Thank you for visiting the Teacher Help Guide!
Welcome, teachers! We are delighted that you have decided to join us in creating your online courses here at Orfe. We are very grateful for your willingness to share your knowledge and passion with young learners.
This journey consists of 11 sections, and we are here to help you if you have any questions. We hope you enjoy this process as much as we do!
Table of Contents
1.Live Courses in 3 Steps.
Not sure where to start or looking for inspiration for your course? Here are some tips to help you explore and come up with course ideas:
Identify the target audience
Determine the age group and educational level of the children who will be attending the webinar. This will help you tailor the content and activities to their needs and interests.
Research current environmental issues
Stay up to date on current environmental issues that have an impact on public health and the planet. Consider topics such as climate change, deforestation, pollution, and conservation efforts.
Look for inspiring stories
Find inspiring stories of individuals or organizations who are making a positive impact on the environment. This can include stories of conservationists, green entrepreneurs, or community activists.
After reviewing the 11 Guide Sections, you may feel prepared to create your content. Before submitting, carefully review your proposal to make sure it is in line with our educational mission, complies with our environmental guidelines, and upholds our quality standards.
Engaging and interactive content is crucial to making your course enjoyable and profitable. Here are some tips to consider:
Consider interactive activities:
Plan interactive activities that can engage children and help them connect with the content. Activities such as creating a mini-garden or conducting a waste audit in their home can be fun and educational.
Gather visual aids:
Collect visual aids such as pictures, videos, and infographics that can help illustrate the key points of the course. This can make the content more engaging and memorable for children.
Collaborate with experts:
Consider collaborating with experts in the environmental field who can provide insights and information on specific topics. This can help add credibility to the course webinar and provide children with valuable knowledge from professionals in the field.
Incorporate games and quizzes:
Use games and quizzes to reinforce the content and keep children engaged throughout the course. This can also help assess their understanding of the material.
Test the content:
Before launching the course, test the content and activities with a small group of children. This can help identify any areas that need improvement and ensure that the course is enjoyable and effective for the target audience.
Create a Video Reel to Attract More Students:
The video reel should feature stunning visuals of the unique project made from recycled materials, emphasize the enjoyable and imaginative elements of the course, and demonstrate how students will be helping the environment.
If you are ready to submit your course, follow this step-by-step guide for course activation and delivery:
- Fill out the Submission Form: To begin the submission process, navigate to your Teacher Profile Dashboard and fill out the Submission form with your course content.
- The Orfe Team will review your course for approval and coordinate course dates based on availability.
- We will provide you with the class ZOOM link and you will upload your course with all the information.
- Once we receive a notification of the new course, We will activate the registration. Consider 3 weeks to promote the course.
- You must connect 15 mins before to check that everything is fine.
- The Orfe host will be behind the scenes opening the room and checking that everything is in order with you.
- The class begins to record once it starts.
- You will accept the participants into the class after verifying their identity.
- You will be a co-host to moderate your class by controlling the permissions to speak and the camera.
- You can promote the upcoming course and request a review.
- On-time completion is required for all classes.
That’s it!
Example of a Course Cover:
“Eco-Carnival: Making Vibrant Masks Using Recycled Materials”
In this course, children will learn how to create unique and colorful carnival masks using recycled materials. I will teach them how to transform everyday items such as cardboard, plastic bottles, and fabric scraps into eye-catching masks that are perfect for any carnival celebration. Children will also learn about the importance of recycling and reducing waste to help protect the environment!
The participants will have the opportunity to use their creativity and problem-solving skills to create their masks, inspired by examples from different cultures. They will be able to work with various materials and techniques, such as cutting and shaping cardboard, assembling pieces, and painting.
2. Learning More About you.
Once your application to Teach at Orfe has been selected, we will schedule a Zoom meeting with you to finalize the process. We’re looking forward to getting to know you!
In this step, you will demonstrate that you have the knowledge and experience to lead a successful class. A brief description of your class style lets us understand the kind of teaching experience you will bring to the classroom. By explaining your teaching style, you can highlight your strengths. This includes your approach to instruction, the type of materials you use, and the activities you plan to include in your class. Based on this information, we can better understand how you intend to assist students and achieve their goals.
3. Create a Teacher Profile.
Your profile will feature both a video and text version of your biography. By creating your profile, you can provide parents with a glimpse into who you are and why they should trust you with their children’s education. It’s an effective way to show them that you’re the right person to be teaching their children and that you care about their success.
The following are tips on how to write the script for your video biography:
- Introduction: Your Name
- Practice/Professional Background
- Related experience
- Why you have joined Orfe.
Let’s take the example of Sunaina, who wants to join Orfe.
