Online Learning – Handmade Trends

Are you debating whether or not online video tutorials are for you?  Our HandmadeMarketing.org team wondered what handmade crafter Cindy Lietz, from the website Beads and Beading, had to say about why online tutorials are emerging as such a prominent trend in learning.

In an article on her site, Cindy discussed why a local newspaper article about continuing education craft classes suffering from low attendance caught her attention.

“As you can see by the headline that was clipped from a local newspaper in my area just a couple of weeks ago, the School Districts are making cuts to Continuing Education programs. No more guitar lessons, sushi making 101 instruction or craft classes!” Cindy wrote on in this Beads and Beading article.

Cindy thinks that just a few years ago, news like this would have been a huge blow to her personally.  “That’s because I was teaching a wide variety of craft classes including tile mosaic, painted wine glasses, handmade paper, tea bag folding, and more,” she shares with her readers.

Cindy taught classes three nights each week, in addition to Saturdays classes, in 13 different local school districts. “Creativity develops the brain in ways that other disciplines do not,” Cindy said.

“It was my livelihood at the time, and I enjoyed it very much. But as the kids got older, it became difficult to balance the night school routine with all the stuff that comes with raising a family,” she explained in the article.

Cindy explains that the cutbacks happening at many Continuing Education districts across the United States are primarily due to low student enrollment.

“With the birth of online video, it a sign of the times,” she writes.  Cindy says she knows this because of comments that she receives regarding her online video tutorials on her website.

Cindy shared some of these comments:

“I like that I can view your home tutor videos at any time from the comfort of my home, in any order,” said Roberta, a fan of Cindy’s tutorials.

“One of the reasons I like to take classes is to learn all the tips that you normally don’t see in books. Your tutorials are a way of taking a class without having to leave home!” writes Katina, another crafter that has enjoyed Cindy’s video tips.

Cindy explains that the accessibility of online video has opened up many doors for many people who are interested in learning more craft ideas.

She explains that there are those who can’t fit night school into their busy schedules, or prefer not to head out or drive at night for safety reasons.  Cindy also thinks that online videos provide opportunity to crafters who live in rural areas without access to continuing education facilities.

In fact, Cindy shared a recent comment by a fan of her website tutorials from a crafter living in a rural area. “I really love your videos. I live in a rural area where I don’t have access to workshops, so I really appreciate your workshop-like videos. Thank you!” wrote Karen.

“Affordability and ongoing support are other key factors that caused me to embrace the use of online video as a teaching medium,” Cindy wrote.  “Live event classes can be wonderful for meeting up with people and making friends. But they are expensive to host and to attend. Students at my night school classes had to pay anywhere from $30 to $100 each, for just a couple of hours with me. And there was no way for them to be able to get follow up support after the class was over.”

Online learning is not just a trend in the handmade and craft world.  According to a New York Times article, nearly 3.5 million college or graduate students, took at least one online course in the fall of 2006.  This is equates to one in five students.  This is double the figures of five years earlier!

At the Beads and Beading website, Cindy’s viewers can have access to her online polymer clay videos for under $4 per month.  This fee includes weekly lessons plus access to a supportive online community at her Beads and Beading blog.

“I absolutely love the way Internet video makes tutoring so affordable!” Cindy shared.

Do you subscribe to online tutorials?  Why do you like to learn online?  What are obstacles you see when learning via online tutorials?

We want to hear your thoughts on the online learning trend!  Tell us why you like (or don’t like) online tutorials by clicking the “Join” tab at the top of the site.  If we publish your tips, we’ll link to your shop, website, or blog!