Don McCunn's Blog

Online Patternmaking Class Scheduling

March 29, 2010 on 4:52 pm | In General Info, Online Classes | No Comments

My Online Patternmaking Classes are scheduled to begin at different times throughout the year. So far I have only offered any given course once a year. I am very interested in expanding the courses I offer to explore design variations for different types of garments. As I add more courses it may take more than a year before I repeat a given course. I am committed to offering the basic sloper classes (Bras, Upper Torso, Sleeves, Lower Torso, & Pants) at least once a year.

I am flexible about accommodating people who do not want to wait for a class to “officially” begin. Here is the difference between taking one of my classes when it is scheduled and taking it as an “Independent Studies class” at any time that is suitable for you.

Scheduled Class Time:
When a class is scheduled for a given time I usually open it for enrollment two weeks before it starts. When I open it for enrollment I announce it to my Yahoo groups and notify my Email List. Once a class is open for enrollment and before class starts enrolled students will see a “Welcome to…” section.

Each of my classes is divided into a series of weeks. Once the scheduled time occurs, I open the appropriate week. These weeks include streaming videos as my lecture/demonstrations. There may also be some additional web pages or PDF files depending on the content of the class.

Each week there is a one hour interactive chat at a specific time that enrolled students are welcome to participate in. I post transcripts of these chats immediately afterward for everyone in the class. There is also a forum where people can ask questions and share their ongoing patternmaking experience. Some enjoy hearing how others in the class are progressing. Participating in the chats and the forum are voluntary.

Independent Studies Class Times:
If you wish to take one of my classes that is currently not scheduled, contact me at Don@deofsf.com and tell me the class you are interested in taking. I will open it for enrollment long enough for you to join the class.

If the class is currently running, you will see the material for the class according to the scheduled time. You can participate in whatever chats remain.

If it is outside of the class’s normal scheduled time, you will see all the material for all the weeks of the class. You will also be able to read the messages to the forum and the transcripts of the chats. You can post any questions or comments you have in the forum.

Open Time Management
It is up to you to schedule when you do the work for my online classes. There are no deadlines for submitting completed projects and no grades for completing the work for the class. I will not be breathing down your neck asking when you are going to finish a task. There are no doors that open or close.

I am available to help you whenever and however you need it 365 days a year (almost–I do take an occasional day off). Once you are in one of my classes I place no time limit for how long I will be available to help you. I want to see you successfully accomplish the work you set out to do no matter how long that may take to achieve.

Repeating a Class
My current policy is not to charge when you want to repeat a class you have already taken. The school software automatically bumps people who do not use a given class for half a year. But if that happens and you want to get back in, just contact me and I will reinstate you in the class roster.

More Information
I have an open classroom called The Sandbox where I compare my online classes to in person, bricks-and-mortar classrooms. In addition to this comparison you can see examples of the various aspects of how my online classes work. If you are not registered for my school, click the “Login as a guest” button.

If you would like to participate in discussions about my online classes, I do maintain a Yahoo Group, Patternmaking Classes, specifically for this purpose.