We held our first online class session in beginning Navajo weaving techniques yesterday using WebEx's Meeting Connection service (that'll teach them to sell me something with unlimited minutes). You can see the virtual class space in the attachment, but it's a screen shot of a test meeting to protect the privacy of the current students, but at least one of them is a member of the forum. We found that the resolution of streaming video isn't quite at a level that will let you see some of the finer moves that are involved in warping, but in combination with pictures, handouts and encouragement from others in the class, we were able to create what seems to be a workable learning environment. We're troubleshooting an audio problem (a wicked echo) that seems to be related to speakerphones and possibly to the fact that there's a microphone in my webcam (Who knew? Certainly not me!) WebEx has been great about addressing issues as we've brought them up and our next session is scheduled for this coming Sunday, February 7. If you've written me about getting involved with a second session, I've got your note and I'll be announcing dates as soon as I'm comfortable that this is a viable learning environment. I'm almost, but not quite, there.
As one of the class members has noted, this may open up many opportunities for Navajo weavers to show their work and teach over the Internet. And to find out about the microphone in their webcam.....