Name
My name is Sunaina Khandelwal
Professional Background
I am a multimedia artist who has graduated with a master’s in fine art from the University of the Arts London, UK. As part of my artistic practice, I create my own colors from natural materials such as sand, clay, rocks, and anything I can find from the natural environment since I believe that the landscape connects us to our cultural heritage. I have also exhibited my work both locally and internationally.
Related Experience
I am also an aspiring museum curator/ researcher based in Toronto. I am taking part in various collaborative projects where I work/ volunteer with art organizations and independent curators to organize artist interviews, exhibitions, and publications that create educational platforms for creative communication.
Why I Joined ORFE
My goal is to contribute to Orfe’s mission by utilizing my creative skills and extensive knowledge of environmental art. I am passionate about building together a community of creatives from around the world, where we come together, collaborate and learn how to value our environment.
Let’s see how sound this script for Sunaina’s video biography
Sunaina Khandelwal is a multidisciplinary artist, independent curator, and aspiring museum professional based in Canada. She graduated with an MA in Fine Art from the University of the Arts London, UK. Khandelwal has extensively exhibited her work on a local and international scale, whilst assisting with the curation of various shows. The artist has successfully collaborated with Art Historians, Curators, and Art organizations in researching and organizing various educational platforms and exhibitions.
Khandelwal is well-versed in Pigment History and holds in-depth knowledge about Art History and Pre-Historic cave art from around the world. She is currently researching the interplay between Western and Indian Art History through the lens of earth colors as her work investigates how the pigments, we painters use today, are contemporary re-enactments of their historic selves. The artist creates her own pigments from clay, rocks, and charcoal in order to reference fragments of a material history from a contemporary position.
We suggest creating a video of approximately one minute that also includes pictures that reflect your artistic practice.
4. Course Elements.
We suggest following the points outlined below when developing courses:
- General Course Information
- Brief Course Description
- Environmental Action Strategies in the Orfe EcoArt Program: The topic of the course should align at least with one of these Environmental Action Strategies:
– Plastic-free world
– Responsible consumption and sustainability-focused actions
– Protecting water sources
– Innovation and environmental development - Learning Objectives: (The course should state at least one objective at an environmental level)
- Resources and Supplies required:
– E.g., Resources: water, energy.
– Supplies: painting, brushes, etc.
– Recyclable materials
5. Create a Course.
Our Environmental guide is developed in accordance with subjects that should be taken into account during the design and execution of projects. The subjects include various environmental concepts, the current environmental situation, and strategies used by the Canadian government to protect our environment. The Orfe EcoArt Program focuses on the outlined subjects as they align with the international environmental strategies it prioritizes.
In this section, you will learn:
- Create a course video profile.
- Write a course overview and description.
- Identify the Environmental Action Strategies
- Prepare the course content.
Having a video promoting your course will increase your exposure and chances of being picked up. We suggest creating a video of approximately one minute that includes the following aspects:
- Project Introduction
- An Environmental action strategy
- What is the environmental problem?
- What is the solution?
Let’s see what our new teacher, Sunaina has to say.
1- Project Introduction:
Hello everyone! How would you feel about taking an adventure tour around your home? Imagine a plastic-free world, with soft textures of the sand, rich green colors of the grass, and fresh-smelling flowers. So, let’s create landscape paintings using organic and recyclable materials such as sand, leaves, plastic bottles, paper plates, cardboard boxes, and much more!
2- Environmental Action Plan:
Using these materials will allow you to help repurpose materials that are seen as waste and reduce the effects of environmental pollution.
3- Environmental Problem:
Canadians produce an estimated 3 million tons of waste per year and plastic is the most common. Its toxicity can affect the evolution of our environment and hinder the reproduction of our ecosystem.
4- Solution:
Let’s reduce the effects of toxic waste consumption by actively reusing and recycling the amount of plastic consumed within our households. Instead of throwing away excessive amounts of harmful materials, bring them to our lessons and let us transform such toxic objects into no-toxic items to display around your home!
Remember, you are an integral part of a global change and I hope to join hands with you in our future lessons.
This is the information that everyone can see when looking at the course before buying. It starts with an Overview and Course Description
The Overview: Should include these 4 components:
- An Introduction
- The course’s environmental action strategy
- What is the problem you intend to solve
- How the student can contribute to the environment
Course Description: Should include these 2 components:
- Project description
- What children will make in each class
Let’s see this example:
Overview
(1)This is a two-day workshop where you will create a variety of beautiful and decorative 3D artworks (2) that will allow you to contribute to a plastic-free world. (3)Plastic toxicity can affect the evolution of our environment and hinder the reproduction of our ecosystem. The majority of our wildlife is suffering due to excessive amounts of hazardous waste! (4)The course will encourage and challenge you to undertake creatively driven measures that can prevent the destruction of our environment. So, let’s gather our thinking caps and transform such hazardous items into decorative objects to display around your home!
