Frequently Asked Questions
Ages
What age group are your classes for?
Unless otherwise stated, our classes are meant for high school students. Middle school classes are specified as such. We can also teach classes for older groups by request. If, for example, your business wants to start a podcast, we can teach a small private class for four or five employees.
Should a rising ninth-grader be in a middle or high school class?
Probably the high school class, but that’s ultimately up to you. Classes cover almost the same material regardless of age group, but when we discuss opportunities outside of class like student film festivals or game jams, each class learns about events that accept work from their age group. A rising ninth-grader will be aging out of most of what they learn about in the middle school class.
Class Rules
Are food & drinks allowed in the space?
Yes. We take a short break in the middle of each class, and students are welcome to bring a snack to eat then. They’re also welcome to bring a drink into class, though we ask that they don’t eat during class barring some medical need. We have a Britta filter to fill water bottles and a small fridge which students can use during class.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
You may want to bring a notebook and something to write with, if you’re the note-taking and/or doodling type. You don’t need any other specific materials. We do have Wi-Fi in the space, and some classes will introduce you to relevant software, so if you have a laptop or a tablet it might be a good idea to bring that along.
Do classes have homework?
Kind of. The screenwriting class will be expected to write at home, and to read other students’ scripts outside of class. Students decide how long their screenplays will be, so the amount of time they’ll take to write can vary widely. The absolute maximum amount of reading to be done, if every student wrote the longest screenplay acceptable, would be about sixty pages. Given that that’s in screenplay format, it would take the average reader a little under an hour to read. The podcasting classes are asked to listen to podcasts outside of class. The tabletop class syllabus varies pretty widely based on what the particular group is interested in, but students may be asked to do some out-of-class reading.
Can you tell me more about how your classes are structured?
The closest analogue is probably a college seminar. I try to involve a lot of student discussion and hand-on activities throughout the class, interspersed with shorter lecture segments to introduce new concepts. My teaching style is pretty heavily influenced by Vygotsky’s work on social learning, and I think it’s key to give each class an active, social, and creative component. I also tailor all of my lesson plans to each individual group of students, to make sure we address the exact things they’re most interested in.
In a much simpler sense: classes are split into two blocks of equal length with a short break in the middle.
Parking & Transport
When should I drop off or pick up my student?
You can drop you student off up to fifteen minutes before class. Ideally, we’d like you to pick them up as soon as possible after class, but you have until half an hour after class ends for our noon and two o’clock classes or fifteen minutes after class ends for our four o’clock classes.
Is there parking on-site?
Yes! There’s a very large parking lot beside our building, and you’re welcome to park there if you drive yourself to class.
Can I stay at the studio between classes?
If you’re signed up for two back-to-back classes, then yes, you’re welcome to stay at the studio during the half-hour in between. If your classes are not immediately following one another, you’ll need to leave the studio during the time another class is in session.
Class Sizes
How small are classes, exactly?
We cap classes at five students each, with the exception of our hands-on workshops, which have no cap.
How many students do you need to run a class?
We run a class as long as at least two students are signed up. In the event that only one student is signed up for a class, we’ll send them an email on the Friday before class begins and offer a few options. If there’s another session of the course available — for example, if the student is registered for an in-person course, but we have space available in the online variant — we’ll offer to switch them to the other class at a discount. You’ll also have the option to withdraw from the course for a full refund.
Other Stuff
Is the studio wheelchair accessible?
Unfortunately, no. Our studio is on the second floor, and only accessible via a flight of stairs. We plan to move to an accessible space as soon as possible. If there’s a class only offered in-person that you’re interested in, let us know and we can do our best to offer it online as soon as possible.
What are your policies with regards to COVID-19?
All of our staff are fully vaccinated. If any student in a class is not yet fully vaccinated, we’ll teach the class masked, and notify our students that the entire class is not yet fully vaccinated.
What’s your cancellation policy?
You’re welcome to cancel your registration up until the Friday before the first day of class via email or our scheduling platform. If you do so, you’ll receive a full refund. If you withdraw from the class after that point, you’ll receive a partial refund.