How to organize your first class
When you start, it can be tricky to organize your first class. Here are some tips that generally work very well, based on the classes we witnessed.
1) Explore the application (20 minutes)
First make yourself familiar with the (basic) interface by logging into a virtual space and play around with the controls. A good way to do that is the Tutorial room that is automatically created for you in the ClassManager. Additionally we advice to add some content on your own and maybe invite a colleague, friend or family member to experience how you can communicate and interact. Read the about Basic navigation to learn the controls.
To avoid surprises, test with the same laptop and wifi network as you will do during your training or class.
2) Plan an introduction class with your students (10 - 20 minutes)
In our experience the first moments in a virtual space with people is always a bit chaotic. Everybody needs to login in and wants to experiment with the controls and interactions, and tend to wander off quickly to explore the location on their own.
This is actually great and an essential step, but make sure to plan a separate moment for that so it doesn't interfere with the goals of your session. A good solution is to use the last 10-20 minutes of a previous session to introduce people to the platform before you announce that the next class will take place there. You can first share your screen and show how you navigate around, and then send people an invitation link to join.
Make sure to disable or mute any other video / audio communication app while testing (like Zoom or Teams). And use a headset for best audio experience.
3) Prepare your first real class (± 1 hour)
After you did the introduction, you can start preparing for your first real class. Place any documents, video's or links in the room and write down the training or learning instructions. You can find more in this support section.
When your space is ready, use ClassManager to plan a session and send an invitation link to your students. You can use our example text: Example introduction email students as a starting point. Make sure to plan the session to start in the future, so you have enough time to set up the space.
For the first time, make sure to log in well before the session to test if everything works fine.
Tip: if you open the invitation in a 'private tab' in your browser, you can log in as one of your students/guests.
Questions or suggestions? Let us know via hello@imedu.support