Teaching Classes

General

Would you like to teach a class, hold a workshop or give a talk on a subject you think people would find interesting?

TinkerMill would love to host you! We encourage all our members to teach. Everyone knows enough about something to teach a class, give a workshop or give a talk on something. You don't need to be a TinkerMill member to use the space if it's something of value and that fits with our mission. TinkerMill supports the expansion of knowledge in all areas. We only ask that you steer clear of two subjects: Politics and religion. We have nothing against either; there are simply plenty of other places for those two subjects.

How to schedule a class at TinkerMill

1. Go to the TinkerMill calendar at http://www.meetup.com/LongmontHackerSpace/events/ and identify a day that fits your schedule and is available. Give people at least a few days notice so that they can plan to attend your class.
2. When your cursor hovers over a date, you'll see a small calendar icon in the upper right area with a tooltip that reads "schedule a meetup on this date." Click on this icon to open the a Meetup page and fill in all the details.
3. Write a description that sounds interesting and fun, add an image. Be descriptive, but concise. Cover what the topic is, what you'll be doing in the class and what the attendee will leave with, if anything.
4. You can set the class to repeat regularly or copy it later for another date.
5. Class fees for members should always be less than non-members.
6. State the materials cost (if any) and what it includes in your description if you are charging for and providing a kit. If you would like TinkerMill to provide any materials, discuss this with the shop captain that pertains to your class; some items we have in house or can purchase. Make sure to obtain approval from the shop captain and supply a list of what you need in plenty of time to obtain it for your class if appropriate. Decide whether you want students to purchase supplies separately or have that price built into your class costs.
7. If your class will use TinkerMill equipment, 50% of the post-expense proceeds will go to TinkerMill and 50% will be paid to the instructor. If your class is using only the TinkerMill building and no TinkerMill equipment, 20% of the post-expense proceeds will go to TinkerMill and 80% will be paid to the instructor.
8. You can set payment options. TinkerMill strongly recommends using PayPal for class payments. Payments taken via PayPal will be disbursed to the instructor; there are instructor payment sheets in the office. Have one available at your class to note who is attending and what they pay, then turn it in at the office after your class. You are responsible for ensuring that your students pay for your classes. Instructor payments are typically processed once per month.
9. In the RSVP settings, you can specify a group size limit. You as the scheduler will count as one.
10. Click Schedule this meetup now. Review all information, then click Announce Meetup.
11. Once a class has been created, you can still edit the details, copy it and offer it on another date and time, share the event on Facebook, or export it to a calendar from the options underneath the class name when you click on the event.
12. If you make a change to the class listing in any way, you can elect to notify all those who have RSVP'd.
13. Meetup will track signups, and you can interact with those who sign up through email. After the event, those attending can leave messages or click "good to see you".

Best Practices (Draft as of 10/5/2016)

So that all members have equal opportunity and fair treatment we offer these Best Practices to guide the process. It can be a little tricky in a spontaneous and collaborative environment, so these practices are what we strive to uphold:

Definitions:

Class means

Scheduled means

By appointment means

Member means

1. Charging for a class - or not
2. Paying for a class or not
3. Classes for getting certified/cleared for tools/equipment use
4. Other ways to become certified/cleared

FAQ and Examples Can I waive the member fee for another shop captain when the captain joins a scheduled class?

No. For scheduled classes, all members should be paying the same. However, you could give him/her a private lesson outside of a regularly scheduled class.

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10/5/2016 - Note from Lynne: The following is a jumble of threads I'm gathering from slack and other discussions held recently that refer to these issues. I am sorting them as time permits into the above organization. Then there will be a vetting by shop captains to resolve questions/conflicts and to develop an agreed-upon set of best practices.