difference of seminar and presentation

Seminar vs. Presentation: Know the Difference

Key Differences

Comparison Chart

Interaction, participation, seminar and presentation definitions, presentation, repeatedly asked queries, are seminars usually interactive, what characterizes a presentation, who leads a seminar, what is a seminar, is a presentation always public speaking, what types of topics are covered in seminars, can anyone give a presentation, can seminars include presentations, do presentations require visual aids, what's the main purpose of a seminar, are seminars formal or informal, do seminars provide networking opportunities, should a presentation have a clear structure, how are seminars different from lectures, can seminars be part of academic courses, is it important to practice before giving a presentation, how long is a typical presentation, what skills are important for giving a presentation, what technology is commonly used in presentations, is a presentation a form of communication, share this page.

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

Featured Comparisons

New Comparisons

17 Differences between Seminar vs Lecture

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Learn about our Editorial Process

A seminar is a small group discussion among students whereas a lecture is a large group presentation where the professor does all the talking.

In seminars the professor facilitates discussion whereas in lectures the professor does all the talking with very little input from students.

This article outlines 17 key differences. It is split into two sections:

Definitions

• Seminars: Key Points
• Lectures: Key Points
• Summary of all Key Points

Let’s get started with key points about what makes a Seminar unique!

Below are some scholarly definitions of the terms ‘Seminar’ and ‘Lecture’. I’ve also paraphrased those

1. Definition of a Seminar

Here’s two scholarly definitions of a seminar:

• Race (2005, p. 141) defines a seminar as follows: “… in seminars, learners themselves contribute most of the content, for example, by preparing to talk as individuals or small groups about pre-allocated topics, then open the topics up for discussion.”
• Becker and Denicolo (2012, p. 33) define a seminar as “a coming together of a group of students (usually between 6 and 16 of them) to discuss one aspect of a course or module, led by one (or occasionally two) tutors.”

So, what does that mean?

• A seminar is a small group session where you get the chance to discuss the content you have been assigned to learn for the week.

They usually occur after lectures so you can brainstorm and reflect on the topic presented in the lecture.

2. Definition of a Lecture

Here’s two scholarly definitions of a lecture:

• Exley and Dennick (2009, p. 1) characterize a lecture as a speech “presented to hundreds of students in a lecture theatre” which is considered “the standard model of academic teaching.” The explain that the lecture is derived “from the Latin lectare meaning ‘to read aloud’.”
• Brown and Race (2003, p. 7) present several pages of humorous explanations of a ‘lecture’ at the outset of their book Lecturing: A Practical Guide . One of the more ‘practical’ definitions that emerged was: “Lecturing is engaging with a large number of people simultaneously to convey such things as information, enthusiasm, knowledge to generate interest among the audience.”

Okay, and what does this mean?

A lecture is a large group session where the teacher is the central discussant. Usually, the teacher talks and the students listen.

I’ll sum this up with one more definition, more humorous than the last, from Brown and Race’s list of definitions mentioned above: a lecture is “a talk by someone barely awake to others profoundly asleep.”

Now let’s move on to a discussion of several elements of seminars and lectures.

What to Expect in Seminars

Points 12 – 19 are all about what to expect in Lectures.

1. Small Classes

In your seminars, you will be in a small group.

In fact, seminar classes are usually (but not always) smaller than high school classes.

You wouldn’t expect more than about 15 people in a seminar.

But, I’ve done seminars with up to 45 students, so this is not a hard-and-fast rule. It depends how cheap your university is and whether they’re willing to fork out the money for additional tutors.

2. Dialogue

Seminars are designed to be discussions. A lecture involves the teacher talking (droning) on and on, a lecture may have the teacher barely talk.

Usually, the teacher gives an introduction and sets out the terms of the discussion. They may set a question or a task. Then, they let the students share their ideas together.

The teacher may prompt students to share their ideas, but by and large the teacher usually tries not to impose themselves too much on the students. It’s the students’ turn to talk, chat, debate or sometimes argue.

3. Group Work

Seminars involve a lot of group work.

When the students are set a task, they’ll often work in groups.

Sometimes this may be several small groups. The students will often be split into groups of 2 – 5 and asked to share their ideas on the topic of the day.

Then, the small groups report their findings to the whole seminar. There may be a group representative assigned the task to talk. They might tell the whole class all about what the group discussed and what conclusions they came to in their discussion.

Other times, the whole class will communicate as one whole group. They may sit in a circle and the teacher will pose a stimulus question.

Then, ideally students will start sharing their thoughts and building a discussion together.

But in reality, there’s a lot of awkward silence.

4. Self-Directed Learning

If you’ve not experienced a seminar before, you might be surprised that the teacher leaves you alone quite a bit.

That’s because at university level you’re supposed to be able to direct your own learning.

The question the teacher asked may lead you to discuss one thing after another until your group’s gone down a deep rabbit hole.

Then, when the groups come together at the end of the seminar to share what they each discussed, you’ll find each group may have gone on completely different tangents.

And usually, that’s okay. Seminars are all about exploring topics in detail. You’re supposed to think critically, explore topics from multiple angles, and explore many perspectives.

Your teacher probably won’t be hovering over your shoulder too much.

5. You’ll often Discuss Readings

It’s very typical for a teacher to set a “weekly reading” for you to complete before you come to the seminar.

The weekly reading is usually either a journal article or a textbook chapter.

If you’re studying literature, it may be a literary text.

Then, when you come to class, the stimulus questions the teacher sets for your groups to discuss will likely revolve around the assigned readings.

That’s why it’s so important to actually do the assigned readings before you get to the seminar.

Furthermore, if your seminar follows a lecture, remember to attend the lecture as well.

I usually start my seminars for opening up discussion about what happened in the lecture. We talk about their thoughts on the lecture topic and share their questions.

Then, we’ll dive into the weekly reading and I’ll get the students to share their notes and thoughts on what the reading was all about and what it can teach us.

That’s pretty common – so if you’ve been set a weekly reading make sure you have it all read and you take notes on it before your seminar.

6. Pop Tests

Pop tests are quite common in seminars.

One reason professors use pop tests in seminars is to hold students accountable to the expectations placed upon them to engage in weekly independent studies.

To put it simply, professors test students to make sure they’ve done their homework.

If you don’t do the weekly readings before class, you won’t be able to contribute acceptably to class discussions.

If students can’t contribute to class discussions, seminars are basically pointless.

So, expect pop quizzes in your seminars to keep you on your toes.

7. Active Learning

I’ve provided this point here to highlight the contrast between lectures and seminars.

In lectures you sit still, observe and absorb a teacher’s presentation. In other words, you’re often considered a ‘passive’ learner in a lecture. You don’t have to actually contribute anything. All you need to do is listen and take notes.

In seminars you are expected to be an active learner. You feed your ideas into the whole class discussion in order for it to progress.

In fact, often students’ input will significantly impact their own peers’ opinions.

It might be your job in a seminar to change your peers’ minds.

You might also get given a lot of activities to complete that involve very active learning and investigation.

Here’s some examples of activities you might do in seminars:

• Think-Pair-Share activities
• Brainstorming with flip chart paper
• Preparation of presentations
• Lab experiments

8. You can ask your Teacher Questions

One of the best parts about seminars is that you get close access to your teacher.

Remember that question you had about how to complete the upcoming essay? Now’s your chance. Put your hand up and ask that question.

Did you struggle understanding something they mentioned in the lecture? Ask for clarification.

Were the readings too hard? Share your thoughts with your teacher. They might give you some advice and support.

I always get a few students coming up to me at the end of a lesson.

Common questions to ask in seminars include:

• Requesting extensions
• Seeking clarification on how to complete assessments
• Seeking top tips on how to improve your marks
• Personal advice or insights on topics

Your seminar might be your only chance to get close enough to your teacher to get those gems of advice that will push you to the top of class.

I recommend focussing on getting input about what your teacher’s preferences are for your assessments so you know which mistakes to avoid when it comes to submission date for that looming essay.

9. You’ll get to know your Teacher more Intimately

This is So. Important.

Getting to know your teacher helps you get top marks.

You’ll never get to know your teacher truly in your lectures. In lectures, your teacher is standing in front of between 40 and hundreds of people. You’re just a sea of faces.

In the seminar, you’ve got the chance to get to know what your teacher’s preferences, likes and dislikes are.

This will give you an advantage when it comes to writing your assessment tasks.

In a previous post, I’ve emphasized some things you’ll want to do to ensure your teacher’s on your side. This will help them have a positive view of you and make them want to give you good marks.

Here’s a summary of that post’s key points on how to get your professor on your side:

• Make sure your professor knows your name
• Make sure your professor knows your goals
• Speak up in class to support or challenge ideas in the readings
• Seek feedback
• Follow-up on previous conversations with your professor

If you want to read more on how to build a good relationship with your professor, feel free to read the full post .

What to Expect in Lectures

1. large classes.

The first and most obvious thing you’ll notice when you’re in a lecture is just how many students are in the room with you.

I generally have somewhere between 40 and 200 students in my lectures.

You’ll even notice that the other students in the lecture may be taking very different majors to you.

Often, a psychology student will take an education elective and end up in the same class as you.

Similarly, it’s often the case that students studying ‘soft sciences’ such as a literature degree may still need to take a few ‘hard sciences’ courses. This means you might have an actor or communications major in your Physics lecture!

There are many implications for this large class size. Below are a few of the main ones.

2. Teacher is the Center of Attention

Take a look around a lecture theater next time you’re in there.

Notice which direction all the seats are pointed?

They’re all pointing towards one spot: a stage at the front. It’ll probably have a projection board for the teacher to show some lecture slides.

But really, the center of attention is the teacher.

You sit. You listen. You take notes.

And the teacher talks.

The original intent of lectures was for professors who were experts on topics to pontificate about the topic.

They literally ‘lecture’ us. They stand there and tell us about what is true and what is, perhaps, less true.

This is very different to a seminar. While in the seminar you’re the center of attention, in the lecture you’re expected to sit quietly and watch.

3. You’ll be Learning by Listening

In a lecture, you don’t ‘actively learn’. Nope.

Instead, you learn by sitting there and absorbing information.

Sometimes you’ll be observing the teacher’s demonstration.

But usually they simply talk to you. They tell you stories, explain concepts and … well … they talk and talk and talk!

This means you’re going to have to develop some strategies for learning in this environment.

I have a whole post on how to take notes in lectures .

