Frequently Asked Questions About Our New eCLASSES

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If the FAQ doesn't answer your question, email us at: classes AT salon DOT com.

How does an eClass work and how does it differ from a live class?

Each eClass take place in a "digital classroom", a Web site where you can interact with your instructor and classmates, and complete your weekly lessons. Within the digital classroom you'll find:

• A Digital Library, where you can upload your work and download supplementary reading and handouts
• A Bulletin Board, where you, your instructor, and classmates can critique and discuss your work, and carry out in-depth conversations over the course of your course
• A Chat Room, where you can meet your instructor and classmates for a live chat during "Office Hours"
• Lectures and Assignments to read and download - the same ones you'd get in a live class.

Once a week, a new lecture and assignment are posted, a new assignment is due, and students are required to critique the assignments that their classmates have just posted, while the instructor does the same. Students will also carry out discussion on the Bulletin Board, both class-related and otherwise.

Each week, during "Office Hours", you will meet with your instructor and classmates for two hours in the Chat Room. You can discuss the assignments, lectures, work, and ask questions about writing, the business, anything you've been thinking of.

In fact, only difference between our eClasses and a live class is that you never miss a class; you can take part in every part of an eClass even with a busy or unpredictable schedule. As opposed to a live course that meets for a couple of hours each week, each session of a Salon eClass takes place over the course of a week - you read your lecture, do your assignment, critique your classmates' work from the previous week, and carry on discussions on the Bulletin Board, all on your own time. The only appointment you need to keep is your instructor's Office Hours, and you can access that chat from anywhere that has an internet connection. And if you miss a chat, you can always download a transcript of what everyone said!

Why should I take an eClass with Salon?

For the same reasons you read Salon! You'll be learning from the best writers out there, and interacting with classmates who are here because they're passionate about their work and their world. Your interactions with your instructor and classmates are what powers the class. The Bulletin Board and the Chat Room ensures that you have every opportunity to take advantage of the online community they've gained access to by joining the class.

Most importantly, though, we want you to be challenged. That's why our application process ensures that you're placed with students at a similar level. We want you to meet each other and take away with you new experiences and new perspectives on your work.

Do I need any special equipment to take an eClass?

The digital classroom Web site works with every common modern operating system. The best web browsers to use are:

• Internet Explorer (IE) version 5+ for Windows 98+


• Netscape version 7+ or Mozilla for MacOS X, Mac 9, and Linux

If you do not have the latest version of one of these browsers, you can just download it for free from these websites:

• Internet Explorer (recommended for Windows users): http://www.microsoft.com/ie
• Netscape Navigator (recommended for Mac users): http://www.netscape.com/download
• Mozilla (recommended for Linux users): http://www.mozilla.org/

Do classes meet?

Classes don't meet in the traditional sense. You will participate in most parts of the class - except for Office Hours (see below) - on your own time. Each "class" is an entire week long.

How do I communicate with the instructor and my classmates?

Each week, you will actually "meet" with your instructor and your classmates during a live chat in the Chat Room. These are your instructor's Office Hours. During Office Hours, you and your fellow students can ask questions or advice, discuss the assignments or lectures, and anything else that pertains to the class.

And don't forget that you'll also be communicating with your instructor and classmates on the Bulletin Board. You can talk start Bulletin Board posts about the lectures, assignments, ask questions, make comments, anything! And your instructor will be checking in on the Bulletin Board regularly to answer your questions and add their own two cents when necessary.

How do I get feedback from my instructor? Will I be workshopping my classmates' work too?

Yes. Your instructor gives you a deadline for posting your work on the digital library. Students and instructors read your work, and then they post their comments under your name on the Bulletin Board. You can go to the Bulletin Board as often as you like to read instructor and class discussions, post your own comments, or get class updates. In turn, you also will read your fellow students' work and post comments under their name on the Bulletin Board. We encourage you to read the instructor's comments on all of your classmates' work, since that will help you develop a critical eye. Reading and commenting on each other's work is one of the most critical keys to success in our eClasses. If you do not read and comment on your classmates' work, you really won't get as much out of the class.

If I miss an instructor's Office Hours, is there a way to find out what I missed?

Yes! You can read a transcript of all Chat Room discussions by viewing the Chat Room log.

What happens if I don't get my work in by the deadline?

It's up to your instructor. He or she is not required to read it and neither are your classmates. Respect for your instructors and fellow students is very important in our eClasses. If you're going to have a late assignment for one reason or another, let your instructor know asap and see what you can work out.

Do I have to apply to get into class?

Yes. You can find application instructions on the class description page for each course.

Take a tour of our demo eClass.

Back to eClass catalog

If the FAQ doesn't answer your question, email us at: classes AT salon DOT com.