[Updated July 6, 9:30 a.m. EDT]
CURRENT STATUS: As of July 6, we launched phase one of our "return plan," which includes an optionally hybrid experience for local students in Atlanta and Houston. This approach will couple the flexibility of online instruction with on-site community and teaching assistants in the classrooms. To provide clarity and avoid disruption during class, we expect hybrid cohorts to remain hybrid through completion unless CDC guidelines improve.
Here's how phase one will work: Lead instructors will continue to teach classes remotely, leveraging now-familiar tools like Zoom video conferencing, Slack and our proprietary Learning Platform (beta coming soon!). You may take the entire class online if you wish, but our physical locations will also be open to those who want to work alongside peers and TAs. For students streaming class on-site, we'll have daily temperature checks, face masks, cleaning supplies, and spread-out workstations with external monitors.
How are we delivering the same level of education during this period of social distancing? Immersive Instructor Sean Reid answers on this YouTube video.
Original notice:
As of Tuesday, March 17th, all DigitalCrafts classes will be delivered remotely via Zoom conferencing software. We will return to in-person classes as soon as possible, with April 10th as our current target for a return to relative normalcy. I hope it's sooner, it could be later, but we'll keep this status page updated with the latest information.
While this decision was difficult, it's based on a number of factors, including the closing of all public schools in our communities, the urging of local governments, and the approval of our governing agencies in each state.
This is an unprecedented situation, and we certainly understand that this may cause disappointment for some of our students. The safety of our students and staff is paramount, and our intentions are to keep you safe, and do our part towards "flattening the curve" by practicing social distancing. We have moved our admissions interviews online, and our events, including Demo Days, will also be held online during this time.
We are certain that you'll find remote learning is an effective approach for our curriculum. You still have the best instructors in the business. You still have a full staff supporting you before, during, and after class. We've successfully delivered remote learning programs before, and a fully remote bootcamp was already in the works before this crisis. We'll be back in the classrooms as soon as possible, churning through the curriculum without missing a beat. You can check out this blog post for more about how we're maintaining our high standard of education during this time.
[Added 4/24] In searching for something positive from this event, the fantastic feedback we've received since going online has accelerated DigitalCrafts' decision to offer a permanent online program for students all over the country. This project is something that has been in the works for some months now, and we're excited to announce that we have launched a fully online coding bootcamp with classes kicking off in July and September.
If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out to your contact at DigitalCrafts, our main inbox at hello@digitalcrafts.com, or give us a call at (833) DCRAFTS. Please stay safe, stay healthy, and help your neighbors in need.
All the best,
Max McChesney
CEO & Co-Founder, DigitalCrafts