Here’s a summary of just a few of the key points in that post:

• Print out the lecture slides and read them before class
• Don’t bring any distractions like mobile phones
• Record the lecture on your phone
• Compare your notes with friends after class
• Type up your notes when you get home to reinforce the information in your mind

Look, I’m not going to lie.

Lectures aren’t the best learning environments. You can lose your attention pretty fast. And it can get boring at times.

But with the tips above you’ll be on track to doing a decent job of taking the notes you need to succeed in class.

4. You’re Absorbing new Information

Lectures are all about learning something new.

Seminars are all about consolidating information you have already learned.

In your lecture, it’s likely the first time you’ve ever heard this new information.

So come to your lecture ready to learn something new!

But, that means the learning style is totally different – and you need to do something different, too!

Learning by listening isn’t enough. You need to test the ideas, put them into action and try them out.

That means you should pick up all of that information you gathered from your class and do something with it.

Here’s three ways you can make sure you absorbed the information well:

• Try out the information you learned in real life. If you learned something you can apply in your life, have a go! It will help consolidate your knowledge.
• Come up with discussion points for your Seminar. If there’s something interesting that you learned that you want to talk about and flesh out some more, write it down so you can chat about it in the seminar.

Lectures usually come before seminars in your week for this very purpose. You learn the new information in the lecture then apply it in the seminar.

5. The Lecturer gives away Tips about the Exams

Every one of my friends do this. And so do I.

In fact, I’ll often say something like “Write this down…” or “Listen to this tip…” to make sure my students know a little nugget of information is really important.

Here’s two reasons we give away exam tips in lectures:

• To give you an incentive to come to the lecture.
• To make sure you keep paying attention throughout the whole lecture.

But even if your lecturer doesn’t mean to give away tips about the exam, they’ll leave little breadcrumbs that are very important.

Think about it: your teacher is the person who writes the exam.

They’re also the person who gives the lecture.

Therefore, they’re going to be teaching the same content as they put in the exams.

So pay close attention and take detailed notes in lectures. Use those notes when you’re studying for exams, because they’ll be the most relevant exam information you will find.

6. Question time is usually Saved for the End

In a lecture you’ll get to ask questions, but it’s very different to a seminar.

In seminars you spend the whole time chatting away. You’ll be able to have free flowing discussions with your teacher.

In fact, your conversations in seminars will often be directed by you and your peers. One person will ask a question, then that will lead to a different conversation for the next 15 minutes. It might end up being a conversation the teacher never planned for!

Lectures are much more structured.

The teacher will follow a set routine, usually structured around lecture slides projected onto the screen.

That doesn’t mean you don’t get to ask questions.

Usually your teacher will open the floor for questions right at the end and you can ask for clarification on any points you need.

People often feel really shy about asking questions in lectures.

Let me reassure you – if you have that question, other people in the class probably will, too.

Furthermore, your lecturer will really appreciate that you asked a question. As I’ve said before, it’s important to have a good relationship with your teacher. If you want to impress your lecturer and show them you’re a top student, feel free to ask questions at the end!

7. You get to listen to Experts

Traditionally lecturers are employed as they’re experts on the topics they’re teaching.

They do a lot of research into the topics they teach. In fact, most professors will spend a few days a week in labs or out conducting research into your topics.

That means you’ll get the most up to date, detailed (and hopefully interesting) information on the topic you’re there to learn about.

Your teacher might also seek out other experts to come to teach to you.

One of my specialties is learning theories . Often, I’ll get contacted by colleagues asking me to give lectures to their students on learning theories.

Similarly, I’ll often ask those teachers to come to talk to my students about their areas of specialty. I’m not an expert on literacy. So, I might ask my friend Sally who’s a great literacy expert to talk to my students about that topic.

In other words, you should get an opportunity in lectures to hear from some of the top minds in your region on all the various topics in your course.

Summary: Differences between Seminars and Lectures

Seminars and Lectures are both central elements of university level learning.

But they have different purposes.

Lectures are for learning new information, Seminars are for consolidating and exploring the information you learned in the lectures.

Below is one last fly-by summary of the key elements of lectures and seminars:

Definitions:

• A lecture is a large group session where the teacher is the central discussant.

What to Expect in Seminars:

• Small Classes
• Self-Directed Learning
• Discussion of your Readings
• Active Learning
• Opportunities to ask your Teacher Questions
• Getting to know your Teacher more Intimately

What to Expect in Lectures:

• Large Classes
• Teacher is the Center of Attention
• You’ll be Learning by Listening
• You’re Absorbing new Information
• The Lecturer gives away Tips about the Exams
• Question time is usually Saved for the End
• You get to listen to Experts

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 10 Reasons you’re Perpetually Single
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 20 Montessori Toddler Bedrooms (Design Inspiration)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 21 Montessori Homeschool Setups
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 101 Hidden Talents Examples

1 thought on “17 Differences between Seminar vs Lecture”

Thank you for this informative piece. I am starting graduate school in Mathematics and I just saw that one of my courses will be a seminar. I wanted to know what to expect. This clearly explained all I needed to know. Thank you.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Conference vs Seminar vs Workshop: What’s The Difference?

Individuals attend different sorts of professional development events, but understanding their relatability can take time and effort. Conferences, workshops, and seminars all bring people together with similar interests.

Although conferences, seminars, and workshops provide learning opportunities, they differ significantly. In this article, we’ll examine each in more detail.

So, without further ado, let’s get into the subjects.

What is a Conference?

A conference is a significant gathering of individuals to discuss a particular topic or concept. Conferences often have a few keynote speakers who are subject matter experts.  They address the participants on a given topic, providing them with expertise and knowledge and helping them stay up-to-date in their interests. Participants can join smaller, more intimate conversations on specific topics during breakout sessions. For example- SXSW, Adobe Max, etc. 

What is a Seminar?

Seminars are more intimate gatherings that often cover just one subject. In most seminars, a group of subject-matter experts moderate a discussion on the subject while providing a chance for audience participation and questions. For example –  Real Estate, Artificial Intelligence etc.

What is a Workshop?

A workshop is a practical educational session where participants learn new skills or methods. They are usually guided by an expert who illustrates how to perform something, after which participants get to try out the new abilities or methods for themselves. For example- Fashion Photography Workshops , Travel , Landscape, Nature Photography Workshops, Scientific Workshops , etc.

Conference vs Seminar vs Workshop: Why & When to Use?

• Seminars are held to raise awareness and provide a forum for information sharing. The topics covered at seminars might be industry-specific or geared towards assisting participants in bettering their personal or professional lives. 
• While workshops are held where individuals may gain practical knowledge, they have a subject-matter expert addressing the crowd. You might hold a workshop to clarify your ideas if you are an expert in an area and want to impart your expertise.
•  On the contrary, a conference is a discussion among individuals on a topic that may or may not require problem-solving. You must organize or participate in a meeting if you work for or are the leader of a company that needs to have a conversation to resolve a problem or discover a method to expand by considering fresh ideas.

Thus, you may distinguish between different aspects of a workshop, seminar, or conference based on your position and goals. 

Conference Vs. Seminar Vs. Workshop: Decision Table

Conference vs Seminar vs Workshop: What’s the Difference?

Seminars are structured more like a speech or learning approach in a classroom. In this method, the lecturer, faculty, or educator delivers a speech or contributes to knowledge with a large group of individuals, like how an instructor addresses a classroom full of students.

The workshop involves hands-on exercises. For example-  The teacher may discuss a learning concept in a workshop. To effectively explain the idea, the coordinator may collect participants into small groups to participate in exercises, pretend, and other hands-on tasks to apply what the attendees learned during the workshop’s address portion.

Conferences frequently feature speeches by well-known speakers and individual sessions where academics present their concepts and data visually.

Additionally, several sessions are running concurrently. This implies that participants must select the sessions they wish to attend.

Seminars bring together small groups for periodic sessions, each focused on a different subject. Everyone present is expected to engage actively. The Instructor prepares visual materials, interactive tools or equipment, and demonstrations to present and discuss the topics.

Workshop s strongly emphasize “hands-on practice” or laboratory work. The lab activity is intended to reinforce, imprint, and bring forward an immediate functional dimension. This is enabled by applying and executing the fundamental concept or method presented throughout the lecture and demonstration process with specific practical applications. 

A conference is a predefined type of assembly where the participants consult and talk on various subjects.

3 . Tone & Communicatio n

Seminars are semi-formal and frequently feature a one-way communication flow.

Workshops are more interactive than the others since both tutors and learners communicate.

Conferences operate in a consultative fashion with a two-way communication road. All participants must offer their opinions on the topic, and a resolution is established.

4 . Role of Speaker

The variety of seminar topics often enables the session facilitator to address a particular audience, such as a professional association or industry.

A workshop is where you may interact personally with your teacher, ask questions, work together, and have a more exclusive experience.

A conference offers the chance to learn more about your professional course through various keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and conferences.

5. Benefits

Seminars are often conversational and led by one or two subject-matter experts. Pricing varies due to their scale and operation. If you want to deepen your understanding of a particular subject because it tends to be more academic, you should focus on lectures and research.

Workshops are typically less expensive and give participants practical skills they may apply. They’re an excellent option if you’re looking to learn new skills and meet new people.

Attending conferences may be pretty expensive, and the rewards are sometimes inconsistent. However, if you’re seeking chances to network or hear from business leaders, a conference is the one to go to.

6 . Type of Activity

A seminar setting could only include the main topic; there might not be any follow-up activities or classes for the attendees to use the knowledge they have learned in class.

Participants can choose from various exercises, courses, and workshop activities .

All members should actively participate and contribute during conferences . It includes communicative activities such as debates and declamations.

7 . Participation of Audience

Seminars often attract substantially larger crowds on the premises. They consist mainly of a specialist educating a group of participants on a certain topic.

Due to the hands-on activities that are a part of the workshop experience, workshops frequently feature smaller crowds of individuals or are divided into fewer groups. 

Conferences  are considerably large. They frequently occur in big conference halls or auditoriums and attract hundreds or thousands of attendees.  

8 . Duration

Seminars are usually brief. They typically last an hour and a half to three hours. 

Workshops are often longer than seminars. They usually last for several days or less, depending on the requirement.

A conference is more extensive than both- seminars and workshops. It comprises a thorough examination of the issue under discussion. Because of the prolonged length, participants are supplied with lodging.

Pros and Cons of Professional Events

1. seminars.

