So You Want to Teach A Class

So you want to teach a class...

If you're just looking for the steps of class creation in the Calendar system - here is a walkthrough at this link. The rest of this article addresses some of the other intricacies of class creation from scratch.

Ensure Unmet Need

You have checked the Calendar for a few months into the future and the course you want to teach does not appear to be offered. You want to teach it, and no one else appears to already be filling that niche.

What's next?

Gauging Interest, Ensuring Activity is Appropriate, Equipment/space Available, etc.

• Checking for activity on the Talk forum is always a good idea. You can also see if anyone posts back about interest.
• There is a specific section in the Classrooms category of Talk called INTEREST CHECK to post and see whether people are interested.
• It never hurts to ask around in person, either.
• If your project fits a pre-existing committee, talk with the chair. They may be able to help get you everything you need and help set it all up for maximum benefit.
• Look at the Learn to Teach page to learn about becoming a teacher and preparing for a class.

Write your class description

Write a concise class description. The perfect description makes the class appealing to participants while clearly describing what they should expect from the class. It must identify specific skills and techniques that the participant will learn. This also makes it easier for Honorarium Auditors to understand that you are teaching a class and not just organizing an event.

Your description may *not* request or suggest any personal gratuities

• Anything class related is allowable.
• Food or beverages for all the class. Allowable.
• Contributions to offset material costs the instructor pays. Allowable.
• Any requests for any type of tips (food/drink/other/cash) to the instructor. Not allowable.

There is an optional class description template that can help you write this description.

Select a Location

There are several general classrooms available for members to schedule at Dallas Makerspace. See the Rooms Guide page for details about specific classrooms so you can select the one that is most appropriate.

When your class is related to a specific workshop or studio area, you can use that area for your class. As a courtesy, if your class will tie up the space for more than a couple hours, you should clear that use with the committee chair before scheduling the class.

If you have rearranged the room from its default configuration, you need to restore the furniture to the default configuration.

If your class allows non-members, then *you* are responsible for letting the non-members into the building. Do not rely on other people to keep answering the door.

Honorarium

• If you want an honorarium, 144 hours (6 days) advanced notice is required.
• If you want an honorarium to go to a committee, you should probably talk to the committee chair, though they never turn down $$.

Follow the directions (carefully!) under "Getting Paid" at the Teach link. At the time of this writing, basically:

1. Add the event to our calendar at least 6 full days before the event.
2. Make sure to request the honorarium at the bottom of the class entry form.
3. Wait 72 hours for it to be reviewed. If there are no issues, it will appear on the calendar after 72 hours.
4. At least three registered persons must attend the class.
5. The instructor/host must record the attendance part in the calendar within 24 hours after class completion. Make sure you click SAVE at the bottom to record the attendance! If you don't complete the attendance, the calendar system will not trigger an honorarium payment for either the instructor or the committee.
6. Your IRS Form W-9 must be on file before you are paid. If you give the instructor portion to a committee, or if you decline the honorarium, you do not need to bother with the W-9.
7. You will typically receive an honorarium check via US Mail within two weeks. The current process (10/2017): Finance processes honorariums on Monday (excluding holidays) and sends them to the accounting firm Tuesday morning, they are processed into Quick Books at that time, checks printed and posted. Depending on where you live, checks arrive on Friday or Saturday.

Official rules governing honorariums are in the Rules & Policies section.

But how does it all work after that?

If you're just looking for directions/tutorial, check out this link.
First, be advised that the current system was implemented on 7/26/2016, so some kinks are still being worked out. Patience is greatly appreciated.

Secondly, you will need a DMS domain account to manage classes. If you do not have one, and/or are not a member of DMS, your sponsoring member will need to manage your classes.

Fill Out the Submit Event Form

Here is a summary. Detailed instructions are available at this link.
At the top of the Events Calendar page, click "Submit Event."

Log in.

Put in the information as requested.

NOTES:

(a) The calendar system times out automatically after about an hour. We recommend you gather all the information you need and write it up separately first. Then, go to the Submit Event form and paste the info into the form.

(b) After you submit your event you can change basically only descriptive information. You cannot change date, time, or number of attendees. Specific items are listed in the Class & Classroom FAQs.

What happens after I click Submit?

1. I don't see it on the calendar yet, and am just wondering what the process is from here?
   As soon as you submit the event, you can click on My Account/Hosting Events (upper right hand corner of Calendar). If it is successfully submitted to the Calendar system, it shows in that listing. During the review period, the background will be highlighted in yellow. Honorarium classes are posted to the calendar 72 hours after submission unless rejected. Non-honorarium classes and regular events appear on the calendar 48 hours after submission unless rejected. If rejected, you will get an email explaining the rejection.
2. Will I get an email if and when someone approves it?
   No. The calendar system automatically approves events/classes after 48/72 hours UNLESS IT IS REJECTED by a calendar admin or honorarium reviewer, in which case, you will be notified by email.
3. Do I get notifications on when or who may have signed up?
   No, but you can check for yourself on the Calendar page by going to My Account/Hosting Events (upper right hand corner of Calendar).
   UNLESS you have selected the option for instructor approval to join the class, in which case all signers up will be placed on hold pending your approval, and you will receive an email for each potential participant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a link to questions frequently asked by instructors and participants regarding classes and classrooms.