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Back Road BearsI've seen offerings for "online classes" or " online workshops" that are merely the purchase of a pattern with instructions and photos that are emailed in .pdf format for use and print from your hard drive at your leisure. Nothing more.
I've seen "e-patterns" that are pattern, instuructions and photos for purchase that are then emailed in .pdf format for use and print from your hard drive at your leisure. That seems appropriate for an "e-pattern", doesn't it? A pattern sent to you electronically.
"Online classes or workshops" I thought to be real, true online classes require a password for access to instructions/photos/printable material ONLINE and are available only for a specified amount of time and often include a messaging format for communication with instructor and fellow students for a classroom type feel.
So what's the difference? Am I missing something? Is the first example just a deceptive marketing gimic to call it something more than it is? Or are all these terms just used so loosely that they can mean anything? I just want to be an educated consumer when it comes to this so I"m not disappointed or expecting the wrong thing and feel others should be too... especially new folks!
What would you expect if you "bought" or "signed up for" an online class? What have the "online classes" you've taken been like?
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsDaphne, I have taken online classes that were like this description:
"Online classes or workshops" I thought to be real, true online classes require a password for access to instructions/photos/printable material ONLINE and are available only for a specified amount of time and often include a messaging format for communication with instructor and fellow students for a classroom type feel.
I took them at Ebearz University and at DollStreet and they were great. I guess I would prefer this format , but I suppose there could be different formats. I recently saw an online class advertised in CD form. All of the instructions, photographs, videos etc. were on this CD and once you purchased it you could work at your own pace, and the teacher would be available via email to offer support and answer questions. So it could be more aptly described as an instructional CD with tech support. An advantage of this format is that you have the CD for future reference, but I personally would rather take a class--even and online class-- with other people. Jack Johnston (www.artdolls.com) approaches his online classes differently still. His format reminds me of the graduate classes I took online. You have a required text book and video and assignments with specific due dates as well as class times for online discussion and critiques. I have not taken an online class from him; that is just what I learned through the description on his website. I don't think that it is deceptive marketing unless the class format is not disclosed. I do think though that the "online class" in your first description is not well named!
Back Road BearsThanks, Tami. 
Someone has ePatterns on eBay that she's calling "Online Classes" and I really got concerned that some folks might not know the difference and pay for something they'll think is more than it really is. The false marketing is a shame. Especially for those who really do offer online classes. I had a split second of self-doubt that perhaps I'd been thinking an online class was something it wasn't! 