• The instructor can teach modules that build on one another.
• The consolidated block of time aids in focusing users’ attention on the seminar topic.
• Leading a group (e.g., a class or a lab group) contributes to developing a peer support network.
• Users get the knowledge that they may quickly apply to real-world information challenges.
• It is challenging to prevent scheduling conflicts.
• It takes much effort to prepare and deliver

2. Workshops

• Attendees are often very motivated
• Workshops might vary in duration and frequency of sessions.
• Can provide a series of workshops that build on each other
• Participants may have a distinguished understanding of the technical jargon of the subject matter.
• It may not be easy to accommodate all you wish to cover into a single workshop.
• Management of big classes for hands-on practice can be challenging.

3. Conferences

• The conference promotes the interchange of ideas and viewpoints. 
• It fosters communication and networking by incorporating many people from separate organizations.
• Participants gain vital knowledge and learn about other people’s points of view. This broadens delegates’ perspectives on organizational requirements and difficulties.
• The conference contributes to the goodwill of the participating organizations and to the prestige of the organization hosting the conference.
• Confusion ensues if the conference convener is incompetent or the delegates are uncooperative, and the entire exercise is rendered ineffective.
• The conference’s core aim is frequently defeated when a small number of attendees control the whole conversation.
• A conference frequently becomes pointless as it can only offer recommendations. Rarely are any of these proposals followed up with actual action.

Key Takeaway

This blog post should have clarified the differences between conferences, seminars, and workshops. We also hope our blog post will help you decide which option is best for you. All these three communication channels are crucial for the learning process. Seminars enable idea sharing. Workshops allow the dissemination of knowledge from an expert to others eager to learn. A conference is a free forum where experts can agree on conducting business best. In their respective fields of employment, all three are equally crucial.

For more clarity, don’t forget to check out Eventible , where we track the largest group of professionals searching for the finest events (conferences, seminars, or workshops) to attend and provide more information about various professional events. We bring in the efforts from organizers and sponsors and feedback from event attendees to bring transparency and closeness between expectations and results through our platform.

Conference Feedback: Why Is It Important & How To Collect It?

Conference Marketing: A Comprehensive Guide To Making Your Event A Success

Related posts, how event data analytics can help you push event boundaries in 2024, essential elements to consider for your next post-event analysis report, how to budget for event planning: a comprehensive guide for all event organizers, how long should a keynote speech be.

Comments are closed.

Alison Bensch

Senior director of global events, cloudinary, proudest of.

In both cases, we had to figure out how to take what are historically in-person events and translate them into engaging virtual experiences with a team of just two in-house event marketers, counting myself.

ImageCon is our flagship customer summit. In 2021, more than 1,700 people across 107 countries registered for the two-day event, which included 20 virtual sessions designed to help retailers unleash the full potential of their visual media.

Our hosted event series included about 8 virtual events across North America and EMEA markets. To drive up attendance and engagement, we hosted unique virtual cooking and mixology classes, wine tastings, tequila pairings, and more, with celebrity chefs and bartenders such as Marcus Samuelsson, Julio Cabrero, and Amanda Freitag.

Rockstar Mode

ImageCon was a success, in part, because we secured high-quality speakers and focused on providing true value to attendees by creating sessions to optimize their usage of the Cloudinary platform to improve their business. We featured customers in the content by doing customer spotlights. We also improved the production level of the summit by partnering with an agency.

I am proud we were able to pull off a high-quality event of this scale while managing 30 other events for the year.

Prior to the pandemic, our hosted event series consisted of in-person dinners and intimate happy hours. We wanted to recreate these virtually, without making them feel like webinars. We succeeded, in part, because we invested in high-quality talent to attract participants and create fun, memorable moments we probably could not have pulled off in-person.

We also took pains to make the events as easy as possible to attend, for example, by mailing guests meal kits or drink kits with everything they needed to participate. Of course, everything was branded, right down to the salt and pepper. We know our attendees’ time is precious, so we encouraged them to involve their family and were sure to include enough food and/or drink to share.

After the experience, we broke out into small groups, allowing people to network with peers and Cloudinary team members, who led discussions on relevant industry topics. Thus, attendees topped off a great culinary or cocktail experience with valuable learnings that could help their business. In fact, I see us continuing with some of these virtual events even after we have resumed in-person ones.

Our on-demand event content is now a powerful sales enablement tool for our sales team, who share session recordings with prospective customers, as well as existing ones who are considering adding on a new capability. We will continue to measure the performance of this content.

For the hosted events, we evaluate success by measuring pipeline acceleration. So, we consider where event guests are in their consideration process before attending the event. We use the event, and event follow-up, to help move the prospect or customer to the finish line. We usually see prospects who engaged in marketing campaigns were more likely to close, and close faster, than those who did not attend an event.

While this is harder to measure, we know our event series keeps the Cloudinary brand top of mind and deepens our relationship with customers. We document the positive feedback we receive from attendees and sales reps for internal use and marketing purposes.

Survivor Mode

Another challenge was creating an event strategy against a backdrop of so much uncertainty. I have seen industry colleagues invest resources in planning in-person events, only to have to rejigger in the final hour. I made the decision from the onset of the year to plan for virtual events, given our small team and resources. This allowed us to create more effective and engaging virtual events from the start and maximize our budget.

Nothing beats in-person events, and I am excited to be moving forward with these in 2022. But I plan to continue with digital and hybrid events, as well, for a number of reasons. When done right, they can be more memorable than in-person ones, and certainly more convenient. They also allow me to engage people across a wider geographic region (all of Europe for example or across the US), which leads to cost-savings and unique and widened interactions for our attendees.

Annie Yuzzi VP

Global corporate events and experiences, sumo logic, bethany roskin murphy, director of global events, drift, charlene kate ditch, founder, charlene kate events, gabrielle d., global events director, automation anywhere, gerilynn marburger, director, global events, hewlett packard enterprise, hollie ashby, senior manager, cxo and third party events, palo alto networks, lindsey cohen, director- event marketing, snyk, ceo & chief event strategist, liz king events, nicola kastner, vice president, global head of event strategy, sap, rachel russell, field marketing manager, even, samantha calle, associate director, xandr, margaret shaeffer, head of field marketing & events, linearb, traci depuy, head of global events, salesforce, dale rickert, global conference head of greentech festival, matthew lin, head of marketing, beetc, emilie watrob, head of event marketing, zs, katherine leong, director, corporate events, gainsight, sr. director, marketing technology (brand and events), salesforce, karim youssef, creative director, dpw, elizabeth thomas, head of global events, elastic, gerry schneider, vp events at wearedevelopers, director, global events at hewlett packard enterprise, mike kalyan, event and seminar marketing manager, shrm.

LOVE EVENTIBLE?

Disclaimer: If you choose to provide us with your email address or any other personally identifiable information, we will use it only to send you our newsletter or respond to your query.

• Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Conference and Seminar

On the contrary, a seminar implies an academic gathering of people, wherein the attendees are provided information, guidance or training with respect to the specific field of study. There are one or two presenters in the seminar who are subject matter experts. Now let’s talk about the basic differences between conference and seminar.

Content: Conference Vs Seminar

Comparison chart.

Definition of Conference

The conference, as the name suggests is a formally structured meeting of several delegates at an arranged place and scheduled date, which is meant to ‘confer’ something about a subject, usually of common concern to all the persons present or attending it.

In finer terms, conferences are scheduled meetings held for consultation and exchange of information or discussion, which has a certain agenda or motto to serve.

In a conference, keynote presentation is used to provide information to all the attendees. Further, it has a number of short break sessions. It can take place at both small and high level, i.e. the people attending the conference can range from 50 to 1000 or more.

A conference brings those people together who have some shared interest in the topic which is going to be discussed. It is a form of participatory meeting, organised to discuss an issue, find out facts or solve a problem in hand. It usually continues for a few days, where deliberation or exchange of information takes place, on a specific subject or removal of differences takes place.

Definition of Seminar

The seminar can be described as a formal academic instruction session organized by an academic institution for the students or by a professional organization, to educate and guide the participants on a specific topic, or a series of different topics of a subject or convey a message.

There is no limit on the number of people attending the seminar, as it greatly depends on the level in which the seminar is conducted. If it is organized at a high level, then the number of participants will also be high, and vice versa.

The seminar aims at bringing together all the people to whom delivery of guidance or information is a must and a long lecture is given by one or more subject matter experts in the concerned discipline, who are guest speakers. The speaker usually presents and discuss the topic by way of videos, slide shows or other interactive tools.

It is followed by a dialogue, i.e. question-answer session between the participant and experts, which encourages critical thinking and new ideas.

Key Differences Between Conference and Seminar

The difference between conference and seminar is discussed in the points given below:

• Conference refers to a type of get-together conducted formally to convey certain information on a particular topic by way of presentations, speech and deliberation. On the other hand, the seminar can be described as a long hour educational lecture provided to a particular group of people by one or more experts, for conveying information relating to a subject, or a message.
• Seminars are basically interactive session, wherein Socratic dialogue takes place between the expert and the attendees. Conversely, Conferences are consultative in nature, arranged by an organization or committee, aiming to talk about or exchange their views on a specific matter.
• Seminars are held to inform, educate, counsel, guide or train the participants, on a specific subject. As against, conferences are organized at the organizational, national or international level, which objects to present and discuss a certain matter with the attendees and get their opinion and views on that matter.
• In conferences, the participation of the attendees is somewhat limited. On the contrary, in seminars, the people attending it, take an active part in the discussion, by questioning the expert on their doubts, and the expert, in turn, provides a suitable answer to those questions to clear their doubts.
• Conferences are organized at the conference room of the organization, convention centre, or any other place such as hotel meeting space. In contrast, seminars are held at the institution itself, i.e. at the seminar hall if it is conducted on the institute level, however, if it is organized at a high level, a large space is required for sitting and so they are conducted in an auditorium or any other hotel space.
• When it comes to duration seminars lasts for a few hours only, whereas conferences continue for one or more days, wherein there are several breakout sessions.
• In conferences, the topic is presented by the speaker, who give their views to resolve an issue or decide something. On the flip side, in seminars, a lecture is given by the guest speaker, who is an expert in the field to introduce the topic to the participants, after which further discussion takes place between the expert and the participants.

In a nutshell, seminars are academic in nature, whereas conferences are not just academic, they can be held to serve other purposes also, which can be related to business, politics, economy, science, entertainment, sports and so forth, nationally or internationally.

You Might Also Like:

Thalar Awra says

September 1, 2023 at 5:11 pm

useful for us. thanks

lauren lee says

September 15, 2023 at 12:39 pm

The article effectively clarifies the distinctions between conferences and seminars, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the differences between these two types of events.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Is There a Difference Between Presentation and a Lecture?

