Student Tutorial
1. One day at a time.
The most important thing to know at All About The Knowledge is there are no courses or subscriptions. You sign up, one class/day at a time. At the end of that day, you decide if (a) you want/need to keep going to that class, (b) rate the class.
2. Find a class.
Check out our class list to see if there is anything you are interested in learning near you (or online).
2b. Or... request a class.
If you checked out the class list, you probably wanted to learn something. If you don't see what you are looking for, no problem. Just ask for the class on our demand board. Other students can like your request and teachers can see what is in demand. If something similar becomes available in your area, you will be updated.
Requesting a class is not a commitment to take a class. You are simply showing interest.
3. Sign up for a class.
Signing up for a class is just a click of a button. Please, read the class details carefully. They will tell you the class requirements: Do you need to bring anything? Where do you need to go? When is payment required? How late can you cancel without penalty? etc.
4. Paying for a class.
Students pay for class before they take the class. Ideally, right before class.
Why is paying immediately before class the ideal?
All About The Knowledge's primary philosophy is cutting out everything that distracts from learning or causes conflict (wastes time). This means the closer to the start of class that the payment happens, the less likely a cancellation (from either student or teacher) and corresponding refund request (or argument) may be. In short, the less the teacher needs to be customer service, the better.
No refunds (mostly). All About The Knowledge classes are designed with both the student and teacher taking on a little financial risk. This is why classes are just one day at a time. The student risks paying for a single class (not an entire course). This means if you do not like the first class (or the teacher), there's no need to fight or argue about it. Simply don't sign up for future classes and consider leaving a negative rating for the teacher.
You can always ask for a refund, if you feel you have experienced an exception or an extreme case. But asking for a refund simply because you did not like the teaching style is strongly discouraged.
5. Ratings : How you make the community better.
To help improve the quality of learning within the All About The Knowledge community, student are encouraged to rate classes in two ways.
Vote with your feet.
The first is simple. If you do not like the class or the teacher, don't take any more classes with that teacher.
Simple ratings for each class.
After every class is taken, you have a chance to 'dislike' the teacher.
The result is better teachers rise to the top over time, and everyone gets a chance to teach.
Over time, All About The Knowledge algorithms and stats will reflect which teachers and classes have: more students, more repeat business, fewer dislikes per class. With those three bits of information, the community will be able to easily spot the best classes and teachers.
Example 1 -
The normal and ideal All About The Knowledge experience.
Experience
Alice signs up for a cooking class taught by Bob the Baker this Friday at 3PM. This is a series Bob teaches. This day is about food safety. (Some days it is a specific recipe. Some days he teaches and demos specific cooking tips and techniques. All classes are clearly labeled and clearly explain what he will be teaching that day.)
Alice shows up just before class starts and pays for the class. She likes the class and the teacher, but is not interested in learning the recipe Bob will teach in next week's class. So, she simply doesn't sign up for another class for Bob again, until she see's another one that interests her.
Result
The result is Bob taught Alice for one class/day and got paid for it. He got a good rating from Alice (because she didn't click the dislike button). Now Bob's class shows he has taught more students and got another good rating.
The next time Bob teaches a class Alice is interested in, she signs back up, shows up, pays on time, and enjoys another lesson. Bob is happy to have a repeat customer.
Example 2 -
A not great, but reasonable All About The Knowledge experience.
Experience
Charlie signs up for Danielle's Golfing class this Saturday morning. This is a series Danielle teaches. Every Saturday, Danielle is out on the course watching and coaching golf students. Each class focuses on something a little different. Each is mentioned clearly on the class description. This Saturday is about chipping out of a sand trap and onto a green - techniques and etiquette.
Charlie shows up just before class starts and pays for the class. He likes the teacher and the class had some good tips, but feels the class was too much lecture and not enough practice. I.e. - This class might be fine for some people, but not for Charlie. After class, he asks Danielle if she has any classes that are mostly practice and feedback. The reply is she does not, because her class size is simply too large for that kind of back and forth... No big deal, Charlie simply doesn't sign up for any more golfing classes from Danielle.
Result
The result is Charlie learned something, but not quite what he wanted. He spent a little money and an hour learning. Danielle had a student for a single class/day, but probably won't have a repeat customer. And this is fine. Everyone isn't for everyone. Charlie can find another teacher. Danielle's ratings reflect she had a student and didn't get a dislike.
Long term, Charlie and the learn to golf community will find the best teachers. Long term for Danielle, she will either (a) keep going with plenty of other new and repeat students (and have a strong rating to show for it), or (b) lose more and more repeat students and have to decide if she can stay the course or if she needs to adjust her approach and win more repeat customers.
Example 3 -
A bad weather example
Experience
Earl signs up for Frank's Photography class at the zoo this Wednesday night. Frank does the same thing every Wednesday. He meets students at the local zoo with their own personal cameras and he shows them how to use it while taking pictures of birds and elephants.
Earl shows up just before class and the skies open up with rain, thunder, and lightening. Without getting out of his car, Earl turns around and goes home.
This is perfectly fine. Earl is out no money and Frank knows students sometimes miss class... especially in bad weather. For the students who did show up, Earl had a Plan B for indoor photography at the zoo.
Result
Earl did not show up for class and is not out any money. Frank's ratings are not negatively impacted, because Earl did not count as a student. Earl is welcome to sign up for another Wednesday and try again. Frank (the teacher) has the option to give Earl (the student) a bad rating, but doesn't. He only gives out bad student reviews to students who are very problematic (repeatedly don't show up, refuse to pay for class, etc.).
Example 4 -
A bad class example
Experience
Georgia signs up for Henry's haberdashery work shop on Thursday night.
Georgia shows up just before class and pays. Henry rambles and is uninteresting. Georgia wonders if Henry knows what he is taking about. This is a poor class.
Georgia leaves early and quickly clicks the 'dislike' button for this class. In the future, anything taught by Henry will not be shown to her and Henry has a negative rating. Not only will he not have a repeat customer, but he will also have a dislike on his record. If a high enough percentage of these show up, he'll quickly be out of teaching.