A CHECKLIST of questions to ask when reviewing options
for ONLINE LEARNING about botanical art and illustration

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW before deciding on an online course?

Some questions might be obvious. Some are not.
Some online tutorial websites are helpful. Some are not.
This page was created with the help of very many students.

Interestingly the information now available to students has improved enormously since I created this checklist! :)
This checklist of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) help you to decide:
  • WHICH QUESTIONS TO ASK before you part with any money
  • WHICH OPTION IS BEST FOR YOU re. providing you with the best balance for your personal circumstances, location and time/money budget
NOTE: The images on this page are all from images sent to me or stills from videos available online by experienced teachers
'click the pic' to go direct to the video
Picture
A video about Watercolour Techniques and Tips in the "Botanical Start" series by Julia Trickey
COMMENTS

​I asked botanical art students on Facebook about online instruction in botanical art and illustration. These are their frequently asked questions about what they want to know.
​(Comments do not reference individual respondents or  individual courses).
QUESTIONS

​Students told me questions they wanted to ask. I also added in a few of my own which I think help provide a well informed and balance view of what is on offer

Course Outline
​

Student Comments
  • Students told me their experience when trying to compare courses was that the quality of information available about content and format varied quite considerably
  • When I studied various websites I was puzzled as to why information about what was on offer was
    • very "lightweight" on some
    • deficient in "basics" on others
COURSE OUTLINE questions

  • ​Is a Course Outline available?
    • Is this provided PRIOR TO PAYMENT?
    • If Yes, does it demonstrate a logical progression - from topic to topic?
  • Does it specify ALL the topics covered (or is it too general)?
  • Does it specify specific techniques and skills sets taught?
  • How does it address competence levels?
    • Does it indicate the level of proficiency required prior to starting?
    • Does it indicate the level of competence typically achieved by those completing the course?
  • Does it tell you what you get at the end of a Course eg
    • Is a physical Certificate or Diploma provided?
    • Is this validated by a recognised educational institution? (eg a University or Education Awards Body)
Picture
Creative Colour Mixing Workbook Introduction - a short video by Ann Swan

Proficiency / Art Skills
​

Student Comments
  • One of the problems students had run into in the past was a lack of clarity within course information about the level of proficiency of the courses i.e. the target group - and what skills were assumed and what level of skills were taught
  • ​As a result, people had enrolled for courses which were too basic or too advanced.
​
I have been searching for suitable online botanical art courses but I am having a bit of a hard time deciding because none of the courses could tell me in advance whether it is for someone who has not painted in watercolor/pencil colors before. When they say for beginners, I don't know if they are saying beginners of botanical Art OR art beginners in general.
ART PROFICIENCY/ SKILLS LEVEL questions
​
  • Do you need to be able to draw and paint in watercolour BEFORE starting the course?
  • Does the course indicate the LEVEL of experience and/or proficiency in specific skills or knowledge required prior to starting the course eg
    • Beginners;
    • Intermediate;
    • Masterclass?
  • Does the level of knowledge/skills specified differentiate e.g. between
    • watercolour painting and
    • botanical knowledge?
  • What does suitable for "all levels" actully mean in practice?
    • Does a tutor explain precisely what they mean by this term
    • How does that relate to delivery of course content?
Picture
Getting Started - a video by Wendy Hollender

Art Materials and Equipment

The cost of a course also includes the cost of any art materials (paints, brushes etc) and any other equipment the student needs to acquire before the course starts.  But buying very specific art materials and equipment is easier said than done for some.
...it would be helpful to have a list of materials and alternatives to see in advance because living where I do, I can't always purchase what's needed and purchasing from overseas sometimes is not an option. This applies to many painting mediums. Thank you!
Prospective student
ART MATERIALS / EQUIPMENT questions

  • Do I need to buy specific art materials?
  • Is the list LONG or SHORT?
    • Do I have to buy everything at the beginning - which can be expensive!
    • Can I buy art materials in stages? Does the instructor spell out what's required for each module?
  • Does the instructor promote buying art materials from the instructor's own site?
    • Is it possible to get the same art materials cheaper elsewhere?
Picture
Shevaun Doherty demonstrating using a camera above her workspace - connected to the iMac screen

Technology & Technical Proficiency Skill Set

Interestingly students did not comment on the skill set required. However it's simply NOT POSSIBLE to do online courses without
  • owning or being able to access necessary equipment
  • being reasonably proficient in technical skills related to communicating digitally

SKILLS REQUIRED are likely to include:

Communication / accessing digital information
  • Use email software to send and receive emails and attach and open image files and pdfs
  • Open and use PDFs - as some course content will in this format
  • Use digital file transfer websites (e.g. Dropbox / WeTransfer) to move large image files
  • View online content e.g. videos
Research
  • searching for information online
  • Bookmarking a Webpage
  • Image attribution by URL
Image capture and manipulation
  • Photograph an image with appropriate lighting
  • Use a scanner to capture scans of physical images at appropriate resolution
  • Move an image from scanner or digital camera to a computer
  • Colour correction (e.g. making sure white backgrounds are white and not grey)
  • Resize an image for sending digitally
Presentation
  • Create documents - including inserting right-sized digital images - using word processing software (e.g. MS Word)
PROFICIENCY questions
​
TECHNOLOGY questions
  • What sort of equipment do I need to participate in the online course? What hardware / software do I need?
  • Do I need very fast broadband? (for Video downloads and/or Livestreaming?)
  • Do I need to subscribe to a file transfer website? Does this cost extra?

