What’s a teleclass?
This is where I make my “Can’t teleclass from a hole in the ground” joke.
Okay, I’ll bite. What’s a teleclass?
Teleclass? I know, what an incredibly stupid word.
Sadly, no one asked me to come up with a better one, and since it’s already a “thing” there’s really not much we can do about it.
Anyway, a teleclass is basically just a workshop that takes place by phone, which lets us do some group learning with people from around the world.
So … kind of like a virtual classroom that works via a conference call type system thing. But not as futuristic as that sounds.
You get the benefits of a workshop without dealing with travel, traffic and parking. Or deciding what to wear. Or getting out of bed, for that matter. And even if you can’t make it to San Francisco or Berlin to attend a live program, most of us can carve out an hour or so to spend on the phone.
So if you’ve got questions about how it works … here are some of the ones that I’ve answered more than once.
The “I don’t get this whole teleclass thing” questions:
How do I join in?
You dial a phone number and enter a code. You get both by email when you sign up for the call or the program or whatever.
What’s it like?
Class usually consists of a mix of lecture, questions and some interactive discussion. With large classes we’ll sometimes mute people out and then open up the line for questions at the end.
Will I get charged for dialing in? Does the call itself cost anything?
Nothing but your normal long distance rates (whatever you would pay if your parents made you call your Uncle in Lansing to say happy birthday).
Do I need to be near a computer to take part in the class?
Nope. All you need is a regular phone.
Do I need anything else?
Not really. Some people like to take notes — paper and pencil is always good.
What if I don’t want to actively participate?
That’s fine. You don’t have to talk if you don’t feel like it. Feel free to just listen in!
I don’t live in North America. Can I still call in to the teleclass?
Absolutely. We have had callers from all over the world join in. We’d love to have you.
What if I sign up and then can’t make the call?
Well, you won’t get to ask questions, but if all goes well (knock on keyboard and spit three times to avert the evil eye, tfu tfu tfu), I’ll send you a link so you can listen to the recording later.
What if I don’t want to be recorded?
Um, invent a phony name? Or don’t mention your name. Or just don’t talk. Recordings go to everyone who sign up for the class.
I’m afraid of doing something wrong. Is there a standard teleclass protocol or something?
Not really. So we wrote one for you. This should answer pretty much everything in that department.
Wait, what if I have more questions?
You can leave a comment right here if you like.
Talk soon,
Havi (and Selma the duck)
Thanks. This will be fun!