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decorative elements on the slide. The information on the slide should be segmented into user-
paced chunks of information.

For legibility, fonts should be selected from sans-serifs (e.g., Arial, Verdana) and the size should
be 40pt for titles and 20-24pt for paragraphs.

7.1.3 The platform

There is a wide range of webinar software, but after COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom appears to be
the most popular platform, even generating the gerund ‘Zooming’ to refer to webinar sessions.
Other webinar platforms include Adobe Connect, Go-To-Webinar, Skype, Blackboard
Collaborate, and Google Hangout.
Most webinar platforms possess the same features, such as chat box, screen sharing, polling
systems, and the ability to record the session. As educators, curating technical support
documents for the students (PDF, screencast, or videos) is important. During the webinar,
advise students to mute their audio, as excessive noise will be distracting and affect student
concentration. If the webinar has many students, it will be ideal to ask them to disable their
video as the platform can become overloaded and unresponsive. In terms of security, for all
except the smallest classes, it is a wise idea to use password-protected meetings where the
host needs to approve the participant before going online. This will avoid the
problems of “Zoombombing”, trolling and hacking that have been frequently reported during
the COVID-19 crisis.

7.1.4 Netiquette

Netiquette (the correct or acceptable way of communicating on the internet) is essential when
preparing the webinar environment to minimise disruption and ensure a smooth experience.
Everyone who logs into the webinar should take steps to ensure that their environment is
optimised for the session. For instance, ideally the host and co-hosts will login ten minutes
before the event starts and open the meeting five minutes ahead of the starting time. For
presenters, it is advisable to use a headset to improve audio quality. Interruptions during the
webinar can distract participants, so structuring the environment for productive delivery is
crucial. As host, the educator should mute their electronic devices (phone, tablets) to limit
extraneous sounds. Sometimes 4G signal can interfere with the Internet connection and putting
phones into aeroplane mode may be a good approach. Closing the door and placing a ‘do not
disturb’ sign on it and closing the windows will also reduce outside noise and thereby help
students focus. Wearing items of jewellery should be avoided as they may make noise if the
speaker moves slightly. Educators can enhance their presence on the webinar by having
appropriate lighting in the room. Educators should avoid sitting near a window or with any
source of light behind them. In poor lighting conditions, the students may see a silhouette rather
than the face of the presenter. When asking questions to the students, educators should allow
some take-up time for responses. If running a webinar with a large group, educators could ask
participants to type their questions first in the chat box, and the co-host or moderator can read
it and address it. A practice that works well is asking the students to number the questions when
typing on the chat box. Technical recommendations to help the technology to run smoothly

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