Course Description
(1) Our decorative 3D painting will include a landscape painting of your choice. It can be trees, mountains, flowers, or anything you dream it to be! (2)In the first session, you will use recyclable household materials like cardboard boxes, paper plates, and plastic bottles to create a landscape painting that represents your favorite part of the environment. You can use such items as painting tools or objects to paint on.
In the second session, you will be able to use natural materials (such as sand, leaves, and dry twigs) to create beautiful landscape paintings on reusable household objects.
You will be asked to select and mention the Orfe Environmental Action Strategies for which you will work in your project. The definition of these strategies will be published by default in all courses. You also can read the complete definition in the Environmental Guidelines.
- Plastic-free world
- Responsible consumption and sustainability-focused actions
- Protecting water sources
- Innovation and environmental development
Once parents buy your course, they will be able to access the full content. This includes:
- Learning Goals
- Resources
- Materials
Learning Goals: (State at least one at an environmental level)
Example:
In this course your child will learn:
- How to reuse recyclable materials from around the house
- How to prepare a surface before painting
- Different shading/ mixing techniques using acrylics, etc.
Materials required:
Example:
Materials to bring for lesson 1:
- 4 Container lids (used to pour and mix paints),
- Paper plates OR 4 pieces of Cardboard (approximately 20 x 20 cm) (to paint on)
- 2 medium paintbrushes,
- etc.
Resources:
Provide here the links where you found environmental facts for the class and/or any document that you would like to share. E.g., https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/plastic-planet-how-tiny-plastic-particles-are-polluting-our-soil
6. Photo and Video Tips.
Your profile video is your opportunity to show parents your talents, personality, and commitment to delivering quality lessons to their kids. Make sure your video reflects your unique qualities and captures the essence of your teaching style.
We suggest trying incorporating visuals, like imagery or slides, to provide a strong visual story for your audience. You can also experiment with different camera angles, sceneries, lighting, or music to make your video more interesting and engaging. Show off your enthusiasm and passion for teaching!
- Place your camera horizontally to shoot video.
- Use a tripod or place the camera on a stable surface.
- Have your camera well positioned to clearly show the process.
- You can use more than one camera.
- Show your face at the beginning or anywhere in the videos to connect better with the children. This is also a reliable way to protect your content.
- Your face could look better if the camera is 3 cm above your eye level.
- Make sure you are well-positioned in the frame of the camera.
- Avoid being too close to the camera.
- Make sure you have proper lighting.
- Natural light is an ideal option, such as light that comes through a window.
- You can use the light from a lamp. Place it in front of you and not too close to avoid shadows.
- Speak clearly and avoid background noise. To avoid background noise, we recommend using an external microphone.
- Practice your script until you can share it naturally, engagingly, and comfortably.
- Set up a very creative and professional classroom to be shown in the video.
- Let your personality shine through.
- We recommend video clips 1 minute long.
- Get feedback: Show your video to friends and family and ask for their honest opinions. This will help you spot any potential issues with your video.
8. Tips to Teach your Classes.
You may find these suggestions helpful for improving your classes:
- Share your expectations before the online session, and share the agenda with the students. This way, they will know what to expect and how to prepare in advance, for example, by watching a video or reading an article.
- Keep your students’ interest in online classes. It is a challenge to get all students to connect to the online sessions, so make the topics relevant, attractive, and engaging.
- Prepare visual support. Make sure to have short explanations, images, or information for the students. If the student can visualize the topic, they will be more focused and will follow the session. Prepare in advance all that you need for the class.
- Smile, be yourself, and bring your best energy to engage the children.
- Be in front of your camera to talk during the complete class. When you need to show the step-by-step, you should have a second camera in place to also show your hands at the same time.
- Introduce yourself, the class, and the Best Practices.
- Enter the classroom a few minutes before to make sure to start on time.
- Remember that you have an important environmental theme to teach, so every time when you see a space in the class is the opportunity to share it. If they have finished their project early, you can have a related conversation.
- Prepare some questions about the topic, or process, and make students feel comfortable to share their opinions in the classroom. Ask questions regularly during the session to have interactions with the students.
- Is required to ask your students to turn on their cameras to confirm their identity at least at the beginning of each class.
- Use headphones or an external microphone to avoid background noise when teaching.
- Sometimes students get distracted, so ask them to start working right away after explaining each step. e.g., now we are ready to start! Let’s do it!
- Set a time for each step e.g., we will have 10 minutes for this part of the project from now!
- If you are going to move on to the next step, you need to get the children’s attention. Ask them to stop working and make sure everyone hears the explanation. Some children may not have finished the first step, but when they have done it, they will know what to do next.
- At the end of the session, ask students to rate the session. This will help you measure the effectiveness of the class and make improvements for the future.
