The Difference Between a Webinar and a Webcast

Webinar (web conferencing)

Collaborative interacting over the Internet, web conferencing allows a presenter to show an audience what is on his/her computer screen and collaborate in a number of ways. Attendees are required to enter a code to verify attendance.

• Data: Web conferencing is focused on computer-based data (presentations, documents, software apps, or a desktop), which it can display and easily manipulate. That makes it easier for the businessperson to use, and makes it fit most day-to-day business meetings and events. Some Web conferencing platforms offer Webcam video.
• Web & phone: Most Web conferences use an audio conference call to let the group hear the presenter. Phone audio is more reliable and higher quality than Internet audio. And it allows real-time interaction among participants in the event. But it does add the cost and effort of using the phone as well as a browser.
• Small to mid-sized groups: The data-sharing and two-way interactivity work well for groups up 500 attendees. Also, costs scale with the number of users, making very large Web conferences more expensive than similarly sized Webcasts. Meetings can be hosted or attended from any PC with an Internet connection. No production or special equipment is required.
• Two-way: Web conferences are more interactive, with the ability to share presentation rights and control of applications among all group members. For collaboration, in-depth presentations, sales demos and training it can’t be beat.

Webcasting (web'kast')

Broadcasting over the Internet, webcasting technologies use streaming media technologies to broadcast audio and video or audio only with power point slides (optional) over the Internet to a large audience. Live webcast allow questions to be e-mailed or faxed to the presenter. The attendee can not verbally ask a question. Hence, the one way limited communication. Attendees are required to enter a code to verify attendance.

In a nut shell...

The main difference between a webinar and a webcast is that a webinar is a live and interactive, online meeting, while a webcast is a "one to many" multi-media transmission, with limited interactivity.
A key feature of a Webinar is its interactive elements — the ability to give, receive and discuss information. Contrast with Webcast, in which the data transmission is one way and does not allow interaction between the presenter and the audience (our webcasts offer limited interaction through e-mail and fax of questions, but no audio directly to instructor).
These seminars are NOT self-study, because they are live with instructor interaction.