By: Author Shrot Katewa

The differences between a presentation and a lecture can be subtle. However, there are a number of important factors to consider in how to approach one or the other, which will impact how you formulate your given talk.

The key difference between a presentation and a lecture is that a lecture is mostly given by authority and is typically formal in nature. It is mostly one-way communication. Whereas, a presentation can have an element of demonstration. It allows for collaboration and usually follows a story arc.

While these slight nuances might be hard to grasp, there are important distinctions you will need to make when it comes to preparing for a public speaking engagement. Let’s understand these in detail.

1. Event Format – Series vs Standalone

One of the most important differences between a lecture and a presentation is the context in which it is given. A lecture will generally form part of a larger body of work. This might, for example, be part of a broader series of lectures of which this talk is just one – given by the same speaker or otherwise.

A lecture may also form a particular means of presenting the findings of a book or research paper to an audience.

In contrast, a presentation is generally more likely to be a standalone piece of work. That is not to say that it cannot serve as the culmination of research for a project, but a presentation is typically a one-off event.

Presentations will normally encapsulate the entirety of a concept, idea or theory; relating to a single event, which will make it possible to listen to and understand in isolation.

2. Authority vs Peer-to-Peer

To this end, the purpose of either a presentation or a lecture is an essential element in differentiating between the two. Lectures tend to have an educative purpose. They will often be part of a university module, or a conference.

A lecture is intended to help the audience understand the material. After all, the etymology of the word is one which stems from the Latin word ‘ Lectura ’ or ‘ Legere ’ – meaning to read. As such, a lecture is intended to come from a position of authority, whereby the speaker is telling the listeners about a topic which they are particularly knowledgeable on.

In contrast, a presentation is typically considered to be more peer to peer. Therefore, it is intended for a more specific audience who might have a more vested interest in the content of the discussed material.

Presentations tend to be given in a professional setting, as opposed to an educative one. You might be pitching a new idea, presenting your quarterly reports, or speaking to your department about the company’s plans for the future.

In a university setting you may find that the difference between lectures and presentations lies in the simple matter of who is giving the talk. If it is a Professor, then it will be labelled as a lecture.

Meanwhile, if students are presenting their work or contributing to a seminar then this will be deemed a presentation.

3. In-depth Learning vs Introduction to a Subject

The intended purpose of the presentation will therefore have an impact on the audience who will be listening. This will also affect what they want to gain from listening to your talk and it may also be a reason to change the structure and content of your talk in order to retain their attention.

A lecture, being given in an educative situation, will be intended to teach the listeners about a given topic. Therefore, a lecture will typically develop a layered understanding of the content contained within it. The audience will typically be there to learn, and the lecturer will be aiming to convey their knowledge to the students in as much detail as possible.

It is likely that those listening will be taking notes , which will have an impact on what you include in your script (if you have one), your slides, and how you deliver them. In particular, you don’t want to speak too quickly, and you want to make it as easy as possible for people to take the notes they need throughout your lecture.

In both cases, it is important that you consider who your audience is when you are giving either a lecture or a presentation. But remember, whichever you are giving, you need to tailor its content to suit their needs and wants, in order to maximise your impact on them.

In both lectures and presentations, you ought to consider the fact that the audience may need to participate. In a lecture, this might be more freeform, with listeners interjecting to ask questions. Although, if you do not want this to happen you should address this when you begin and ask for them to restrain until you have finished speaking.

A presentation will typically not allow for interjections, as it is much more of a demonstration than a lesson. You should allow time for questions at the end so that listeners are able to clarify any issues. After all, there may not be a follow up session and either you or they may have to go elsewhere immediately afterwards.

4. Length of a Lecture vs Presentation

The first thing to consider when formulating any presentation is how long will you take to deliver it. Lectures will generally be slightly longer than a presentation – usually lasting somewhere around an hour in length.

Meanwhile, a presentation is typically shorter because the content contained within it requires less depth and provides more on an overview or insight into a topic, rather than an explanation.

In this regard, it is also again important to consider the role of your audience in the formation of your presentation. After all, if you are expecting your audience to take notes which they will go over at a later date, then you should consider how you help them in their note taking.

If you are using slides to support your lecture, you should make sure to include sources and associated reading, so that those who are listening are able to note this down, in order to pursue any further research themselves.

This may also be important if your audience wish to cite your lecture in their research, because if your lecture isn’t also properly cited then they may have issues in doing so.

You should also highlight the most important points throughout and do your best to signpost your audience through every element of your lecture to make it as easy as possible to digest the content you are giving them.

In a presentation, on the other hand, it helps to me more direct with the content you are giving to the audience. They generally only need to know the main points of what you are saying to them and will not often have the need or ability to go and read around the given subject.

To this end, you should also make sure that your presentation is visually appealing and engaging. While a lecture can go without slides, as the content of the spoken argument and information is more important; a presentation requires you to put across what you are saying in the easiest to comprehend fashion.

5. Tonality – Formal vs Informal

A lecture, typically being part of a wider series of work, will have a very different structure to a presentation. It might start by going over the content discussed in the previous lecture, before going on to outline how the next lecture will follow on from this and fit into the wider series.

In this sense, lectures often take a much more academic approach, whereby they are heavily structured, referenced and researched. Particularly in a University context, this is important as students might be being taught about cutting edge research.

Therefore, lecturers need to be able to demonstrate to their students where the information they are giving is from, so that they too can investigate it further.

In contrast, presentations are generally less formal in this regard. The reason for a presentation is much more immediate than you would associate with a lecture.

That is to say, the presentation does not necessarily need to relate to anything that has gone before it or will come after it. It is needed in order to convey information to the audience for the duration of the time in which they are listening to it.

Therefore, while a lecture might follow the Aristotelian method of ‘say what you are going to say, say it, and then say what you said’, a presentation can generally take a more freeform approach – choosing to settle on the significant pieces of information and arriving at a very specific conclusion.

This is not to say a presentation needs to be any less thorough. In a corporate setting in particular, you will need to make sure it is fully supported by the right data and is well structured and argued. However, it doesn’t necessarily need the same academic rigour as a lecture might in a University setting.

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Preparing And Presenting a Seminar - A Guide.

Related Papers

Udeme Usanga

The primary objective of seminar presentation is to enhance presentation skills when persuading, educating, or informing an audience. Specifically, it provides a focus on the fundamental aspects of a quality academic, professional and business communications including structure, preparation and strategy for delivery, using visual aids, and handling question and answer sessions. The presenter/student practices by preparing and delivering an ideal real-life academic/business presentation. Strict adherence to the instructions outlined allows the presenter to evaluate his/her progress and alter any distracting behaviours before and during presentation. It also enables the participant to learn by doing. The aim of this paper is to introduce students to simple principles on how to plan, writs and present their findings as technical conference papers, then act as the mini-conference programme committee members in reviewing each other's submissions. Finally, in addition to the model itself, description of some variations in instantiation and an assessment of the benefits of this general approach and recommendation for adoption by faculties and educators are proffered. Introduction Rarely are the three pillars of academia-research, teaching and service-addressed together, within one intellectually cohesive context in the graduate curriculum. Such a context is important for exposing students to the interrelationships among these facets. Oftentimes, people are confused what a seminar, workshop or conference means. They are sometimes considered to mean the same thing. However, workshop is a brief intensive educational programme for a relatively small group of people that focuses on techniques and skills in a particular field. Seminar on the other hand is a meeting of a group of advanced students studying under a professor/officer with each doing original research and all exchanging results of their findings through reports and discussions. A conference is a meeting of two or more persons/bodies organized for the benefit of discussing matters of common concern, which usually involves formal interchange of views.

Mariela Arredondo

Graduate students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst redesigned their departmental seminar series to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion, and other institutions could do the same.

A Handbook for Clinical Teachers

David Newble

Sarbjeet Khurana

DESCRIPTION A description of a seminar for writing up thesis at HCMC Open university

New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education

Marwa A MED

Lennart Hellspong

Dr.Suraksha Bansal

The term workshop has been borrowed from engineering. There are usually workshops in the engineering. In these workshops persons have to do some task with their hand to produce something, Question Bank Workshops are organized in education to prepare questions on the subject. The designers are given knowledge and training for preparing questions in the workshop. Teaching is a continuum from conditioning to indoctrination and training. The new innovations and practices of education are introduced by organizing workshop in which teachers are trained to use new practices in their teaching learning process. The workshops are organized to develop the cognitive and psychomotor aspects of the learner regarding practices of new innovations in area of education. Participants have to do some practical work to produce instructional teaching and testing material. OBJECTIVE OF WORKSHOP General objective:  To enhance the capabilities of teachers in planning and implementing instruction in teacher...

Helen Abadzi

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

RELATED PAPERS

Kristie Hornsby

General Secretary

Allwood Jens

Malson Nimfa

Fakultas Tarbiyah dan Keguruan IPI

Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

K. Shurpin , Mary Dumas

Peter Malvicini

ECORFAN Journal Republic of Peru

KARINA CONCEPCIÓN GONZÁLEZ HERRERA

The Serials Librarian

Elizabeth Parang

South-East Asian Journal of Medical Education

Abdul Rashid

Ahmed OUARET

Giulia Cavaleri

Anita Murnieks

The Art of the Seminar and the politics of small things

Siobhan Kattago

Seminar: The Monthly Journal

Saagar Tewari , kaushalya bajpayee

IFIP — The International Federation for Information Processing

Peeter Normak

Australasian Journal of Paramedicine

Jamie Ranse

David R Arendale

PLoS Computational Biology

Sangya Pundir , Katrina Pavelin

Eric Kaufman , Marshall Baker , David Jones

ANNALS OF THE ORADEA UNIVERSITY. Fascicle of Management and Technological Engineering.

Ioana Horea

Gül Çalışkan

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

What Is A Seminar, Lecture & Tutorial & What’s The Difference?

If you’re about to enter your first year of uni, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that you’ll be sat in a big lecture hall every single day, taking notes and talking to no one. However, if you’ve just picked up your timetable and thought “what on earth is a seminar or tutorial” then you’ve come to the right place.

If you’re at all nervous about starting uni (we totally get it, it’s a huge step!) then understanding exactly what you’ve signed up for and what to prepare will help you quell some of that anxiety.

We’re here to make sure you can stride into your first lecture, seminar, tutorial, workshop or lab knowing what to expect and that you’re totally prepared for what’s coming next.

