This document discusses web conferencing services. It defines web conferencing as a service that allows conferencing events to be shared remotely in real-time. The objectives of using web conferencing in distance education are to bring meeting participants together online to reduce travel costs and increase meeting efficiency. Key features include slideshows, video, screen sharing, and text chat. Advantages are saving time, money, accessibility, and enhancing learning. Disadvantages include costs, technical difficulties, lack of face-to-face interaction, and security breaches.

1. Sultan Qaboos University
College of Education
Instructional and learning technologies
Unit about:
Done by:
Shamsa Al-Muqbali (92099)
Noora Al-Tabei (94985)
Course:
Distance Education

2. Definition of web- conferencing service:
• Web conferencing refers to a service that allows
conferencing events to be shared with remote locations. The
service allows real-time point-to-point communications as well
as multicast communications from one sender to many
receivers.
Figure 1web -conferencing
Objectives of using the web-conferencing in DE:
Use the internet to bring together meeting participants in an
online forum for communication.
The amount of travel and resources required is reduced
significantly, making it a cost-effective measure.
It is often easier for people to connect online, making each
meeting more efficient.
Features of web- conferencing service:
Slide show presentations
Live or Streaming video

3. Screen sharing/desktop sharing/application sharing
Web tours and Text chat
Meeting Recording
Advantages of web- conferencing service:
Save time, money and resources.
Easily accessible to everyone.
It involves real time communication.
Enhance learning via web. (Online teaching, online learning
and e-learning).
Comes with features such as desktop and application sharing.
Disadvantages of web- conferencing service:
Not all software is free, and the free software is limited in what
it can achieve.
More informal than face – to – face.
Requires suitable hardware and adequate training to be able
to function.
Depend on the speed of internet.
Costs to maintain and keep up with new technology.
Technical difficulties. It requires computer, microphones, social
media accounts and login information.
Security breaches.

4. Concerns about this technology:
Security Breaches (There's always some kind of security risk
to communication carried out online.
Technical Difficulties (Most online web conference hosting
services are all-encompassing and only require that attendees
have a computer, Internet connection and login information).
Human Interaction (Perhaps the most significant drawback to
web conferences is the lack of actual face-to-face interactions
and networking that most people enjoy participating in at
conventional conferences.

5. References:
Advantages of Web Conferencing | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/about_4612105_advantages-webconferencing.html#ixzz2A7o5fG00
Disadvantages of Web Conferencing | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/list_6665514_disadvantagesconferencing.html#ixzz2A7q5lxB5