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Questions I might ask before I sign up for a class.
How do online classes work?
We have two types of class environments at the Academy of Quilting: Scheduled classes and one-to-one learning.
1. Scheduled classes are run at a set date. Most classes have two sessions each year. When you register for a scheduled class, you will be given the start date. Within 48 hours of the start date you will be sent a password to access the classroom, which includes classroom forum, galleries and dates when lessons open. Other students are also registered for these classes. They will also be sharing the same class information, adding their photos in the gallery and asking questions in the classroom forum for you to see. You have access to the classroom as long as it is open, 24/7. The length of the class depends on the amount of lessons it has. All classes are a minimum of four weeks long and remain open three weeks after the last lesson is posted.
2. One-to-one learning classes are run at any time you wish to commence them. These classes only involve you and the teacher. There are no other students. You will have all the same information as you get for scheduled classes with the exception you do not have a forum. All communication is done directly with the teacher on a one-to-one basic via email. You have the option of receiving all lessons at the beginning or receiving each lesson one at a time as each is completed. Class start time is set by you as long as the date is acceptable to our teacher.
Do you have an example of what sort of information is contained in the lessons?
Our lessons are full of text and photos. We also include video to support this information. We have a free online class for you to try and a preview showing some of the type of things you will see in a class. Click here for our preview and register for our free class at: Free Class Registration
Does the Academy have a Newsletter?
We issue a newsletter on our main website at Arbee Designs. This keeps you up to date with new classes and notification when classes are scheduled. You can register for our newsletter here:
We also send update news to all those who are registered for our free class. You can sign up for this here: Arbee Designs Newsletter
Do I need any special computer programs to take your online classes?
No. Our classes are all web based so viewable online. You will need a standard browser to view the text and photos. You will also need to have the latest version of Acrobat Reader, which you can download free to print any templates provided for the class you are taking. You will also need a video player such as Windows Media Player to view the videos. All software can be downloaded free.
You can download Acrobat Reader here: Acrobat Reader Download
You can download Microsoft Media Player here: Microsoft Media Player Download
My country uses the metric system. Can I still take these classes even though they are in inches?
You can easily convert the imperial measurements into metrics if you like, however we suggest you work with patchwork and quilting rulers in imperial measurement. You will find this a lot easier than working with metric rulers.
Is there a limit on how many times I can use a class password or when I log into a class?
You can log into the class room as many time as you like during the time class is open. The class is open 24/7 for the duration it is open. The length of a class depends on how many lessons it has. All scheduled classes are open for a minimum of four weeks, but always check the welcome page for closing date.
You can log in any time of day or night so take you time and be sure to check out all the pages.
Can I use a credit card to pay for my class?
To use credit card for payment, purchase will be conducted through PayPal in US dollars by clicking on the "Buy" button. This is a secure and safe method of using your credit card. You do not need to have a Paypal account to use this option. Paypal will prompt you to sign up with them however you may bypass this step if you wish. If you need help with this, please contact us, we can walk you through the process. To find out more about Paypal go to their website. Click here for Paypal's website
Do NOT send us your credit card information in an email.
Note: If you make your payment using an e-check through Paypal, the payment will have to clear the bank first before password is sent to you. Be sure you do this at least 1 week prior to class start date to ensure you can begin class when it opens.
Can I pay for my class by check?
Yes, you can pay for your class by check. We require the funds to be made in US dollars or NZ dollars. Please be aware that your check will need to clear the bank before your password is sent to you.
What happens if I am not available when the class starts or the first lesson opens?
The beauty of our online classes is you do not have to be in class at the same time as your teacher or other students. You can log in whenever you please. There is no specific time you are required to be in class. Lessons will become available each Saturday and remain open for the duration of the class. See the welcome page of your class to check for dates of when lessons open and the class closes.
My local quilt shop cancels their class if there are not enough students signed up. Do online classes work in the same way?
We know you do not want to purchase the requirements and then find the class is cancelled so we have no minimum enrollment in our classes.
Must I access my class from the computer I used to sign up?
Your password is the key to entering any classroom. You may use it from any computer.
Questions I might ask pretaining to a class.
I entered my password into the sign in box but it didn’t log me in. I had a message to say wrong password, please try again. What should I do?
There are several things you should check before contacting us.
Are you sure that you have typed the password correctly? Use lower case letters and ensure no spaces are included into the box.
Check to be sure you are online. If you have been bumped off, the password will not log you in.
Are you sure the class is still running? Please ensure you check the Welcome page for the closing date and make a point of printing all the lessons before the classroom closes.
If none of the above work, please contact us at aoq@academyofquilting.com
I was late entering the classroom and the class is already starting lesson two. Can I still ask questions pertaining to lesson one?
You can ask any question at any time. Be sure to check all messages already posted just in case someone else has asked your question previously.
I have logged into the class but the Lessons are not open. What is wrong?
You will receive your password prior to the first lesson opening. If you have logged during this time, no lesson will be available. Check the Welcome page for dates of when classes open.
If you know a lesson should be open but the link is not available, it maybe because you need to clear your cache. Often to speed up your online surfing, your browser will show you the cached version of a webpage. If we have uploaded new photos or opened lessons, these may appear unavailable since they are not recorded in the cache. In this case, you need to force a page refresh. This can be done by holding down the ctrl key and clicking on the refresh button.
How do I get back to the Academy’s home page from my class?
You can return to the home page from any page on our site by clicking on the AQ logo at the top right of the page.
Are there any special instructions for printing templates so they print to the right size?
You need Acrobat Reader to print the templates in our classes because these are saved as PDF format. PDF format will ensure that the templates will be printed at the correct size, however you do have to check that the Page Scaling setting is set to 'None'. Generally, this setting will be set to ‘fit to page’ or ‘shrink to fit page’. You need to change this to none so the templates are not distorted.
Do your classrooms have a spell check facility?
The classroom forum does not have a spell check however you can install one in your browser that will check all forums and forms on any website. If you use the Mozilla Firefox browser, it comes with a spell checker automatically installed. If you are using Internet Explorer you can download and install a free spell checker here: Spell Checker for IE
In the Classroom Forum, all the posts are marked as 'New' even though I have already read many. Why?
Each time you log into your classroom, a cookie is sent to your computer. The cookie is recalled so it can tell which posts need to be flagged with the new sign.
If you are using a different computer or browser, it will not recall this information, therefore the posts register as new.
If you have cleared your cookies from your browser, this will clear your flags also. We suggest you leave clearing cookies until after your class has closed or prior to it opening.
If you are using the same computer and browser, and all flags are showing, try closing your browser and logging in after opening a new browser. All post within the past 24 hours will show as new. If it has been longer since you have logged in, check the dates next to each post to ensure you have no missed a post.
Can I print the posts in the classroom forum?
Since all posts are on separate windows the best way to save them is to copy and paste the comments in a word document. The best way to do this is to open a new document at the beginning of class. As you read the posts, copy any you wish to keep by selecting it (by dragging the mouse over the text), then copy it (hold down ctrl key and tap on the C key), move to your document and paste into it. (ctrl key + V). Remember to save your document and print it when you are ready.
How can I put my quilts in the gallery?
If you have a digital camera or scanner, you can send us a photo. There is specific information on how to do this on the welcome page of all classrooms.
You can also send us a photo via mail to:
Arbee Designs
PO Box 3147
Fullerton
CA 92834
USA
OR
Arbee Designs
PO Box 18542
New Brighton
Chch 8641
New Zealand
Include a SASE for us to return your photo after we scan it.
