Zoom webinar

What is a webinar?

In Zoom, there are two types of meetings: Meeting and Webinar. These are similar, but there are important differences. Webinars are often preferred for large, open events as they require a higher degree of security and have lower requirements for interactivity.

• Meetings are designed to be a collaborative event where all participants can share screens, and talk together, and see who else is involved. Meetings can also be divided into groups, or breakout rooms, for discussions and group work. Everyone at UiO is licensed to conduct meetings with up to 300 participants. It is also possible to apply for a license for 500 participants. If you are going to have such large meetings, you should be careful with the security settings to avoid Zoom bombing and unwanted participants.
• Webinars are designed so that the host and any designated panelists can share video, audio and screen. The participants are anonymous to each other, and watch and listen to the host and any panelists. Opportunities for interaction are limited to a written question and answer service, chat and the opportunity to answer polls. The host can give individual participants the opportunity to talk if they ask to speak by raising their hand, but the participants can not turn on their microphone to speak themselves. Participants can also not change their name.
• Read more on the Zoom Help pages.

How does a webinar work?

See our guides to webinars:

• To set up a webinar in Zoom, you need a webianr license. Apply for license by filling in this form for additional licenses or webinar licenses.  
• Create, invite to and host a webinar. NOTE: If you already have created and invited to a meeting, and see that you need a webinar instead, you can change the meeting into a webinar. 
• Joining and participating in a webinar