ONLINE PROFICIENCY questions
  • Does the website explain what basic skills are assumed of students wanting to follow an online course?
  • What functions am I expected be competent in - in order to participate? (eg processing digital images and then uploading images to the tutor)
  • Is any help provided if this is all new to you?
Picture
"Welcome to the Billy Showell School of Botanical Art" video on YouTube

Information about the Instructor / Tutor(s)
​

Information about the tutor(s) and their experience of botanical art and/or teaching qualifications/experience adds credibility to a site.

Student Comments
The issue for students is whether to invest in / buy instruction:
  • without knowing anything about the tutor; and/or
  • without seeing their level of competence in terms of work done in the past
  • without knowing their training and/or competence in terms of teaching
  • without seeing any testimonials for the teaching of specific tutors

(Bear in mind that some people start teaching when their motor skills or eyesight start to let them down in terms of producing artwork. Others balance teaching with being an artist)
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TUTOR(S) questions

TUTOR'S TRACK RECORD
  • What information is provided about the Tutor(s) on the Online Course website?
    • Are you told how much time you can expect to get with a Tutor?
    • Are there any testimonials on the website?
    • Have you heard positive/negative comments about the tutor from independent sources? Are comments consistent?

TUTOR'S ARTISTIC PROFICIENCY
  • Does the Tutor have a botanical art website? 
    • Can you see examples of the standard of the tutor's work? (past and/or present)
    • Is there a bias towards drawing or painting or scientific illustration - or one medium only?
Picture
Discover and Learn with Nature's Details - introductory video by Sarah Morrish (Illustrating Nature's Details)

Video 
​

Videos are being increasingly used to deliver "how to" information 

Student Comments
  • Students felt strongly that very short "teaser" videos are not enough to assess what the proper videos will contain in terms of content, quality of instruction and length of video
  • A number of students felt tutors should provide access to one proper FREE video to help people choose between different courses - on the basis of something realistic rather than a snapshot i.e. a typical lesson which is comparable to priced video lessons.
  • On the whole, the view was that the better the information about length, quality and content, the more likely people were to sign up.
VIDEO questions
​
  • Is the online instuction / course largely video based?
  • Is there a complete video available to view
    • EITHER of the quality and length on offer from the tutor 
    • OR does the tutor only provide short samples?
  • How long in minutes is a typical video?
    • Is this available in the marketing information BEFORE you buy?
    • How much of that time is dedicated to actual teaching - as opposed to introductions and marketing other videos.
  • How are videos made available?
    • Are videos ONLY available to view online on the Tutor's site
    • OR Can videos be downloaded?
    • OR Does the fee include free downloads
    • OR Are videos available to buy?

Feedback
​

Student Comments
​
Students told me about the options they'd experienced and these are reflected in the questions

Students very much want to know
  • how much feedback they will get
  • what methods / options are used for feedback
  • whether they needed anything new to receive feedback (eg what sort of impact might the courses have on their data downloads?)
  • whether they get to keep feedback
​
Matters of concern related to
  • how students absorbed what they were being told; and
  • whether they could remember the feedback if there was no permanent copy.
FEEDBACK questions
​
  • How does Feedback work?
    • Do I get feedback?
    • How often do I get feedback?
    • How much feedback do I get?
    • How is feedback provided? Is it written or verbal?
    • Can I ask questions?
  • Do I get written feedback emailed to me (as an email or in a file)?
  • Does the tutor offer video conferencing calls eg by Skype?
  • Does the tutor prepare individualised feedback via a video specific to the individual - which can be reviewed again and again?
  • (for those with capped broadband limits) Is there an estimate of the data download for feedback?

Community
​

Student Comments
  • Students want to know whether or not there is any community aspect to their instruction / course and if so how does that work.​
COMMUNITY questions
​
  • Do students work in isolation?
  • Is there a student community associated with the course?
  • How does the Facebook Private Group work if people start at different times?

Communication
​

Student Comments
  • Students are concerned about not getting replies to queries (eg about the course or art materials)

Note: Sometimes emails get missed - you are recommended to try again. This depends on what type of course you buy. Some have more responsive tutors - because you are buying the tutor's time not just their videos.
COMMUNICATION questions
  • Can you ask questions? Does course information tell you whether or not you can ask questions?
  • What are you buying? Is it clear what is being offered?
    • EITHER contact time with the tutor
    • OR access to their videos?
  • Is there a contact email for queries about the course prior to purchase?

Cost and Payment
​

Student Comments
There were concerns:
  • if no "try before you buy" option was available for an expensive course delivered online
  • the overall fee level for some courses
COST questions
​
  • Is the website upfront about course fees and any incidental expenses (eg hardware / software required)​? Plus any other related information about cost.
  • Does it provide precise fee information about different ways of accessing a course?

PAYMENT questions
​
  • Is a refund available if a student finds out they've bought the wrong kind of course once they have access to course materials?
  • What options are available for payment? (eg lump sum in advance; pay as you go (eg month by month or term by term)