Center for Instructional Innovation and Assessment - Western Washington University's Teaching and Learning Center

Instructional Technologies in Education

Web Conferencing

What is it?

Web conferencing is a term that describes a synchronous, electronic environment in which meetings, trainings, or presentations can take place. A participant engages with other participants through the use of either a personal computer or a lectern computer projected to a class.

Typical features found in a web conferencing service:

  • Real-time video streaming
  • Real-time audio streaming
  • Whiteboard
  • Screen sharing
  • Application sharing
  • Text chat
  • Surveys
Source: Wikipedia's Web Conferencing page

How is it used in education?

What are some resources?

Where is there help?

  • WWU:
    • Elluminate Web Conferencing Tool - WWU's course management system, Blackboard, currently has an integrated web conferencing tool, Elluminate. Within the control panel of a course, an instructor can schedule and edit Elluminate meetings and then students can access it via the Blackboard course menu. For further assistance, contact ATUS.
  • Free Web Conferencing Services:
    • Anymeeting - free online meetings for up to 200 people
    • GoToMeeting - video, audio, and instant messaging conferencing with a 30 day trial, and $49/month price
    • Join.Me - free online meetings for up to 100 people
    • Skype - online video calling, phone and mobile calls, and instant messaging system. Most calls are free, international calls at a low price. Online meetings for up to 10 people. For a brief overview, click here
    • Yugma - free online meetings for up to 20 people
  • How-to Documentation: