Virtual Class Etiquette
Present times call for much change
The online meeting rooms have become ever popular as the world continues to navigate its way through a pandemic. Platforms such as Zoom, Google Meets, Facebook Rooms, and others have exploded in areas of life where social interaction is needed and desperately desired. Near the middle of March, students and teachers across the globe immediately employed online virtual classrooms to continue their education, and many businesses now conduct meetings in virtual spaces with partners and clients to keep their companies rolling with as little disruption as possible. Pandemic or not, I think virtual meeting rooms are going to be a way of social interaction that is here to stay.
Many of us have been forced to remain fluid in our way of thinking as it pertains to business goals and operations. We are dealing with a lot of change right now. Sometimes changes occur overnight! Often times we are left confused and unsure of what to expect due to the ever changing reports that we get on a day to day basis. One way that at least seems promising amongst a lot of other instability is being able to do business virtually. We have seen many begin to employ this option and are having a great success with it.
Our studio thrives in a social setting. We are an art studio yes, but we are in the entertainment business. Having a room full of happy, carefree people listening to music, and chatting it up with friends as we all get creative with brushes and acrylic paints, is a fun like no other! We have contemplated many times through out the last few months what it would take to reopen and flood the room full of creatives wanting to have a good time again and every time we have been met with opposition. So, what is the next best thing in our opinion? That is a virtual class experience. An online paint party room if you will. We have been hard at work getting things set up to evolve and transition our studio into a virtual experience that people will love all the same, despite the differences. Instead of being sad about what we have lost, let us be grateful for what we still have right?! This new way of social art can be just as fun if we keep our attitudes right. I am excited and looking forward to painting with you over Zoom and Facebook Live!
As we move forward with the transition I wanted to take a moment to put out some valuable information that I have seen floating around the internet. I have also had the opportunity to help my 4 children with their Zoom classroom experiences as well as 10 weeks of Free Facebook Live classes that I put out over March-June. I am no expert, but I think a lot of us are definitely getting more acquainted with these online platforms in recent days. So here are some Virtual Class Etiquette tips to keep you looking good in your online meeting spaces.
Virtual Class Etiquette Tips
Do not be late. Join at least 5 min early. If you are late, you may not be let it in as it would be disruptive and considered rude just as if it were in-person.
Be ready to go. Have whatever you need to be ready to participate in the meeting/class you are attending. Presentations, notes, books, paper/pen, art supplies, etc…
Be aware that you are on camera. Don’t multi-task, pick your nose or position the camera inappropriately. Keep distractions to a minimum. Choose a well lit space. Consider what others will see when looking at you (might be good to brush your hair and put on a little make up if applicable). If you are not required to have your camera on, make sure you have a nice photo of yourself uploaded to your profile so that they at least see that.
Mute your microphone. Unless you are speaking, please keep it on mute to respect others. You may be placed on mute upon entry so you will need to unmute when you want to speak. Don’t speak out of turn or over others.
Stay on topic. Keep conversations positive and respectful. No yelling or ranting or shouting at your family in the background. In general its best to leave out controversial and political topics unless that was pre-discussed.
Don’t abuse the chat box. Feel free to type your relevant questions but please don’t overuse or misuse that benefit.
Figure out your own tech support. If you are having difficulties connecting, staying connected, switching different views or understanding the features of the platform you are on, please figure that out prior to the meeting or on your own without disrupting others. Your instructor will not appreciate being asked to stop and help you with any of the above mentioned things. No offense.
Be patient. With others, your instructor and yourself. This is new for a lot of us. We will all get confused or have tech problems or be unsure of ourselves in these online spaces for awhile until we become accustomed to them. So go easy on everyone and enjoy the benefits of still being able to connect with others at least in some way that can work and be enjoyable!
Thank you so much for reading this blog. I hope that it has given you some tools to be successful at having and hosting online meetings or classes. We will be employing these same tips in all of our online meetings and I hope that you will consider joining me for some paint party fun on Zoom or through our private Facebook Group subscription for monthly LIVE classes. 🥰
Sincerely,
Amy Brekke
For the Love of Art Studio in Charleston, South Carolina
www.charlestonpaintparty.com