Page 19 - Landscape SA 97

FEATURE

Marijke Honig Clare Burgess

aids like PowerPoint, video, web access Q: Would you say that a ‘translation’ was is difficult in a live classroom situation too,
to online video and slide presentations. required i.e. changing the means of as one can only experience second hand
Direct sketch drawing is possible with presentation from live to online? in drawings and pictures, places that are
the whiteboard function in Zoom, or by used used as examples.
sharing the presenter’s desktop with other Yes, some translation was required but
drawing tools such as CAD or Sketchup. the webinar format allows one to talk Q: Do you think this way of doing things
through the slides and to lecture directly will continue or fade out once live seminars
Q: Is a webinar less stressful from a in the same ways as live; however, back-up and conferences come back to normal?
presentation point of view, since you materials need to be well sorted on one’s
are not physically standing in front of an desktop beforehand, in order to minimise The trend to take everything online has
audience? What is your preference? searching around for the material that been around for long time. I think this
needs to be presented. In addition, it is method of presentation will continue to
I am used to lecturing and presenting to necessary to ensure that participants are grow as new tools such as VR and other
clients, colleagues and students, so I prefer following, asking questions and engaging co-presentation tools continue to evolve.
live presentation as it has more scope for with each other in breakout rooms, as well The advantage of attending a webinar or
verbal communication channels to be as feeding back and sharing offline course online conference vs a live event is that
available to both student and presenter. work with their sub-group or with the it requires no travel time or cost, and one
However I have become used to online whole group. can do most of the same things online as
webinars and the work-arounds required in person.
to interact with participants to ensure Q: What are the advantages of a Zoom
they are following and addressing their presentation? The main missing ingredient is the feeling
problems. of camaraderie, fun and interactive
It is far reaching, as participants can be learning one gets when engaging in a
Q: How easy or difficult was it to present anywhere in the world; live event. This will fuel the need for live
your course material online, compared to It is a user friendly, easy to learn interface; conferences, which will become more
being in an actual room with people and Ease of use of the basic presentation tools emotionally charged spectacle events
being able to engage and communicate for the presenter. rather than factual discourses which are
directly? perhaps better online anyway.
Q: What are the disadvantages of a Zoom
Once one’s materials are digital, there is presentation? General
not much difference to presenting live or
in a webinar. Interactions with participants Difficulty of interacting with participants The acceptance of the Zoom webinar
online requires giving them more and for them, with each other. There format by most participants has much
attention than in a live situation, where is a skill required in order to engage wider potential when presenting niche or
their difficulties with understanding is participants to overcome the limitations of specialty topics to a select audience, who
more evident through body language. not being in the same space. However, this can be anywhere in the world. LSA

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