If you want to check out what other Freshers are thinking about their first weeks of uni, you need to check out our extensive Freshers Guide on all things first-year uni .

What is a seminar?

First off, not all courses will have seminars, so if it’s not on your timetable, don’t panic. If you’re a humanities student, this will most definitely be on there and you need to prep for them too.

A seminar is generally a lot smaller than a lecture and is a space to work on projects and course materials in smaller groups, discuss topics with your peers and ask your lecturer any questions you have to supplement your lecture notes.

Think of seminars as a space to develop different viewpoints on a topic through conversations with your lecturer and other students. If you study English, for example, you may be discussing the meaning of a certain text. This could be one of the most valuable hours of your week so ensure you come prepared with knowledge on the discussion topic.

You may often be set homework in your lecture that you will then be asked to go through in your seminar. This could be answering questions, ensuring you’ve read a certain book or passage, or preparing a presentation. Some courses will mark you on the quality of your work in these seminars, so ensure you’re attending and putting time into the work.

Equally, if you’re struggling to understand something, seminars are the perfect place to talk through it with your lecturer and other students to ensure you’ve truly grasped the topic.

If you need some help preparing, check out our revision tips and tricks .

What is a lecture?

When you think of university, you will almost definitely be picturing a lecture. We’re talking huge rooms, sometimes with hundreds of students, all furiously scribbling (or typing) as a lecturer goes through slides at the front of the hall.

A lecture is defined as an educational talk to an audience, often a group of students. During a lecture, your lecturer will speak on a specific topic to a large number of students who are expected to listen and take notes on the talk.

This talk is often accompanied by visuals such as a presentation and can last anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. Nowadays, you may not even have to attend in person, with most lectures being recorded and uploaded to an online platform that you’ll have access to.

If you struggle to stay focused while watching online, however, you might benefit from attending the lecture in person. You can also speak to your lecturer at the end of the talk to ask any follow-up questions.

Make sure you have everything you need to take stunning lecture notes by reading through our uni essentials checklist .

What is a tutorial?

A tutorial is normally a small group or one-to-one session with your tutor. Depending on your university, these may be every week or more sporadic and you may need to email your tutor or lecturer to book in time to see them during their office hours.

Tutorials are the perfect time to talk through any trouble you’re having or to go through some of your work together to get feedback on where you can improve. This could be talking through a recent essay or asking for an extension if you’re struggling with your mental health.

Tutors and lecturers have office hours for a reason and that reason is to help you, so make the most of them. Getting some extra support to improve your work could mean reaching a higher grade overall, so it’s worth a trip to see them even if you’re not struggling.

What other types of study groups are there at uni?

Depending on your course, you could have a whole host of other classes including practicals, workshops, labs and even field trips. Your university will give you plenty of information on how to prepare for these but we’ve given a brief outline of what each of these classes may consist of below.

Workshops can be another name for seminars and are essentially small classes with a lecturer where you may take on anything from practical projects and tasks to discussions around the course material. Your lecturer will often give you homework to prepare for these sessions but expect them to be a lot more hands-on and involved than your lectures.

Laboratory sessions

If you study any kind of scientific subject from engineering to medicine, then you’ll most likely have some time in a laboratory. Laboratory sessions (labs) usually consist of practising skills relating to your degree, such as medical procedures or working with other students to conduct experiments. Equally, you could be writing code, collecting data, or designing engineering projects and prototypes.

Field Trips

You may already have carried out field trips depending on what you studied before university but this is generally where you get off-campus to carry out research or receive training in field and laboratory techniques relating to your course.

Field trips are usually associated with environmental studies such as Geography or Geology and can therefore be to study phenomena such as river bank erosion or sedimentation. Equally, if you study a course such as archaeology, you may take a field trip to a dig site to learn archaeological procedures and skills.

Whether you’re in your first year or final year, don’t forget to check out our blog for tons more student advice and hacks .

You may also be interested in...

Student Housing 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Finding the Perfect Place to Live

Struggling to understand the world of student housing? Our guide offers you tips and advice on how to find the perfect place to live.

16 Ways To Get Cheap & Free Textbooks In The UK

Have every book you need without blowing through your student loan. So, your student loan...

6 Tips To Successfully Navigate Intimacy & Dating During Freshers Week

How to successfully navigate every single sex and dating situatioon during freshers week with the help of Lovehoney.

How To Use A Washing Machine (So You Look Like You Know How to Adult)

Everything you need to know when using a washing machine. If you’ve got this far...

Graduating This Year? Here’s How You Can Secure Your First Job After Uni.

With 1 in 3 students feeling less than confident when it comes to applying for jobs after uni, we've gathered top tips to help you find your dream job.

11 Best Study Apps For Students

If you need a productivity boost, tips for nailing your exam revision or even want help taking notes, there's an app for that. Discover our top 11 best study apps.

How Do Uni Grade Boundaries Work?

Working out uni grade boundaries can be a lot to get your head around. Keep reading to find out how they work and how they calculate your final grade.

How To Cope With Feeling Lonely At University

Feeling lonely at university? Sounds ironic, but you're not alone in feeling that way. Here's how other students coped with loneliness.

Bed Sheet Hygiene 101: Here’s How Often You Should Change Your Bed Sheets

That age-old question: how often should you change your sheets ? Find out with our bed sheet hygiene 101 guide.

What is Ticker car insurance and will it cut costs for new drivers?

If you've held a driving licence for less than 5 years, you might be able to save big with Ticker insurance. Here's what you need to know...

Cheap First Cars To Insure for New Drivers

These are the top cheap first cars to insure for new and young drivers. Read on for our low insurance group picks of this year.

Try These 5 Things To Help With Colder Darker Days

If you’re not a winter person, we hear you. While winter might have Christmas, Halloween...

• Conferences
• Exhibitions / Fairs
• Career Advice
• Study Advice
• Study Abroad
• Work Abroad
• 📖 Directory

All Categories

• Digitization
• All Economics and Social Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Agricultural Science
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Biology
• Cell Biology
• Microbiology
• Bioinformatics / Computational
• All Life Sciences
• Aerospace Engineering
• Automotive Engineering
• Architectual Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Construction Engineering
• Electrical & Electronics Engineering
• Engineering Design
• Environmental & Energy Engineering
• Geo & Agricultural Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Materials & Metallurgical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics & Robotics
• Mining & Minerals Engineering
• Process & Logistics Engineering
• Project Engineering
• Quality Engineering
• Safety & Systems Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Engineering & Business
• General Engineering
• All Engineering
• Computer Science
• Software Development
• All IT/Software Engineering
• All Tech & Engineering
• Biomedicine
• Biotech / Biomedical Engineering
• Public Health
• Human Medicine
• Physiotherapy
• Veterinary Medicine
• Dietetics / Nutrition
• Oncology / Cancer Research
• Clinical Medicine
• All Medicine & Health
• Mathematics
• Earth Science
• Materials Science
• All Physical Science & Mathematics
• Art & Art History
• Cultural Studies
• Communications & Design
• Media Studies
• Dance, Theatre & Film Studies
• Applied Linguistics
• Computational & Quantitative Linguistics
• Neurolinguistics
• Cognitive Linguistics
• Psycholinguistics
• Sociolinguistics
• Historical Linguistics
• Ethnolinguistics/Anthropological Linguistics
• Dialectology
• Philosophy of Language
• Other/General Linguistics
• All Language Studies & Linguistics
• Literature & Creative Writing
• Archaeology
• Theology & Religeous Studies
• Sociology & Anthropology
• All Art & Humanities

All Disciplines

• All Conferences
• All Workshops
• All Exhibitions / Fairs
• All 📖 Directory

What's the difference between a conference, a seminar, a workshop and a symposium?

Read a summary or generate practice questions using the INOMICS AI tool

There are lots of different types of academic event that you might want to attend, such as conferences, seminars, workshops and symposiums. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, and generally they have a different slant. Size, for instance, is usually a big factor in whether something is regarded as a conference or a symposium. Usually the difference between a conference and a symposium is that a conference will be a larger event and a symposium a smaller one.

This article was originally published on Conference Monkey and has been syndicated to our sister websites.   If you're looking for a conference to head to this year, check out our conference listings  on Conference Monkey.

Moreover, the difference between a conference and a seminar may be that a conference has a more general theme with a focus on presentations and lectures, whereas a workshop is usually more specific and hands-on, so to speak.

However, as we'll see there are grey areas between these types of events, and the line isn't always clear. Really, what's important is that everyone has a good time and learns something.

Nonetheless, it's good to know exactly what you're getting into, especially if you're actually presenting a paper or giving a lecture. So let's dive into the specific differences between a conference, a seminar, a workshop, and a symposium.

What's a conference?

Conferences tend to be the largest events vs. smaller workshops and seminars. They can number anywhere between fifty attendees to thousands of attendees, and the largest may host even more visitors that that. You'll come across both national and international conferences – national conferences are typically attended primarily by people living within the country which is hosting the event, while international conferences can attract visitors from all over the world.

Conferences tend to be the most prestigious forms of events as well, so they are the place where you most want the opportunity to present your work as a talk or as a poster. Speaking of which, conferences will usually involve a number of talks by prominent speakers in addition to poster sessions where researchers present their ideas and data in a visual format. When you attend a poster session, you can walk around and look at each of the different posters and stop to chat or to ask questions of the presenter as well. Presenters will stand next to their poster and will often have a short 5-10 minute explanation of the poster which they will give to anyone who asks.

If the conference is a large one, you will find concurrent events. This means that there might be two, four, or even more talks happening at the same time in different locations. You need to be organised to find out when and where the talks you want to see are being held, and you should make good use of your conference timetable which will hold all of this information.

If you're planning on attending a conference this year, check out our insight into 10 hacks for a better conference experience .

What's a seminar?

The difference between a seminar and a workshop is that a seminar tends to be held within one institution or university, and will often a seminar will be a small group of people – say, between five and ten attendees – who come together to focus on a particular issue. Often seminars will be less formally structured than conferences, so one person might give a presentation but it will probably be brief. There is more of a focus on discussion at these events, so do feel free to chime in with your thoughts on the topic at hand.

Another difference between a seminar and a conference is that while conferences usually last for between a few days and a week, seminars will be much shorter. They may be for an hour or two in the afternoon rather than lasting all day. Some departments will organise regular seminars, so for example you might meet on the first Monday of every month.

Seminars are a great place to test out some new ideas or theories that you've been thinking about but aren't 100% confident with yet. If you're working on a concept or an idea for an experiment but you want to hear some feedback on it before you develop it further, offer to present it at a seminar. This kind of small group is perfect for getting honest feedback and you might even get some suggestions for improvements to your ideas.

