6 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU SHOULD ASK ABOUT ANY GLASS COURSE

 1. Is the course properly documented?

 Anyone can set out to offer a glass course – be it in stained glass or kiln formed glass or whatever – but sometimes the advertising can be completely ambiguous as to what specific learning outcomes will be achieved during the course.  And the more ambiguous it is, the more likely you are to be disappointed. 

 Put more simply, as a prospective student, what is it exactly that you are paying for? We believe that a prospective student has a right to see explicit outcomes to be achieved, the performance measurements will be applied to amount to “successful” achievement and an explicit list of the specific knowledge, skills and attitudes to be acquired during the course.

 All of our courses are fully documented and we hope that our advertising is quite specific in terms of outcomes to be achieved; we are more than willing to provide the more detailed documentation for inspection by prospective students; and should you undertake one of our courses you will receive a full set of necessary factual and other information.

 2. Are the course instructors/trainers appropriately qualified?

 This is a difficult area.  On one hand you need to be sure that the instructors/trainers are sufficiently skilled in the subject area to have relevant knowledge and skills to pass on to you.  On the other hand, you need to be sure that they are not only technically proficient but well equipped to provide an effective learning environment.  Unfortunately there are a great many great practitioners in all fields who are unfortunately lousy teachers.

 We regard ourselves as competent glass artists/artisans in a number of specialist fields and invite prospective students to look at out past works.  We only teach subjects in which we have substantial practical experience.  More importantly, our principal educator has extensive experience in adult vocational (practical) training and is qualified with a Diploma of Teaching in Adult Education.  We think this gives us a unique blend of subject matter expertise and educational skills.

 3. Do I need to buy tools for the course?

 No – in fact we strongly recommend that you don’t buy tools until you have decided you want to continue with glass art. Firstly, why spend money when you don’t have to?  Secondly, there are a variety of styles of tools to choose from and you should try them out before deciding what suits you best.  Thirdly, when you do purchase tools, you should buy the best quality – something unwise when you’re not sure you want to continue.

 Of course if you have your own tools, you are more than welcome to bring them along.

 4. Do I need to buy materials for the course?

 No.  The introduction, leadlighting, warm glass, jewellery making and beadmaking courses include all required materials as do our intensive weekend courses. 

 5. What happens at the end of the course?

 It’s sad but true that the real learning comes after the course when you practice and refine the basic skills you have learnt.  We hope to have provided you with sufficient knowledge and skills and appropriate attitudes to safety to enable you to continue learning by yourself if that is what you want.  We can advise on how you can set up your own work area at home quite easily and cheaply. We offer a comprehensive range of tools and equipment - and free advice on an ongoing basis.

 Alternatively, we provide a studio service where you can return and continue to learn by working on projects under our supervision and access specialist equipment and materials -and a firing service for warm glass work.

 6. If I use your studio, do I have to buy tools and supplies from you?

 No.  We think you’d be nuts to buy elsewhere but please feel free to do so if you wish.  We stock (or can provide) everything you need - unless it is something that you can buy easily and at a reasonable price elsewhere. Our aim is that you shouldn’t pay more for the convenience of buying from us and where we are able to generate economies of scale we pass those savings on.

We only sell products that we have tested and used ourselves.  Unfortunately you can’t tell the quality of something from a picture or a web site.

 And you don’t need to buy large quantities (i.e. full sheets of glass) when you only need a little bit.  Buying by the sheet is the most economical way but because we are primarily a glass studio and not a glass shop we are more than happy to sell glass in any dimension – we don’t have to worry about what to do with the leftover bits.