I didn’t get a tonne of responses but those who took my quick poll last night were unanimous: I’m stalling.
So, next I need to pick a topic and move forward. Moving forward includes picking a date, booking a room, and promoting the class(es) but that part is easy. Right now, I have to pick something.
My list of local offerings admittedly ignores what is on offer at UVic, Camosun College and Royal Roads; I’m not competing at that level. What there is out there that would fall within my knowledge is a lot of art classes (seriously, I had no idea how many), slightly fewer cooking classes, lots of free gardening workshops and tech offerings that vary wildly in both scope and cost. I think there is room for more tech offerings locally, especially at the beginner/intermediate level and for individuals rather than businesses, so that’s where I am aiming. Here’s my front-runners:
- Anyone Can Blog — an introduction to the world of blogging: what is it and why people blog; what programs are available (e.g. WordPress, Blogger, Posterous, Tumblr…); finding inspiration; finding and using images (properly!); nurturing your audience; and more. 2-3 hrs.
- The Uglynet — how to recognize, avoid and/or navigate the stuff that goes bump in the night online: spam, scams, trolls, trojans, click-jacking, and more. 1 1/2 to 2 hrs
- Playing Well with Others — an introduction to social media: the big players and some of the smaller ones; etiquette for posting, commenting and interacting; learning the lingo; protecting your privacy and others’; and more. 1 1/2 to 2 hrs
- Crowdsourcing — how to collaborate online; tools and best cases for art, writing, research; the role of Creative Commons and more. 2-3 hrs.
Have an opinion? Leave me a comment and/or Click here to take survey — the survey includes a couple of optional questions about pricing and interest.