Walking into that first class can be daunting for both student and teacher alike. Students walk in with different backgrounds, abilities and interests. Teachers have the task of recognizing how each student learns best and then shaping the material to suit. This is probably the first real contact between them, and because of that, there is no established rapport to make communicating easy, initially. This circumstance, especially with entry level courses, is also often the first time the student is coming in contact with the material being taught. In the best classes, the material is introduced and discussed, but in addition, each student then gets to experience putting the material into action through labs, exercises and projects. When time and effort are put in, useful information is shared and understood. Though the walk-in here is virtual, these mini-classes will be bite sized versions of that approach. The twelve minis will be accompanied by twelve practicum which will require the student to do independent work based on their individual viewpoints and interests. Everyone is different, but everybody has to start somewhere. This is as good a place as any to begin.
