On-line, On-board, Textile Teaching
Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 10:51AM 
Stop Fear, journal quilt, 2007
As those of you who have been reading this blog for a while know, I sometimes float ideas that want exploring for my art business or my teaching practice -- even sometimes my art work. Sometimes something comes of it, sometimes, not.
One of those tracks, coaching, seems to have run its course without much action on my part. After quite a bit of research on the topic, being a coach and making that business works seems to embody the same challenges and work load that teaching art and making art do -- it's a highly competitive field, with many practitioners and many approaches even within the niche of creativity coaching. I am pretty sure that what I was thinking about doing is being done by many people with more skills, credentials, and who see that as their primary passion and gift to the world. Then, too, I didn't find long lines of people clamoring for this service! The best way for me to guide artists and would-be artists in their creative work and their creative processes is to improve my teaching, expand and formalize the materials I use for my workshops, and to keep being a maker, living the maker's life. (By the way, one of my favorite bloggers Merlin Mann, has a lot to say about productivity and the maker's life on his redesigned blog.)
One idea that I've toyed with in the past and that I, here, publicly state as a goal for the next 4 months, is to produce an on-line course. Hold me to it. I will offer the course at a highly-discounted rate (maybe even free) for 10 to 15 of you who read this blog -- beta testing, as it were. I will include photos and video demos, an e-book workbook and how-to materials. Get your name on the invitation list by leaving a comment or sending an email with suggestions!
Thus said, I need a little market research, and I hope you will help me with that -- whether or not you have taken an on-line course before or not. Leave comments here on the blog, or send a personal email to susiemonday@gmail.com. In the textile art world, there seem to be two distinct approaches to on-line offerings: 1. short -- 6 lessons or so -- courses that deal with a fairly specific technique, approach, tool or medium, costing about $40 to $80 per course. Some of these are hosted on sites like Joggles, Quilters Keep Learning or Quilt University, others on the artist's own website. Most have some feedback option, but it may or may not be used by the participating student.
The second type of offering is longer, more expansive and cohesive courses with design, often taking several months and costing quite a bit more -- Jane Dunnewold's correspondence course on Complex Cloth fits this. And I know some of the other "big name" fiber art teachers do some similar programs, and they cost usually about $300 or more for a season or a year's course. I don't think I'm ready for this!
In the interest of starting small, the first type of course seems most do-able. Here are a few ideas I have thought about, do any of these sound interesting to you -- or do you think one or the other might find an audience?
- How to make an altered jean jacket using fusible webbing, fabric collage, stitching and original design ideas
- 7 Scarves -- new surface design techniques on silk scarves
- An on-line version of my Calling All Archetypes workshop (this might be a slightly longer one, culminating in making an art quilt to an archetype important in one's life)
- An on-line version of my workshop Words on the Surface, using text on fabric in various media and a variety of techniques
Any others come to mind? What price would you be willing to pay for a 6 lesson series? A 10 lesson series? Would it be important to have a shared photo file of student work -- that's easy enough to set up and could be a great place to see the diversity of work. How about a blog to discuss the class assignments? Or do you think these interactive elements are too difficult for most people to use and would make the class less marketable? Hoping to hear from you!
Reader Comments (15)
I don't care much about the embelishment jacket but the other three ideas are nice. I always try to find classes around 40 or 50 dollars for 5 to 6 classes; I don't even look to the more expensive ones becuase with two kids in college it's hard for me.
Please let me know what you decide to offer
send you regards from Florida Marga.
I occasionally think of offering an online class myself, but between never having taken one and what I imagine is (initially at least) a lot of work for nowhere near the rewards of in-person classes I'm pretty hesitant. I'm also as sick as a dog right now so apologies for lack of coherence heh.
At LAST!! I know you've been playing with this idea for a while and its time to DO IT!
