Don McCunn's Blog

Online Classes – Why Take One?

June 5, 2010 on 6:50 pm | In General Info, Online Classes, pattern making | No Comments

When I first started thinking of teaching pattern design online I seriously considered the question “Why should anyone take a class I offer online?” My description that follows is going to be a little long winded. Fortunately I have a student in my last class that put it very succinctly. I quote her below with her permission.

“I am really enjoying your class. When I was looking at it originally, I wasn’t sure it would be profitable for me since I already had your book. But, with the videos and the critiquing I’m finding it incredibly helpful.”

Karen, Beijing, China (member of How to Make and Upper Torso (aka Bodice) Sloper)

Researching Other Online Classes

I took several online classes to see how others were doing it. The ones I took involved receiving printed material in PDF format, forums, and chats where I could discuss with the instructor the issues that came up in the class.

I was already doing most of this through my book How to Make Sewing Patterns, my eBook How to Make Custom-Fit Bras, and my Yahoo Group forums which are free to anyone interested (see the Blogroll sidebar). The difference between these online classes and my groups and books is that the online classes were available for a limited time period. What I was doing was available 365 days a year. I wanted to be able to offer something of value that went beyond what I was already doing.

Videos for Class Demonstrations and Lectures

I remembered back in the 70s when I first started using my book to teach Pattern Design through the San Francisco Community College Adult Education division. It was a real eye opener to see that when I did a classroom demonstration people who had read my book all of a sudden started to get it. I could see the light bulbs going off in their eyes.

At the time I wanted to create video presentations that would not be limited by the geographic location of San Francisco. But that would have involved creating 8mm movies and people would have needed film projectors and projection screens. I did not think this was a practical alternative.

With the advent of the internet I realized I could now provide the visual demonstrations I had been doing in class through streaming videos like those on YouTube. I started my classes with that in mind. I create these videos so people can download them to their own computer for a permanent resource. For people in my classes on slow internet connections, I provide the videos on a CD. I make the videos not more than 5 to 6 minutes long so they download quickly. This also makes it easy to zero in on a particular topic like chapters in a book.

Fitting Critiques

Then as I was teaching the basic fitted sloper classes I realized I could critique people’s fitting issues through photos they submitted to me through the class (see below for an example). These critiques allow me to give a very careful evaluation of the fitting issues which I put into PDF format. This allows the individual to have a permanent reference they can access any time. It also allows everyone in the class to see the issues other people need to address for their particular body shape.

Doors are Open 365 Days a Year

It also occurred to me that while in a bricks-and-mortar school doors need to physically open and close, there is no such restriction over the internet. So I have adopted the policy that once you take a class, you can have access to the class for as long as you need. When I reopen a class for another scheduled session, I will reinstate you in the class roster at no additional charge.

Ongoing Course Development

It is this combination of factors and the enthusiasm of my online students that keeps me committed to continue my online patternmaking classes. I am thrilled to be able to develop additional online classes that delve into aspects of pattern design that I have been unable to approach when teaching in a bricks-and-mortar environment.

Additional Blog Entries

• Registering, Enrolling, Time Commitment, & Beginning Sewers
• Scheduled Classes, Independent Studies, Repeating a Class & The Sandbox Classroom
• My Mantra: “Nature Never Repeats the Same Shape Twice”
• An Example of a Class Dialog with a Student
• A Fitting Challenge: The Asymmetrical Body & A Sample Fitting Critique (a PDF File)
• All Online Class Blog Entries (multiple pages)