If you sign up for an online class, you will be expected to:

• Access the Internet and find a website using a web address (URL).
• Download and open PDF and/or MS Word documents. (Instructions are provided for finding free software to open documents in both formats.)
• Participate in online discussion forums, live chats, and other activities.

Many of our students describe themselves as technological novices, but they quickly adapt to the online class environment with the help of their teaching artist, their fellow students, and Loft staff.

• If you have a Mac you should have at least the OSX operating system. If you have a Windows machine, you should have at least Windows 98.
• You need to have an Internet connection. Wi-fi, cable modem, or DSL will be more effective. You can participate with dial-up, but it will be slower.
• We recommend the Mozilla Firefox browser, which you can download and install at http://mozilla.com.
• Courses may include short videos or PDFs, which would require the Flash plug-in and Adobe Acrobat Reader respectively. You can get both at http://adobe.com
• We do not recommend using only a tablet or mobile device while participating in your online class, though much of the content will be available to these devices and they may be used for checking in to your class website on occasion

• You should plan to spend about two hours a week participating in class activities.
• Most of your participation in an online class will be done at your convenience: reading content, watching videos, participation in forums, reading and responding to writing, and working on your own creative writing.

• Some classes may have occasional live chats so the students can get to know one another better. These are scheduled by the teaching artists, in consideration of the students’ schedules.
• Participation in live chats is always optional

• Your work in an online class is private to that classroom, and we emphasize that to teaching artists and students.
• You have the option of using a pseudonym in your online class.

• The Loft’s mission is to foster community, and this applies to our online classes as well as our face-to-face classes.
• You will join a group of fellow writers in asynchronous online forums and live chats, critique one another’s works in progress, and participate in other ice-breaker and community-building activities

We use a course management tool called “Moodle,” which features a number of ways for teaching artists and students to interact with one another. A few are illustrated below.

Your classes take place in a class website managed by the Loft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content may be provided in text, audio, or video formats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discussion forums are asynchronous (not in real time) and usually have longer responses to questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live chats are in real time and usually involve short, immediate interactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depending on the class you take, you may share your work with the class and get feedback, as well as provide feedback to your peers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many teaching artists also provide longer, private critiques of your works in progress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your teaching artist may also use other collaborative activities like creating glossaries, wikis, or a database of books or resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two courses I took online at the Loft with Mary Carroll Moore (Your Book Starts Here, parts 1 and 2) helped me more than I could have imagined. Not only did they give me a framework and Mary's wise guidance, but I felt part of a group of people all striving to learn, progress, and create.  An online class is with you anytime you log on to your computer, and in that way it's even more collegial and supportive than a real classroom.  I highly recommend this experience!

–Beth Rosenschein

 

Thank you so much for providing us an opportunity to continue on with an online writing group.

The ability to take courses from the Loft has been of the best experiences of my writing life. An online course works so well for me and my schedule. It provides flexibility, accountability and a safe haven to explore my writing.

–Laura Lively

 

For years I have wanted to take a class at the Loft, but the times availability never seemed to work out for me. With this online class, I finally had something that fit my schedule, so I knew now that it was really up to me to make my book happen. The online class gave me access to many people's writing and creative processes, much more than I would have seen in a traditional class. While at times it was overwhelming to see the number of new e-mails I had, those accumulating e-mails also reminded me that my book is an important part of my life, and I need to make time for it as I make time for the other parts of my life.

This online writing course is what has convinced me that I can write the book I am dreaming of, and it is the thing that has gotten me to my computer and to the work of putting my words on paper.

–Gretchen Hovan

 

As a writer living in outstate Minnesota, I made the 7-hour round trip to Loft weekend workshops whenever I could. Though they were educational and worthwhile, I always felt that I was missing the continued feedback that a longer-term, ongoing class could offer. Not able to travel to the Cities weekly, I hoped that one day I'd find a way to attend a weekly Loft class from rural Minnesota. When I saw that the Loft was offering online classes, I felt like my prayers had been answered: finally I could attend an ongoing class where my writing could get feedback and I could benefit from regular interaction with a teacher and classmates. The online class at the Loft has finally given me the opportunity that my peers in the metro area have had all along: access to the wonderful resources at the Loft Literary Center. My writing has changed radically, and in 12 weeks I went from having a few dry mismatched essays to a complete first draft. In 24 weeks, I had a second draft, a much more nuanced understanding of the craft of writing, and an appreciation for how to manage the immense task of writing a book. All I have to say to the Loft is, on behalf of all those individuals not able to attend regular Loft classes in person, thank you for providing us online access to your classes.

–Elisa Korenne

 

At first I was hesitant to sign up for an online class.  I thought the chemistry between students and instructors I've found in in-person Loft class would be lost.  Instead, the community we created through the online classes was even stronger than I could have hoped for.  With supportive online conversations, generous opportunities to share our writing and offer feedback, and guidance from an experienced and knowledgeable teacher, my writing transformed.

–Ann Kempke