Episode 9: From Room To Zoom
When you're ready to take your workshop online, the fundamentals don't disappear, they just shift. In this final episode of the audio diary series, I walk through how I'd adapt the ornament-making workshop for a virtual setting by revisiting the core questions: why, what, who, when, where, and how. From choosing materials that work for home kits to deciding between live and asynchronous teaching, each element requires fresh consideration. You might lose the shared physical space, but you gain accessibility and the chance to reach people who might not have been able to attend otherwise.
“For in-person meetings, the architecture helps us arrive: we walk through (or linger in) a doorway, take a seat… Online, there is no doorway. We have to create one. Our deepest job as a virtual host isn’t managing the logistics, it’s temporary world creation.”
- Priya Parker, The Art of Gathering
Here’s the RSS link if you want to add the podcast to your player of choice (or at least those that let you): https://sunfishstudioceramics.ca/wondrous-workshops-episodes?format=rss
Reflection Questions
What is your own comfort level with technology? Would you feel more confident teaching live on Zoom where you can interact in real-time, or would you prefer recording a tutorial where you can edit and teach asynchronously?
If you were to create an home art kit for your preferred craft or medium, what sorts of tools and materials would likely be essential to include versus what could people reasonably find around their house?
What might online teaching offer you as a new facilitator? Consider things like scheduling flexibility, the ability to reach people beyond your local area, or the option to reuse recorded content. Do any of these benefits feel particularly valuable for your situation?
Reading References
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
Resources
Meaningful Virtual Gatherings
With Priya Parker
Unbox your creativity
Mini Podcast