalo-Guerrero, Lecturer in Spanish language and Intercultural Communication. Her research includes intercultural sensitivity and cultural awareness in an increasingly multicultural world.
• Dr. Diane Alonso, Senior Lecturer of Psychology. She is also the Director of the Shady Grove program. With a background in Cognitive Psychology as well as educational and practical experience in Computer Science/Human Factors, Diane's interests involve the merging of technology, teamwork, and education.

This webinar will take place in a Blackboard Collaborate virtual conference room. Use the link below to enter the webinar up to 15 minutes before the start time: http://tiny.cc/FA20

Prior to the session:

If this is your first time joining one of our webinars, please review the Getting Started Guide. You will also find additional helpful information for using Blackboard Collaborate at our extensive FAQs. 

For the best viewing experience, we recommend using Chrome or a recent browser update. Webinars are bandwidth intensive, so closing any unnecessary browser tabs will help conserve your bandwidth. After joining the session, please configure your audio.