Zoom Web Conferencing - General Information about Zoom Webinars

Summary

This article provides general information on Zoom Webinars.

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Overview

Zoom is a cloud-based solution for video and audio conferencing, mobile collaboration, and online meetings and Webinars. Michigan State University faculty, staff, and students have free access to Zoom Webinars hosting for up to 500 participants.

In Webinars, everyone can have an active role in sharing information and questions within a structured environment. Students can ask questions live and get immediate feedback from any person in the webinar.

The host of a webinar has more control to moderate conversations, encourage collaboration, and share information, which is ideal for the virtual classroom environment. A host may share screen, video, and audio during the webinar.

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Meetings vs Webinars

The table below compares the features present in Zoom Meetings and Webinars. Click the links within to learn more about each feature.

Feature Meetings Webinars
Participant Roles
Audio Sharing
  • All participants can mute/unmute their own audio
  • Host can mute/request to unmute participants
  • The Host can set all participants to mute upon entry
  • Only the Host and panelists can mute/unmute their own audio
  • Attendees join in listen-only mode*
  • The Host can unmute one or more attendees
Video Sharing All Participants Hosts and Panelists
Screen Sharing
Capacity 300 participants 500 participants
Participants List Visible to all participants  Visible to Host and Panelist
Email Reminders -- If registration is enabled
Chat In-Meeting Chat (link) Webinar Chat (link)
Q&A (link) --
File Transfer (link) --
Whiteboard (link)
Annotation (link)
Polling Polling for Meetings (link) Polling for Webinars (link)
Livestream Facebook, YouTube, Workplace by Facebook, Custom Streaming Service (link) Facebook, YouTube, Workplace by Facebook, Custom Streaming Service (link)
Registration Registration for Meetings (link) Registration for Webinars (link)
Closed Captioning (link)
Recording (link)
Breakout Rooms (link) --
Require Password to Join (link)
International Dial-in Numbers (link)

Information retrieved from https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115005474943-Meeting-and-Webinar-Comparison (link)

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Scheduling a Webinar

This guide will instruct you how to schedule a webinar that does not require registration. Please refer to Scheduling a Webinar with Registration (link) if you with to schedule a Webinar with registration.

This guide was adapted from Zoom's documentation (link). You can refer to Zoom's documentation for more in-depth information.

  1. In your favorite web browser, navigate to msu.zoom.us (link).
  2. Login using your MSU email address and password.
  3. Once logged in, click the Webinars button on the left toolbar.
  4. Click the Schedule a Webinar button to begin the scheduling process.
  5. Fill out the Webinar information and settings.
  6. Click the Schedule button to schedule your webinar.

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Sending Invitations to Attendees and Panelists

Zoom webinars have two different participant types: Attendees and Panelists. Attendees are view-only participants who can be unmuted if the host chooses. Their view of the webinar is controlled by the host. They can interact with the host and the panelists through the Q&A and the chat. Panelists are full participants in the meeting. They can view and send video, screen share, annotate, etc. You can have 100 panelists (including the host) in a Webinar. Please note that panelists will receive a direct email invitation separate from the attendees of the Webinar.

  1. Navigate to the "Webinars" tab in Zoom. Select the Webinar for which you would like to invite attendees and panelists.
  2. To invite panelists, scroll down until you see the Invitations area. Find the Invite Panelists row at the top of the Invitations area and click the "edit" button associated with that row.
    Screenshot
  3. In the window that appears, type in the name and email address of the panelist you wish to add. You may add up to 100 panelists to a Webinar. Click the Save button to send invites to these panelists.
  4. To invite attendees, scroll down until you see the Invitations area. Find the Invite Attendees row near the top of the Invitations area and click the Copy the invitation button associated with that row.
  5. Click the Copy Attendee Invitation button to copy the invitation to your clipboard.
  6. Since the invitation is on your clipboard, you may now paste it anywhere you need it to be for your attendees to see it. Methods to distribute the invitation to your attendees include email, D2L, and more.

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Starting Your Webinar

Navigate to the Webinars tab in Zoom. Find the Webinar you would like to start and click the Start button.

Screenshot

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Managing Your Webinar-In-Progress

The following links are Zoom's guides to using the various tools available to the host in a Webinar. Please refer to them for instructions and tips on using Webinar features.

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Zoom Live Training Webinars

Zoom offers free and interactive live training Webinars daily. You can get up to speed with Webinars and other Zoom services in less than an hour each. Please refer to Zoom Live Training Webinars (link) for further guidance.

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Details

Details

Article ID: 1055
Created
Sun 3/19/23 5:29 PM
Modified
Wed 4/10/24 9:40 AM

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This article links to the needed articles to get started with Zoom at MSU, from creating and accessing your account to getting started with your first meetings and more.

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