Check out our insight into  tips for a more interesting and memorable conference presentation  if you're planning on presenting at any of these types of events this year.

What's a workshop?

The difference between a workshop and a conference is that workshops are generally smaller than conferences, and are usually only a day or two long and are dedicated to discussing a specific topic. Although these events are held as part of a department, you will often find outside visitors who attend them too.

The atmosphere is somewhere between a seminar and a conference, meaning it is less structured than a conference but more formal than a seminar. Workshops are also sometimes more diverse in terms of attendees than other events. You'll find people from different departments and fields attending workshops together, and you may find non-academics such as journalists or people in business will attend too. The best workshops have a specific, action-oriented purpose, and aim to generate some concrete answers to current problems in the field. Workshops are a good opportunity to learn new skills and to familiarise yourself with a topic you don't know well.

If this piece has inspired you to apply to a conference, workshop, symposium or seminar, read our piece on  how to get accepted to an academic conference .

What's a symposium?

The main difference between a symposium and a conference is that a symposium tends to be similar to a conference, but smaller. The definition of a symposium isn't completely clear – the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary describes it simply as 'a small conference'. However, similarly to a workshop, a symposium tends to focus on a particular issue rather than a more general theme. Generally a number of experts will come together in order to present their ideas and papers to one another.

Similar to a conference in that the focus is on presentations and lectures, and less hands-on than a workshop, a symposium is typically completed in a single day. Symposiums may be more prestigious than a conference, with an emphasis on experts presenting their work and occasionally discussing it afterwards (though not to the extent of a seminar). Finally, symposiums will generally be smaller than a conference.

Saying all this, it's likely you'll visit a symposium that seems more like conference and a workshop that could easily be called a seminar. The difference isn't always clear, and there's usually some grey area. What's important is that you learn something while you are there, and get to listen to some of the leading experts in their fields discuss their work.

• conference attendee
• James Matthew Alston

Related Items

2024 Asia-Pacific Conference on Economics and Finance ‘LIVE’ (APEF 2024)

International order or disorder: marginal adjustments or reformation with the global south.

IARIW-WB-CIEM Conference on Improving Well-being Measurement in Developing Countries for Better Evidence-based Policies

Featured announcements, 2024 asia-pacific conference on economics and finance ‘live’ (apef…, mirdec 23rd barcelona 2024 conference, call for papers: emanes annual conference 2024, wits global fintech conference, 37th rsep international conference on economics, finance and business, simtiha ishaq mir, upcoming deadlines.

• Oct 11, 2024 MIRDEC 23rd Barcelona 2024 Conference

INOMICS AI Tools

The INOMICS AI can generate an article summary or practice questions related to the content of this article. Try it now!

An error occured

Please try again later.

3 Practical questions, generated by our AI model

For more questions on economics study topics, with practice quizzes and detailed answer explanations, check out the INOMICS Study Guides.

Login to your account

Email Address

Forgot your password? Click here.

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

Partner Center

• Topical Forums »

Education and Science

What is the difference between presentation and seminar?

Seminal is a short course during which you can show more then one presentation.

For me a presentation is where you usually reveal your position on a particular subject. The expectation is that  the presenter is the expert. Questions are expected, but only at the end of the presentation. A seminar, on the otherhand, is where a group will discuss a topic or particular subject and contributions are expected throughout the procedure. It is more shared and collective.

Difference between Seminar and Presentation. Seminar is constructed on a theme whereas presentation is based on any topic. There can be a lot of presentations in a seminar. A seminar can be whole day event while a presentation is short and on specific topic. In brief, a presentation can be a subcategory of a seminar.

seminar is a scheduled presentation in which only few people of high designation are requested to speak ...rest all the students ,teachers , researchers are only allowed to ask questions in the end. while in presentation like paper presentations,picture or poster presentations..the students , researchers or there junior fellows are allowed to present and the people like judges come there to judge it and give rewards....

Excellent summation.

This was question asked to me by my teacher clearly i have got some very good answers.

Both are means of delivering information, thus tools for 'learning'. Both can be delivered by one or more speakers, and are derivatives of lecturing, and often boring. A narrow topic presentation is usually fact-filled and as such contains the ‘meat’ of the topic sandwich. Al Gore is an example through his presentation of “Climate Change”, which is often excerpted within green technology seminars and conferences. The hierarchy of oral delivery of information can be described as discussion groups (moderator, open floor or table discussions), presentations (narrow topic, usually single expert speaker, audience participation usually reserved to the end), lectures (single expert speaker, Q&A at the end), seminar (wider topic, one or more expert speakers, audience participation throughout the seminar), and conference (widest topic, containing multiple discussion groups, presentations, lectures, and seminars, often concurrently). None of these terms have precise definitions, and vary considerably by context. For example, a seminar has a different meaning in the professional trades and academia, and even from one university to another. Presentations are even less well defined because they can be used to inform, as described above, or to persuade as in a sales presentation, or to influence, as in a political candidate’s presentation of views.

Presentation is a gift and seminar is a conversation.

I believe a presentation is something in which a speaker presents an idea or product to a group of people. A seminar is more of a discussion regarding a topic.

A presentation requires you to address a gathering of people and speak your mind whereas a seminar requires you to have more interactions. A presentation is usually done alone whereas a seminar often has a panel of speakers.

Presentation means showing a topic on a screen Seminar means spelling out the topic with and without screen

Related Discussions

What is the Difference Between "On your mind" and "In your mind"?

by Rohan Jagtap 6 years ago

What is the Difference Between "On your mind" and "In your mind"?Facebook asks you in its status box, "What's on your mind?". What is the exact meaning of it? If I am talking about my current thoughts in this moment, then I should say in my mind.. right!? or Can I also...

In your culture, what’s the difference between breakfast, lunch, supper, and din

by ngureco 10 years ago

In your culture, what’s the difference between breakfast, lunch, supper, and dinner?At what time of the day is each meal taken?

What's the difference between a matador and a toreador?

by Jeff Berndt 12 years ago

What's the difference between a matador and a toreador?The words get used almost as synonyms in English, but are they also synonymous in Spanish?

What is the difference between a patty and a cutlet?

by Ishwaryaa Dhandapani 12 years ago

What is the difference between fantasizing and daydreaming?

by 6hotfingers3 14 years ago

What's the difference between a sun dried tomato and a regular tomato?

by cashmere 12 years ago

What's the difference between a sun dried  tomato and a regular tomato?

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Advertising

Copyright © 2024 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. HubPages ® is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website.

Arts and Design

Books, literature, and writing, business and employment, entertainment and media, family and parenting, fashion and beauty, food and cooking, games, toys, and hobbies, gender and relationships, holidays and celebrations, home and garden, hubpages tutorials and community, personal finance, pets and animals, politics and social issues, religion and philosophy, sports and recreation, travel and places.

• Editorial Policy

Copyright © 2024 Maven Media Brands, LLC and respective owners.

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Symposium vs. Conference: What's the Difference & How to Plan One

Discover the difference between a symposium and a conference, and get tips on how to plan the ideal in-person or virtual event format.

Written by Brillixa Herdhiana

Deciding between a symposium and a conference for your next in-person or virtual event? Both can set the stage for an engaging event, but it's important to choose the right format for your organization and audience.

In this article, we'll explore key differences between a symposium, a conference, and similar formats. We'll also cover essential steps for planning both event types—including how to maximize audience engagement.

Online Training Toolkit for Healthcare Professionals

Download Livestorm's virtual training templates for healthcare professionals. Set up and prepare your training sessions like a pro.

What's the difference between a symposium and a conference?

What is a symposium, and is it the same as a conference? These two terms are often used interchangeably, as they both refer to formal business or academic gatherings.

However, they are completely different types of events. Let's compare symposium vs. conference in terms of scope, timeframe, size, and other defining elements.

Purpose and scope of a symposium and a conference

A conference is a large-scale event with numerous sessions—often with many occurring simultaneously. Whether you host a business or academic conference, it typically has a unifying theme, but individual sessions can cover a wide range of related topics.

In contrast, a symposium is a small-scale event with a much narrower focus. For example, the healthcare industry and academic institutions often host research-based symposia.

Organization and submissions

Symposiums have a background in academia. They often require potential participants to pitch topics or submit research papers. The symposium's organizers then approve the most promising topics.

Conferences also tend to have an application or submission process for presenters. The conference's organizers then assign speakers to individual presentations or themed group sessions.

Audience interaction during a symposium and a conference

At a symposium, speakers have dedicated time to present their research. After these presentations, symposiums usually invite audience questions and allow networking. As a result, symposiums tend to be more informal.

Conferences are generally more formal, but they can include many different types of session formats. For example, panel discussions focus on conversations between presenters, but workshops encourage audience engagement.

Event timeframe

As a general rule, symposiums have a more defined timeframe, as they happen over the course of a single day. In many cases, they can be shorter. For example, a conference may include multiple half-day symposiums.

In contrast, conferences have much more flexible timeframes. While they can certainly last for just one day, many take place over the course of multiple days or even a week.

Audience size

Of the two event types, conferences tend to be much larger. They may welcome hundreds of attendees, who may attend various sessions happening simultaneously.

Symposiums tend to be smaller. They often take place in a single room, which limits the size of in-person events. Virtual symposiums have the potential to be larger.

How do conferences and symposiums compare to other event formats?

Whether you're planning an in-person or virtual event, you have plenty of format options. Here's how other common event types compare to symposiums and conferences.

The difference between a seminar and a symposium and conference

A seminar is similar to a symposium, as it's an educational event that balances a formal presentation with informal discussion. However, both in-person and virtual seminars tend to focus more on training and less on sharing research.

What is the difference with a roundtable?

A roundtable is a conversation-based event that welcomes both speakers and audience members to participate. Of all event types, roundtables have one of the most informal formats, as they invite discussion from all perspectives.

How is a panel discussion different from a symposium or a conference?

Similar to roundtables, panel discussions are designed to create conversations. However, panels usually focus more on discussions between presenters and moderators. Conferences may include panel discussions as individual sessions.

What is the difference with a workshop?

Like a seminar, a workshop centers on training and education. However, workshops tend to be the most hands-on event formats. Both in-person and virtual workshops show attendees how to complete tasks and often include interactive components.

How to plan a symposium

Organizing a symposium or conference is easier when you have a framework to follow. Follow these steps to host a successful virtual or in-person event.

