How will the Online workshops be? 2021

For this edition of Polimeralia we have changed a few things.

The format we have chosen for this edition will no longer be that of a webinar, but we have opted to change it to a video conference.

We have had a lot of practice with Zoom calls and we know that the potential problems we saw in the last edition will not occur.

Using this format allows us a closeness that we would not have otherwise.

What we will do is to enter the classrooms with the microphones closed and only open them when we want to talk or ask questions.

This will allow us to make the classes much more dynamic.

Of course, if someone does not want to or cannot turn on the camera and mic, they are free to leave them closed all the time.

The total duration of each class will be the same as if it were face-to-face, that is, about 7 or 8 hours. What we want is to maintain the general structure of any workshop, a time of explanation and a time for you to work at home and then start again.

You know how important quality is to us at Polimeralia, so in order to offer you the best possible quality, we will once again record the classes beforehand, so that we can edit them properly, take care of the shots we offer you, the lighting, and avoid unnecessary time. With the experience we have gained this year, we believe that this option involves much more work for the organisation, but it is undoubtedly the one that involves more quality. And, above all, that we can be attentive to you all the time.

However, as we can’t, and don’t want to, separate ourselves completely from the live performance, the questions you ask will be demonstrated/answered live.

To do this, we are going to make use of another of the things we have changed in this edition:

The opening of several Facebook groups (private and hidden) for each of the sessions.

Why have we done this?

Well, because we realised last year that the option to send us photos of your work via Zoom’s internal chat was very cumbersome and made the process very cumbersome.

On the other hand, having several Facebook groups allows you to upload photos or short videos of your work very easily and have them commented on by the teachers quickly and efficiently.

We think this will be as close as possible to a face-to-face class.

In fact, we believe that this has a great advantage over face-to-face courses. The feedback that a student would receive in a face-to-face class is now extended to the whole class because the pieces will be analysed, and questions will be answered openly for all attendees.

In addition, the Facebook groups will host the high-quality videos that we will record. So, you will be able to access them whenever you want.

Each of the sessions on 7 and 8 August will be recorded in full, and a link will be sent to you at the end of the session so that you can download it.

In addition, we will be broadcasting these sessions through the Facebook group.

We believe that in this way, by expanding the options, we make it easier for you to adapt them to your needs.

But as we know that many of you like to have the tutorials in pdf format that you can print if you want. A few days before the courses, you will have access to the tutorial document. This will allow you to follow it at home at the same time as we teach the classes without the need to take notes.

Another important thing that we could not miss is the language. This year, we will once again organise the groups according to the language spoken by the participants.

We will have one group for the Spanish courses and one group for the English courses.

All the videos we have proposed above will be recorded in the language of the day. This will allow us to understand each other much better and solve any problems that may arise. In addition, with the Pdf tutorial that we will give at the opening of each course, you will be able to follow the class perfectly.

The answers to the questions you ask, we will answer them, if we can, in the corresponding language and if it is too complicated, we will do it in writing in the chat using a translator.

We don’t think it will be necessary this year to do pre-connection tests as we did last year. We already have a lot of practice in these matters. But if anyone wants to make a previous connection to check that everything is correct, just contact the organisation.

There is only one thing left to sort out, and that is how we manage the material that is always given to you at the beginning of the course.

This year we are not changing the way we approach this issue. So we have once again decided not to give you any material at the course and to reduce the cost that this entailed in the on-site event.

The list of materials and tools will be available on the website, and you will have almost everything you need in the workshop, but if not, our dear friend Irene, who runs the Irexartesanía shop has offered to prepare a list of all the materials you might need, all in one place.

When you go to her online shop, just look for the list of materials and tools for each course and check what you are missing. And she will send it all to your home. So, you won't go crazy going from shop to shop looking for each of the materials you are going to use.

Thank you.