Webinars & seminars

Do you want to reach large groups (webinar) or small groups (seminar) of students in an online setting?

A webinar is best used when you wish to explain or expose new information to large groups in an online setting yet still have interaction with them. You can use webinars to host short lectures and include interactive elements, such as quizzes, voting, and a chat. Webinars are often used when you want to switch between plenary sessions and small group interaction, using so-called breakout sessions.

Seminars (also known as work groups) are used to help a small group of students (max. 20 students) gain a better understanding of the course’s content by facilitating more complex cognitive processes. This way students can contribute to the program and the learning experience of their peers by using different formats, for example a simulation, debate, and peer feedback.

Keep in mind

Consider the group size: Seminars work best with groups of up to 20 students, to ensure the active participation and contributions of all participants. If you plan to use moderators and break-out sessions, it is possible to serve about 10 extra students, but this is not recommended. Webinars are best used in the case of bigger group sizes.
Interactivity is key: If you don’t plan to have interactive elements in your session, it’s highly recommended to use video lectures instead. Once made, these videos can be used for many years. You can also have a look at this page about Open Educational Resources or this page about innovative teaching methods for inspiration.
Use a moderator: You can use a moderator to guide the discussions in the chat and support participating students whenever they have questions or (technical) issues. We advise you to check out this page for more information.
Recording: Recording and playback is possible. Please consider these privacy guidelines for recording.
Don’t overestimate tech skills: Although students are used to working on computers and might use different educational platforms, don’t assume that they will understand everything immediately. Take some time to explain the used tools and their functionalities or provide tutorials.
Go easy on the tooling: There are many tools and applications available to support online webinars and seminars. It’s recommended to work with the minimum amount of tools needed and only elaborate when you feel comfortable enough.
Combine formats: As in many cases, it will be difficult to achieve all set goals or devised work forms within one format. Do not hesitate to combine different formats: As long as this is clearly communicated, this should not lead to confusion.

Examples of a webinar

Lecture style webinar: A shortened version of a lecture can be given during a webinar. Make sure to chunk the content into smaller pieces to keep the participants’ attention, alternating short informative sessions and activities, such as breakout sessions, quizzes, and discussions with your students.
Students led webinar: Instead of explaining all the concepts yourself, you could ask students to contribute to the lecture. Let them prepare a short presentation about an assigned theory or concept and add additional information yourself when needed. This presentation could also be used as a formative assessment and - when recorded - be used as a resource during the rest of the program.
Guest webinar: Guest speakers can be invited to be a co-host of a webinar, to share their experiences with the students. You can help your guests by providing a dedicated time slot, a format to work within, and information about the different activities they can use.
Review & informal assessment: You can also use the webinar to review the program's content or use quizzes to test the students’ knowledge about a theory or topic. You can let the students do a digital formative assessment with the help of the quizzes, in which each answer can be discussed directly after each question. This format can be used to prepare for tests or conduct an informal assessment for students to test their understanding. It is also suitable for the evaluation of your program.
Share videos: You can use existing (or new) videos and materials as part of your lecture, to share examples, demonstrations, or tutorials. Remember to keep these videos short (6-8 minutes) and relevant for all participants.

Examples of a seminar

Seminar with breakout sessions: The plenary part of the seminar should be used for activities that are relevant for the whole group, like announcements, instructions, and sharing conclusions. Students can work in smaller groups - the so-called breakout rooms - to work on assignments together or have small group discussions.
Discussion: Academic discussions can be conducted synchronously (live), but also asynchronously (in text). For example, a forum or a chat can be used for this. Just remember that the discussion should be moderated, just like it would be in real life.
Simulating conversations: Practicing professional communication skills is essential in many programs, for example when stating a diagnosis, giving consultancy advice or defending a case. These simulations can be done in small-group online settings, where students are assigned to a specific role they need to prepare and execute.
Collaborative product: By having students work on a joint end-product that other students can learn from, knowledge and skills can be applied. Think for example of a podcast, advice report or knowledge clip. The end-products can be shared during a seminar, so others can learn from it too. As a teacher, you guide and supervise the process when needed.

FAQ

What tool(s) should I use for my course?

In most cases, the decision for using a certain tool to support your courses depends on what you want to achieve. Please know that there’s not always one right answer and going with what you and your students are most familiar with can be valid reasoning as well.

To read more about the different video platforms, consult this article to compare your options. For other decisions, checkout the tool overview or get in touch with support staff who can consult you in finding the right solution.

Where can I find detailed information about the video lecture tools?

You can find the technical tool manuals about Kaltura Live Room here, for Zoom here, and for Microsoft Teams here.

How can I request hardware (such as webcams and microphones) to support my teaching?

To request a webcam (with microphone), you can use this form in the ISSC Helpdesk. You pick up the equipment from the service desk before the lecture begins.

For more advice about the use of audiovisual equipment during lectures and presentations, you can contact your faculty's audiovisual service (AV service). If you need advice or support in recording and distributing lectures and videos, please contact your faculty's video coordinator.

How can I stimulate collaboration and interactivity in class or online?

Take a look at this interactive overview of teaching activities that you can apply in your teaching.

see all FAQ

Find your teaching activity

To stimulate interactivity and collaboration in class, we have created an overview of teaching activities that you can apply in your teaching.

Read more
Innovative teaching

Teaching at Leiden University is closely connected to educational research and technological developments. We are always exploring innovative ways to strengthen (online and…

Read more
Inclusive hybrid education

Inclusive education is always important, but hybrid teaching can create extra challenges.

Read more
Open Educational Resources

Open Educational Resources are digital resources that are open access and can be used in higher education. It covers a variety of different types of resources. Besides this, it…

Read more