- Keep an active pace. Be aware of the 30-minute attention span of your group. Make the most of this time. Students can easily be distracted by outside influences, so keep the momentum going.
- If there are no students in the class, after 10 minutes you can leave the classroom.
- Once you completed the class, ask your students to leave a review of your class. This is very important for you to gain a great reputation on Orfe.
9. Promote your Courses!
Make your course successful by promoting it on your own social media, blogs, email, and others.
Social Media
- Social media sharing is a great way to promote your profile and courses. Ask your network to share them.
Create Blogs
- Create attractive content to be posted on Orfe’s Blog.
- Post your blogs also on your own website.
- Share your blog with someone that you think would be interested.
Share your Profile and Course
Share your profile and course on:
- Newsletters
- Chats, others.
Use Video Channels
- Post your promotional videos on YouTube or other video channels.
- Create a video promotion, that includes the Orfe Environmental Action Strategy you will teach, to be shared on our YouTube channel.
Actions During class
- After your classes, always ask for reviews. This will help you to get more exposure.
- Encourage students to share their feedback on the feedback class spot.
- While teaching, let your students know about your next course.
10. Policies and Terms.
Make sure to familiarize yourself with all our policies and terms & conditions before using this platform.
Instructor’s Policies
Instructor Code of Conduct
- Avoid improvisation.
- Be on time for the class.
- Stay focused on your class.
- Bring your professionalism and expertise to the class.
- Call the students by their first names.
- Never use bad words or refer to a student with a negative adjective such as fool, idiot, etc.
- As you are a role model in the class, any inappropriate behavior such as smoking, drinking alcohol, screaming, be impatience while explaining is not allowed. Do not do anything that could be an offense to children and parents.
- Answer students’ and parents’ inquiries on time and respectfully.
- Respect to all the Orfe community.
- Discrimination is not allowed; this is an inclusive environment.
- Share with us your experience, opinion, feedback, inquiries, or anything you consider important to say, to improve the commercial relationship.
- Follow the dress code: Shoulder covered.
- The teacher’s personal email must not be used to answer questions from students or to contact them. All communication must be done through the course communication media such as chat or forum.
Restrictions
You are specifically restricted from all the following:
- Using this Website in any way that is or may be damaging to this Website.
- Using this Website in any way that impacts user access to this Website.
- Using this Website contrary to applicable laws and regulations, or in any way may cause harm to the Website, or any person or business entity.
- Publishing any Website material and any other media.
- Selling, sublicensing, and/or otherwise commercializing any Website.
- Publicly performing and/or showing any Website.
- Engaging in any data mining, data harvesting, data extracting, or any other similar activity concerning this Website.
- Using this Website to engage in any advertising or marketing.
- Promote in the Orfe EcoArt Online Platform your personal business, services, social media, website, links, or any promotion you may have for your business, or for others.
- Share your personal contact information with parents or students.
- Teach the classes you have prepared for Orfe, on other platforms.
- Orfe EcoArt Program may further restrict access to any area of this website, at any time, at absolute discretion. Any user ID and password you may have for this Website are confidential and you must also maintain confidentiality.
- Your content must be your own and must not be invading any third party’s rights.
- Orfe EcoArt Online Programs has the right to remove some or any of your content from this platform at any time without any notification.
Student privacy
- All information about students and all information generated in your classes is private and should not be shared outside of class. This information includes, but is not limited to, the first and last names of students; Email addresses; phone numbers, addresses, city; Birthdate, family information; video, voices, and photos of students.
- For whatever reason, you are not allowed to share inside or outside of class, any photos of you with students while doing your class.
- You are not permitted to record your class without the prior authorization of the Orfe EcoArt Program General Direction. In case you have permission to record your class, it is only for feedback and training purposes, or to study any case that requires our attention to protect students, and the video should not be shared with anybody.
- As you are responsible for maintaining student privacy in your class, encourage them to follow the rules.
11. How will you Earn?
Online Instructor
The online instructor will earn 65% from the payments made by parents for their Online courses.
To calculate the instructor’s earnings per class, multiply the course fee (e.g., $25) by the number of students and then multiply the result by 65%.
Here’s an example:
If there are 10 students in the class, you would earn $162.50 ($25 x 10 students x 65% = $162.50).
- 1-hour class/student: $25
- Number of students in that class: 10
- Total payments: $250
- Margin applied: 65%
- Instructor’s earnings per 1 hour/ class: 162.5
Instructors commit to preparing and uploading their own curriculum.
Payments are made bi-weekly. The payment will be transferred between 5-10 business days after your class to your PayPal account which you must provide when you register as a teacher.
In-Person Instructor
Upon approval, the terms and conditions of the contract will be discussed with the applicant.