Comments on: Blender Classes in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA – Summer 2007

By: Terence

Terence — Wed, 09 May 2007 18:40:47 +0000

btw Jim, thanks for the Blender Basics guide. I'm a teacher and have used it for teaching and also direct anyone new to blender to it. Keep up the good work

By: Jim C

Jim C — Wed, 09 May 2007 18:24:07 +0000

I figure that most of us geeks that read blendernation 10 times a day wouldn't really benefit from these classes….. but it helps to spread the word :-)

I get paid a flat rate by the district whether I have 5 or 15 people in the class so by getting a few "outside the district" participants, it helps them offset costs and helps with administration allowing me to offer the classes to individuals other than district employees. This is the first year to attempt this. Usually the classes are closed.

By: Terence

Terence — Wed, 09 May 2007 18:05:38 +0000

I think we are spoiled by blender being free. $50 a day is definitely cheap, but I also suspect most blendernation readers are beyond the noob stage and this course sounds like it is directed to new or newer users. It wouldn't help me out, but I'm glad the blender user base will be growing from classes like this.

By: ccherrett

ccherrett — Wed, 09 May 2007 05:31:14 +0000

Levon: well said!

By: Levon

Levon — Wed, 09 May 2007 04:03:42 +0000

i have seen training courses that were up to $350 a day…. so $50 is cheap.

just because blender is free doesnt mean that other educational means should also be free. its sad to say, but most people are in it for money, thats why there are so many maya and max training books and courses.

$150 is worth it for a 20-24 hours of training.

By: LoganMac

LoganMac — Wed, 09 May 2007 03:03:36 +0000

Thats neat I wish I had a Class for blender when I went to high school, SO I pretty much started my own little Blender group in my drafting class cause our new teacher was shitty after our good one left and he never gave out assignments. so it was pretty much a Blender and Unreal Tournament class for that year.
Luckily the next years kids got a proper drafting teacher though. I should go back to school and introduce them to Blender too, cause most of them can't afford auto desk to use at home and that way they can still make things at home too.

By: ccherrett

ccherrett — Wed, 09 May 2007 01:47:12 +0000

I would think that $150 for three days worth of training is cheap.

I would and have paid much more for training.

I guess it is the value one holds on the course.

By: JimC

JimC — Wed, 09 May 2007 00:54:09 +0000

Thanks for the comments and interest. A PA meeting would be nice and would like to attend also if it can fit into the busy schedule.

Tossing over prices with our curriculum director, we tried to compare it to what you would see in other educational inservice programs. Last year I ran a 2-day thing through our local I.U. and they basically charged $100 (what most of their programs run).

The days are going to cover basically what's listed with some time to try some personal things. I have to remember that most of the participants I may be getting will be very basic in modeling skills. Just like teaching high school students… I try to accommodate to varied abilities and interests. This is geared more for the teacher (or other individual) just trying to get into Blender and seeing if they can incorporate it into a curriculum. I plan to offer a photocopied copy of the manual and a CD of sample work to each participant (things like a folder full of architecture models, trees (2D and 3D), textures, some simple games we've made, etc….. things we use in class). As a PA teacher, we need to get 180 continuing education hours every 5 years and the district is offering 6 per day.

Last year, I presented Blender in Baltimore at the International Technology Education Assoc. annual conference. They charged about $300 to attend the 2-day conference and even as a presenter, I still had to pay (well, the district did). It was a great experience and it helped spread the word about Blender, but for the price, I don't think I'm doing that gig again anytime soon.

By: jason

jason — Wed, 09 May 2007 00:04:18 +0000

hey that's literally down the road from my school! it'd be awesome to meet up with other blenderheads…

tho yea i do already know more than basic – do u think it will be limiting in that way, like brianH is saying?

By: Tim Formica [Room335]

Tim Formica [Room335] — Tue, 08 May 2007 21:46:09 +0000

BrianH,

I had a hoagie for lunch today :-) in Southern California though. (101 f degrees today). I grew up in Philly and I'll be there Labor Day weekend so if anybody wants to meet that'd be great!