I love on-line classes and would beta-test for you in a heartbeat. I think the most valuable aspect of on-line classes is the one-on-one feedback from the instructor and the photos from other participants. That said...most of the classes I've taken have been sadly lacking in photo-participation - the opportunity is there, but few take advantage of it. I also think that feedback should be real, not smarmy-positive comments. Anyone can say "gee, I like your colors"; I'm paying to have the instructor tell me "that's sort of cliched - try this instead".
I look for classes that come in at $10 - $12 per lesson for 4 to 6 lessons. I can move through lessons pretty quickly, so I prefer a self paced class. I like classes that teach techniques in 1-lesson bits and then put it all together in a big project, this gives me a real sense of accomplishment. I also like class series that build on previous classes. This lets me learn (and PAY) in increments and stop when I've had enough.
I like having a forum associated with the class. Joggles has a format that is easy to use. It allows photos to be attached to messages instead of using a student gallery.
Your overview seems more ambitious than the classes I've taken. They consist of a supply list, an emailed lesson once a week and instructor availability for comments and questions.
I like the 7 scarves class. The jean-jacket class looks like a fun way to learn embellishment, but - I already have an embellished jacket and I only get to wear it once or twice a year, having two seems like overkill, I also think that many of your workshops lend themselves to adaptation as on-line classes.
Susie - this is a great idea! I can't wait to see it develop.
I've never taken a Joggles course, so I don't know about their forum, but it sounds like I'd like that better than the Gallery at Q.U.
I don't have a blog myself, so a message board forum would have to do it for me.
No matter. The whole idea sounds exciting. *S*
I think this is a wonderful idea. You're so proactive about honing your many talents and I definitely think this is worth exploring. As for pricing, since I haven't taken an on-line art class, I'm not much help. My suggestion is to price in line with others that are out there, however, as you mentioned, offering a discount for the beta test group. Posting photos are a must as the feedback will be essential. I'm interested in all the topics that you suggest, especially the scarves. However, if these require a lot of surface design skills, wouldn't that lend itself to being more easily taught in person? Keep me posted.
Diane Sandlin
I am so excited that you are considering this. I was beginning to figure out how often I could get to San Antonio.
I agree with most of the previous comments. I would rather take several 6 weeks classes than one long class. It is easier to fit into crazy schedules. Also, I love the idea of an easy format in which the students can participate with their photos, questions and comments and the teacher can respond with actual constructive advice. It's nice to see each others' works too.
Keep me posted. I'll be your guinea pig any time. Oh, and I'll see you in class in Houston too. Yea!
Naomi Kornman
The only online classes that I took was the City and Guilds Patchwork and Quilting with Laura and Linda Kemshell. I loved what they were teaching, but I only got through 2 1/2 modules out of 10.
I was ok with the electronic transfer of sketchbook pages. But it was pretty expensive...before the dollar dropped about $160 per module. In Eau Claire, WI, this was pretty much my only option, but when I moved back to San Antonio, the in person learning at Southwest School of Art and Craft was much more appealing.
I think the blog idea for the class is good...a way to feel a little bit of connection and interaction.
Good luck.
Archetypes is something I've read about, thought about, and want to purseue further. It would get my vote.
I love the idea of an online class. I live in Cuero and sometimes find the commute to "the big city" for meetings and workshops difficult .
All of the class ideas are appealing to me. I am ready to explore all facets of fiber arts as my current knowledge base is rather small. I have not taken a creative class on line and do think that interaction with the other students in the form of blogging, photo sharing etc.,.. is a positive one. This is something that I do not currently do much, but what a great opportunity to learn.
Pricing? What do others charge? Do you offer a discount just to get started? I don't know. Sorry, don't have a feel for that one.
I have really enjoyed your journaling/creativity excercises in the previous workshop that I took last year. I hope that you start soon.
Another small town girl who loves mixed media art and silk painting...sewing is not a strong suit. And who....adores your spirit and work.
I lean toward the 6 week format with shared class results as they are affordable as well as inspiring. I would be MOST interested in your words/text on surface class, but would participate in all the others you mentioned as I am on an art discovery path.
I eagerly await news on your finalized formats...I visualize you doing this and send you great energy.