1. Decide on a topic or theme

Whether you're planning a symposium or a conference, this first step is similar. Begin by choosing a central topic or theme for the event . How exactly?

First, identify trending topics or themes in your professional or academic field. To choose between two compelling topics or to narrow down a longer list, then poll potential audience members and presenters.

Asking the audience isn't a requirement, but it can help you get buy-in from your audience. It can also help you eliminate topics with little interest and focus on themes with more positive responses.

2. Collect submissions

Once you've chosen the main topic for the event, publish a call for submissions in your professional or academic community. Explain the core theme and any sub-topics, and clarify the kind of presentation that would be ideal for the event.

Many conference and symposium organizers put out open calls for submissions. However, if you have specific speakers in mind, make sure to connect with them directly.

3. Choose speakers

Work with your fellow event organizers to evaluate the submissions and choose the most promising speakers . There's no one way to select speakers, but these guidelines can help:

• Consider presenters who are well-known in the field and may draw a larger audience.
• Look for speakers with underrepresented viewpoints to cover a wider range of perspectives.
• Choose speakers with topics on similar themes so you can create a coherent schedule.

4. Confirm keynotes

If you're planning a symposium, skip ahead to the next step. But if you're organizing a conference, take time to plan at least one keynote speech. You may even want to plan one for each day of the event.

Keynote speeches clarify the main theme of the conference or the day's sessions. Experienced speakers or established members of the field generally deliver keynotes, which often attract large audiences.

Keynotes can be major selling points for the entire event , making them important to get right. Rather than relying on submissions, create a shortlist of potential keynote speakers and reach out to them individually.

5. Plan the event schedule

Once you've sent invitations to presenters and any keynote speakers, organize the event schedule.

For a symposium, the schedule will be relatively straightforward. In most cases, you'll plan a single series of presentations during a single day. Make sure to save time for panel discussions and networking.

For a conference, the schedule will be much more complex . Depending on the scope and size of the event, you may need to plan simultaneous sessions across multiple days. If you intend to include various formats—such as seminars or workshops—take care to balance the event types throughout the day.

6. Promote the event

After confirming the speakers and schedule, promote the event to your community. If you're planning a virtual symposium or conference, a platform like Livestorm can make the promotion process seamless.

With Livestorm, you can create custom registration pages that you can link to from your website, social media posts, email marketing content, or community forums.

Once attendees register for the event, Livestorm can handle email reminders automatically. With custom email sequences, you can encourage attendees to add the event to their calendar and boost attendance.

7. Design the event room

Whether you're planning a multi-day conference or a single-day symposium, branding is an essential touch for the event space . With Livestorm integrations like the custom design app, you can change the look of the room and add your company or institutional logo.

8. Host a dry run with guest speakers

Because symposiums and conferences are relatively formal events, it's important to give speakers an opportunity to practice in advance . By hosting a dry run in Livestorm, you can show presenters:

• How the event software works, including controls and technical checks
• What to expect when presenting and how to pace webinar content
• How to interact with other speakers and attendees
• What to do in case of technical difficulties

9. Prepare questions and polls for viewers

Audience engagement tends to work a little differently for conferences vs. symposiums. However, both can benefit from viewer interaction, which can make events more meaningful for audience members.

With Livestorm, you can host live question and answer sessions with speakers, which is ideal for symposiums. The live polls feature can engage conference attendees, gather feedback, and provide ideas for future discussions.

10. Distribute the on-demand replay

Once the conference or symposium ends, the event still has the potential to generate tons of value. For example, you can:

• Distribute the event recordings to attendees so they can catch up on content they missed or rewatch their favorite sessions.
• Turn on-demand replays into lead magnets that build your community while promoting the expertise of your speakers.

Livestorm for your next virtual symposium or conference

Planning a virtual symposium or conference can be much easier than you might think. With a live events streaming platform like Livestorm, you can run truly international conferences or symposiums with speakers and attendees from across the globe.

From promotion to streaming to engagement, Livestorm can set your event up for success. Here's how:

• Pre-built registration pages and automated email sequences to increase attendance
• Browser-based virtual event platform that anyone can use without a download
• Interaction features like polls and live Q&As to keep viewers engaged
• On-demand recordings to distribute and repurpose after the event

When you use Livestorm to organize symposiums and conferences, you can do more than just host a webinar . With our virtual event platform, you can share knowledge, connect your community, and create real value for viewers.

The virtual training templates for healthcare professionals [Toolkit]

Download the virtual training templates for healthcare professionals

About the author

Brillixa Herdhiana - Growth Manager

Brillixa joined Livestorm as Growth Manager in 2021. Her experience enables her to contribute to business growth through lead generation from ads and organic channels.

Related articles

KOL Engagement: Guide to Creating High-Impact Pharma Events

How to Create a Winning Pharma Product Launch Strategy

HCP Engagement: What It Is & How to Build a Digital Strategy

How a top medical device company improved webinar outcomes with Livestorm

How to Deliver a CME Course (+ Tips for a Great Virtual Course)

12 Virtual Training Best Practices: How to Keep Your Team Engaged and Motivated

Keep in touch with Livestorm news and updates

Seminar vs Workshop: How to Tell The Difference

There are several different types of events you can host to provide your guests with important information and knowledge. Depending on the goals you have for your event , one type of event may work better than the other. Both seminars and workshops are  educational for the attendees, but they do have a few differences! Let’s do a comparison of seminars vs workshops.

What is a seminar? 

A seminar is a smaller event that is focused on a single topic. According to a Global Meetings & Events Forecast , 21% of event professionals believed small and simple meetings would be the most common types of meetings in 2021. Seminars usually have a panel of industry experts who will educate the attendees on the topic at hand. At the end of the seminar, the guests will have an opportunity to ask questions and engage with both the panelists and other guests. 

What is a workshop?

A workshop is a hands-on learning experience for your attendees. They are able to learn new skills and then practice those skills in real-time. According to a collection of statistics from Visme , 65% of consumers say they better understand a product or service from live events. If your guests have any questions about the new skills they have learned, they are able to ask the workshop instructor immediately. These skills that the guests learn can be based on a new product or service, and everyone attending the workshop will all have the same training, so there will be no confusion or miscommunication.

Seminars vs workshops: how they’re alike

Seminars and workshops have a few similarities! While they differ slightly in a few areas, there are some similarities between the two events:

While the formal definition of a seminar and a workshop is different, both types of events are opportunities for learning and education. Both seminars and workshops are typically based around guests who work in skill-based professions. The education and the learning never stops and your guests even have the opportunity to earn a certificate ! The training and education that happens within the seminars and workshops can certify your guests in the field you are educating them in. 

As discussed above, seminars and workshops are for training and educating your guests on the topic at hand. Both seminars and workshops can have a certain topic that the speakers are going to cover, and your guests are likely to attend because they have a genuine interest in the topic. The topic for seminars and workshops can change every time there is a demand for it, so you may have a new audience for each type of event every time. 

Both seminars and workshops are relatively informal, with guests being encouraged to ask questions and engage with everyone. For example, conferences are formal and the guests don’t have an opportunity to engage with their guest speakers . Seminars and workshops are focused on the attendees learning and asking questions to the industry experts hosting the events . Your guests may have all different types of questions, so the hosts should take as many questions as time allows. 

Seminars and workshops are both events that can be done in just one day. Seminars usually last an hour or two, with the speakers presenting their information, followed by a Q&A session at the end. Workshops can also be done in one day, but they might run a little longer than a seminar. Workshops can be used to explain how to use a new product or a service, so it might take some time to give an overview on how the guests can use the product correctly. 

The formats of seminars and workshops can be done in a presentation or demonstration style, which is the best way to teach and present information and knowledge to your guests. As we have seen over the past few years, both seminars and workshops are able to be held either in-person or online! 

Seminars and workshops are usually on the smaller side of events. There can be any number of guests attending your events, but the smaller, the better! This allows guests to fully grasp the information being presented, and it allows for every question the guests have to be addressed. In terms of workshops, the presenters of the new product or service can take the time to thoroughly explain the product or service, ensuring that the guests fully understand what they’re learning. If you have a larger group during your event, not everyone will grasp the topic at hand and they may fall through the cracks. For event planners that use KPIs for event success, attendee satisfaction is an important factor.

Seminars vs workshops: how they’re different 

Master the art of seminars and workshops 

Seminars and workshops are similar in the way that they present their guests with knowledge and information. Workshops are more of a hands-on experience, rather than an information presentation like a seminar. Both types of events are geared towards the education of the guests, just in different ways! If you want your guests to have a more hands-on approach to learning about a new product or service, then you can host a workshop. All of your guests can have the same training at the same time, and the workshop can even be recorded to use as a reference tool in the future.

Seminars can also be recorded and shared with any guest who registered but couldn’t attend. Whichever type of event you choose, you can be sure your guests will leave the seminar or workshop full of the knowledge you have developed for them. Planning to host a virtual seminar or a workshop? Hubilo will ensure that your attendees have a fine experience and want to return to the next event by hosting engaging and informative seminars and workshops. Reach out to us to book a demo! 

Maximize performance with Hubilo's Webinar+

Related posts

Webinars vs. seminars: are webinars going to steal the show.

There are many benefits to hosting events like webinars and seminars. If you’re not sure which event to host, we can help! We’ll go through all the differences between the two.

How to Plan A Workshop Event?

Give people the chance to learn a new skill or new information by hosting a workshop! We’ll cover the top tips and tricks to organize a workshop that’s informative and fun for everyone.

10 High Impact Workshop Event Ideas

Workshops are a great way to learn new skills and meet new connections. If you’re thinking about hosting a workshop event, read on to learn 10 workshop ideas!

Hubilo is the webinar platform built for marketers that helps you 2X your pipeline. Founded in 2015, Hubilo's powerful engagement features, dedicated client experience team, and custom branding tools have helped create over 12K virtual events & webinars, creating hundreds of millions of minutes of high-engagement experiences and counting. Headquartered in Bengaluru and San Francisco, Hubilo's 200+ employees are dedicated to enabling webinars & virtual events that convert.

Stay connected with us.

Discover how Hubilo's Webinar+ can help you 2X your pipeline

Who are you

Seminar vs. Workshop

What's the difference.

A seminar and a workshop are both forms of educational or professional gatherings, but they differ in their format and purpose. A seminar is typically a lecture-style event where an expert or speaker presents information on a specific topic to a group of participants. It is more focused on knowledge sharing and providing insights on a particular subject. On the other hand, a workshop is a more interactive and hands-on session where participants actively engage in activities, discussions, and exercises to learn and develop specific skills. Workshops are often more practical and aim to provide participants with practical tools and techniques that they can apply in their work or personal lives.

