All About WisLines

What is a WisLine?

A WisLine is a live teleconference offered by the University of Wisconsin-Extension.  If you have never attended a Local Government Center WisLine, you may not know what's involved.

First, you pre-register by mail, fax or phone to attend at a public WisLine site convenient to you.  These are usually in or near the Extension office in your county seat, but you can register for another site if more convenient.

The day of the program, you will go to a room set up for two-way sound communication.  Presenters who have expert knowledge on a topic will offer an informal talk and an opportunity for questions and answers, as well.  Because there is no visual presentation in these teleconferences, every participant receives a packet of printed supporting materials to take home.

What is a WisLine Audiostream?

After our live WisLine teleconference has occurred, we convert the spoken portion into streaming audio which you can play on most home or business computers equipped with speakers or headphones and an Internet connection (DSL, cable, or other high-speed connection recommended).  Again, because there is no visual presentation, the same materials packet that people get when attending a live teleconference will be provided online as a .PDF file.  You will be able to hear the question-and-answer session that occurred in the live teleconference, but will not have a chance to ask your own questions.  Order audiostreams.

Are There Any Other Options?

Yes.  You can purchase a "materials bundle" which includes printed materials and your choice of an audio CD or audio cassette tape.  Order "Materials Only."

How Do I Determine Which Type of Program to Register For?

Determining factors are price, convenience, timing, and interaction.

Price:  Your lowest-price choice is a live WisLine teleconference. These vary in price, starting at $20 per program.   Materials bundles or audiostreams are priced $5.00 higher per air date to cover additional media processing, storage and shipping.  (Some programs span several dates and can only be taken as a single unit.)

Convenience:  Attending a live teleconference requires you to visit a public WisLine site, usually located at the Extension office in your county or a neighboring county.  This means transportation and usually only one date and time to pick from.   Materials bundles and audiostreams give you more scheduling options and the ability to return to the program repeatedly.

Timing:  Your earliest access to the information is at the live teleconference itself.  The materials bundles and audiostreams will not be available for a few business days afterward, since the sound media must be created and distributed. 

Interaction:  Attending a live WisLine teleconference gives you the opportunity to ask questions and interact by voice with the presenters and moderator, as well as participants from around the state.  The materials bundles and audiostream do not offer any such social interaction. 

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