Teacher 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. Students sign up for one class/day at a time. At the end of that session, they decide if (a) they want/need to keep going to that class, (b) how to rate that class (and you).
How single session classes change things for you.
Standalone classes.
Single tutoring sessions or a single class on first aid basics are probably easy to visualize. You explain in the short description what will be covered and you teach that for the class. There is no expectation that the students return for another class. There is no additional class that builds on what they just learned here. ... and probably minimal prerequisites required for the student to take and understand your session.
Class Series
You can still teach a series of related classes at All About The Knowledge . Said another way, traditional college courses or an athletic training course where each class builds upon other, is still possible with All About The Knowledge . You'll just need to do one of two things. Either, structure your course a little differently, so each class acts like a standalone class. Or warn everyone in your class details that this is part of a continuing series and joining in at this point requires a certain level of knowledge or ability with the subject.
In the case where you structure the series more like a bunch of individual classes, we recommend you start by drawing up an outline of the complete series. Then see if you can turn certain classes into standalone learning lessons. Then consider what prerequisites are needed for each individual class. Could a new outsider join you in class three? If so, what would they need to understand before joining you?
If your series of classes simply has to be taken start to finish to be effective, that's also OK. You just need to clearly state for each class that this is part of a larger series and students need to take them in order to be effective.If you want to teach people how to bowl (for example) instead of having people sign up for a 5 week course where each class builds on itself, you may just have to advertise a specific part of bowling will be taught each week... and list unique prerequisites for each class.
Partial example
- Day one will be the rules of bowling.
- Day two will be working on a proper, repeatable, stable shot approach. You don't need any prerequisites for this, but it is nice if you know the rules and bring your own ball. If you don't have bowling shoes, there will be a $5 rental fee.
- ...
- Week 5 - Teaching how to best try to pick up big splits. For this class you need to know the rules. It helps if you have a good shot approach and know how to aim at specific boards and marks, but is not required. If you don't have bowling shoes, there will be a $5 rental fee.
2. Decide what you want to teach.
You can teach anything you'd like. Feel free to check out three places to give you class ideas.
- Review the types of classes we have listed to spur your imagination.
- The Demand Board - These are classes that students have requested (conceivably because these classes are not already offered in their area). The demand board gives everyone a chance to like a request. This means you may find a class idea that already has a waiting audience. These requesters are under no obligation to take your class offering, but it would give you a good idea about demand.
- Check out the existing class list. See what is popular and what is missing. Maybe there is a popular class in Colorado Springs, that you could teach, but no one is teaching it in Denver, CO. Maybe MySQL classes are filling quickly and you could join in the fray. Maybe no one is tutoring math at your college yet.
3. Create and offer a class.
Anyone can create a class, once signed in. Register with All About The Knowledge , it's free. Create a new class, pick the time and location, and write a description all in one step. It's quick and free. And you can edit the class details after you post the class (as long as no one has signed up for it, yet.)
4. Pick a location
Pick a location to teach that will be safe for you and the students. A library or popular local park might be a good fit. All About The Knowledge also allows people to sign up to offer locations for rent. You may find a host offering an art gallery or restaurant in off hours... or find a hotel conference room...
5. Sit back and wait for people to sign up. (or help recruit students)
By default, All About The Knowledge classes have a minimum and maximum class size and a time when the class is automatically canceled if not enough students sign up. You are free to change these defaults, as you like.
As students find and sign up for your class you will see the class status change on your homepage. (By default, you are also emailed about a sign up or cancellation... but this can be turned off under subscriptions on your home page.)
6. Collect the payment as close to class time as possible.
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.
We understand that this makes planning and renting more difficult and isn't for everyone. So we encourage our Hosts (people offering to rent to you) to be amenable and we give you the ability to declare when payment is due in the class description. Just keep in mind that this student community is used to payments right before the start of class.
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 the students does not like the first class (or the teacher), there's no need to fight or argue about it. They simply won't sign up for future classes and may leave a negative rating for your class. Most of the time that means, once the students show up and pay you, that money is yours.
Students are encouraged to only ask for refunds in extreme cases, not because the course didn't work for them.
7. Ratings
To help improve the quality of learning within the All About The Knowledge community, there is a two way rating system. Students are encouraged to rate classes in two ways. And teachers are encouraged to rate the student for each class.
Streamlined, automated student and teacher ratings.
Our experience has shown two things in the ratings world. (1) Whatever percentage of people leave bad reviews, about twice as many are unhappy with the experience/product. (2) Less than 1% of happy customers leave good reviews.
In an attempt to get more realistic ratings and to streamline things for our community (you), we have automated the student and teacher ratings. This means a class given automatically results in a positive review for the teacher and the student. The disappointed people (the rarer event) need to click a dislike button to override that rating. (Which is fine, because history shows, the unhappy people are way more likely to take the time to leave a review.)
If a student 'dislikes' your class, all of your future classes will be hidden from that student. If you 'dislike' a student (disruptive, didn't pay, etc) this student will not be able to see future classes you offer.
Students can vote with their feet.
This is encouraged in the All About The Knowledge community. Plan for it and, please, don't take it too personally.
The result is better teachers rise to the top over time, but 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, and fewer dislikes per class. With those three bits of information, the community will be able to easily spot the best classes and teachers.
Also, over time, we'll implement systems for teachers to block any student with poor community ratings, so you can avoid trouble ahead of time. Currently, in alpha, there is not enough data to offer this type of block.
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 label regarding 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 and 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), (b) lose more and more repeat students and have to decide if she can stay to course or if she needs to adjust her approach and when 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.
Result
This is perfectly fine. Earl is out no money and Frank knows student sometimes miss class... especially in bad weather. Earl had a plan be for indoor photography at the zoo and a few students showed up.
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.
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.
Result
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.