Further Detail

Introduction.

When it comes to learning and professional development, seminars and workshops are two popular formats that offer valuable knowledge and skills. Both seminars and workshops provide opportunities for individuals to enhance their understanding and expertise in a specific subject area. While they share similarities in terms of their educational objectives, there are distinct differences in their format, structure, and level of interactivity. In this article, we will explore the attributes of seminars and workshops, highlighting their unique characteristics and benefits.

A seminar is typically a lecture-style event where an expert or a panel of experts present information on a specific topic to an audience. Seminars are often held in large conference rooms or auditoriums, accommodating a significant number of participants. The primary purpose of a seminar is to disseminate knowledge and provide insights on a particular subject matter.

During a seminar, the presenter(s) usually deliver a prepared presentation using visual aids such as slides, charts, or videos. The audience members listen attentively and take notes to absorb the information being shared. Seminars are often structured to allow for a question-and-answer session at the end, where participants can seek clarification or further discuss the topic with the presenter(s).

One of the key advantages of seminars is the opportunity to learn from experts in the field. Seminars often feature renowned speakers who possess extensive knowledge and experience in the subject matter. This allows participants to gain valuable insights and perspectives that may not be readily available elsewhere. Additionally, seminars provide a platform for networking and connecting with like-minded individuals who share similar interests or professional goals.

However, seminars are typically less interactive compared to workshops. The format is primarily focused on one-way communication, with limited opportunities for active participation or hands-on learning. While participants can ask questions during the Q&A session, the level of engagement is generally lower compared to workshops.

A workshop, on the other hand, is a more interactive and participatory learning experience. It is designed to provide hands-on training, practical skills development, and collaborative problem-solving. Workshops are often conducted in smaller groups, allowing for a more intimate and engaging environment.

During a workshop, participants actively engage in various activities, exercises, and discussions related to the topic at hand. The facilitator(s) play a crucial role in guiding the participants through the learning process, encouraging active participation, and fostering a collaborative atmosphere. Workshops often involve group work, case studies, role-playing, and other interactive techniques to enhance the learning experience.

One of the key advantages of workshops is the opportunity for participants to apply the knowledge and skills they acquire in real-time. Through hands-on activities and practical exercises, participants can gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter and develop their problem-solving abilities. Workshops also promote peer learning and knowledge sharing, as participants can learn from each other's experiences and perspectives.

However, workshops may not always feature experts as facilitators. While facilitators are knowledgeable in the subject area, their role is more focused on guiding the learning process rather than delivering expert lectures. This can be seen as a disadvantage for individuals seeking in-depth insights from renowned experts.

When comparing seminars and workshops, several key attributes differentiate the two formats:

• Format: Seminars are typically lecture-style events, while workshops are more interactive and participatory.
• Size: Seminars often accommodate a larger audience, while workshops are conducted in smaller groups.
• Learning Style: Seminars focus on one-way communication, while workshops emphasize hands-on learning and collaboration.
• Expertise: Seminars feature renowned experts as presenters, while workshops may have facilitators with expertise in guiding the learning process.
• Engagement: Seminars offer limited opportunities for active participation, while workshops encourage active engagement and interaction.
• Application: Seminars provide valuable knowledge and insights, while workshops allow participants to apply their learning in practical scenarios.
• Networking: Seminars offer networking opportunities with like-minded individuals, while workshops promote peer learning and knowledge sharing.

In conclusion, both seminars and workshops serve as valuable platforms for learning and professional development. Seminars provide an opportunity to gain insights from renowned experts, while workshops offer a more interactive and hands-on learning experience. The choice between attending a seminar or a workshop depends on individual preferences, learning objectives, and the desired level of engagement. Ultimately, both formats contribute to personal and professional growth, allowing individuals to expand their knowledge, skills, and network within their respective fields.

Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.

Webinar vs Seminar: Difference and Comparison

Sharing is caring!

With the never-stopping development of technology, there has been a paradigm shift in a few aspects of life. Social media, commercials, and even education have changed leaving the essence of one-to-one teaching to virtual classes.

One significant shift that affected these aspects with great impact is the shift from seminars to webinars.

These two terms represent the collective learning or understanding about a topic but the difference arises in the way these events are held.

Key Takeaways Webinars are online video conferencing events, while seminars are in-person gatherings for educational or training purposes. Webinars allow for wider participation from various locations, whereas seminars require physical presence at a specific location. Webinars can be recorded and accessed later, while seminars offer real-time interaction and networking opportunities.

Webinar vs Seminar

A webinar is an online event or presentation that happens in real-time, allowing for interaction between the presenter and the audience through a virtual platform. A seminar is an in-person gathering for academic instruction or business discussion, held in educational or professional settings.

Similar Reads

• Conference vs Seminar: Difference and Comparison
• Lecture vs Seminar: Difference and Comparison
• Workshop Seminar Symposium vs Conference: Difference and Comparison
• Webinar vs WebEx: Difference and Comparison
• Webinar vs Webcast: Difference and Comparison

A webinar Is an interactive event held online hosted by a company or organization for broadcasting to a selective group of people through their system via the internet.

Sometimes, a webinar is also referred to as an online event, webcast, or web seminar. The main objective of organizing a webinar is to instruct, demonstrate or educate the masses.

A seminar is a kind of social gathering held by an academic institution or business organization for educating the masses about certain things.

The sole purpose of such gatherings is to come together and discuss the stated topic and share information with others. Seminars are held with small groups of people mainly students.

Comparison Table

What is a Webinar?

A webinar Is an event held virtually using telecommunication services and technologies.

Webinars are instructive and are academically based or a general meeting involving audio-video interactions between the host and the participants.

The aim of organizing a webinar is always to communicate with the audience, be it for educating them about the product or service of the company, the status of the company or to teach students about certain necessary information or data as a part of their organized curriculum, webinars have always proven to be a helpful tool to everyone.

The term webinar is a combination of two words i.e. web and seminar. A webinar offers an opportunity for people to learn and educated themselves as they would do in a live session.

For attending a webinar, all you need is a computer with an internet connection.

Traditionally, many companies for their marketing purposes organize a location and invite people over to come and attend but this can cost them more as live sessions require numerous equipment.

Webinars are different from these traditional methods and people from all around the world can attend a webinar at the same time.

Mainly, webinars are used by B2B i.e. business to business companies for their marketing but they can also be used by B2C i.e. business to consumers directly.

What is a Seminar?

A seminar can be defined as a group of individuals coming together to learn and discuss the stated topic. Seminars have one or two presenters who take the discussion to the desired path.

A seminar can have many purposes or just one.

For instance, a seminar can be organized for educational purposes like a lecture, where people are involved in a discussion of a particular subject or topic to obtain a better vision about the subject or topic.

Other types of educational seminars can be organized for conveying some knowledge and expertise to the participants. Such seminars include a seminar on personal finance, web marketing, real estate, etc.

A seminar can also have a motivational nature in which the host motivates, encourages, or inspires the attendees to improve themselves and be a better version of themselves or to implement the skills that they might have learned in the seminar in their lives.

For example, a seminar with a business theme can be helpful for small business owners to understand and know how to pitch their investors or to construct a solid plan for their business, and to encourage them to get started right after they leave the seminar.

For planning a seminar, the first step is to plan the topic you want to discuss with others and set a budget accordingly. Find some speakers who have expertise in the field you want to cover with your audience.

And after the seminar, you can send feedback forms to your attendees to know whether the seminar met your vision.

Main Differences Between Webinar and Seminar

• For organizing a webinar, the cost consumption is quite less whereas, for organizing a seminar, the expense is high.
• The participants can attend a webinar anywhere and at any time while attending a seminar, the participants are required to travel and reach the location where the seminar is being held. 
• Conducting a webinar is quite simple and all it needs is a working computer with good internet connectivity whereas, conducting a seminar needs a lot of equipment which includes a large screen, projector, computer, speaker, mic, etc. 
• The topic discussed in a webinar can reach many people across the globe whereas, the topic discussed in a seminar can reach only those people who attended the seminar at its location.
• Webinars are virtual forms of a seminar where people attend the discussion or lecture via the internet whereas, seminars are gathering of people to discuss and learn while being present at that particular location.

• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shiangkwei-Wang/publication/254796793_Use_of_the_Webinar_Tool_Elluminate_to_Support_Training_The_Effects_of_Webinar-Learning_Implementation_from_Student-Trainers’_Perspective/links/546b54210cf2397f7831bb74/Use-of-the-Webinar-Tool-Elluminate-to-Support-Training-The-Effects-of-Webinar-Learning-Implementation-from-Student-Trainers-Perspective.pdf
• https://www.learntechlib.org/p/29820/

I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️

Want to save this article for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own articles box!

By Sandeep Bhandari

Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page .

Related Post

How to use less than or equal to operator in excel: a quick guide, how to go full screen in windows 11: a quick guide, the netflix tagger job: debunking myths and uncovering reality, airpods work with android: key limitations explained.

Symposium vs. Seminar — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Symposium and Seminar

Table of contents, key differences, comparison chart, compare with definitions, common curiosities, how does a seminar differ from a symposium, can anyone attend a seminar, what is the main purpose of a symposium, are symposia longer than seminars, who attends symposia, are symposia good for networking, can seminars be part of academic courses, what distinguishes the audience of a symposium from a seminar, can seminars be held online, what can you expect from a seminar, how do seminars benefit participants, why are symposia important in academic and professional fields, what is a key feature of a symposium, how important are discussions in symposia, what types of topics are covered in seminars, share your discovery.

Author Spotlight

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms

Difference Between Management and Administration PPT Free

Management and administration are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct roles. Management focuses on implementing and executing policies, overseeing day-to-day operations, and ensuring that an organization’s goals are met efficiently. Managers are responsible for directing employees, organizing resources, and solving problems.

Also See: Human Resource Management PPT

Administration, on the other hand, involves higher-level decision-making and formulating the policies and goals of an organization. Administrators set the direction, create strategies, and ensure that the overall objectives align with the organization’s mission. In simple terms, management is about “doing things right,” while administration is about “doing the right things.”

Also See: Controlling in Management PPT

Table of Content for Difference Between Management and Administration PPT Free

• What is management?
• Need for management
• What is administration?
• Need for administration
• Difference Between Management and Administration

Free Download Link

Difference Between Management and Administration PPT

Related posts:

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.