The grind of being an educator

Online classes- I debate with myself all the time on their value.

As a “company” of one person (I am talking about Lily Kunning, Community Herbalist here- my company where I teach classes and do wellness consultations/herbalist consultations.), I am contemplating how to maximize my reach all the time. I am intimately aware of the limits and reach that I have as one person.

When I teach in-person classes (whether they are intensives with a cohort that I see frequently or a one-time workshop) it is very fulfilling. I feel the impact I make and get instant feedback from folks in the class. I love teaching the next generation of herbalists and making sure people have access to legit information on the people’s medicine.

But the scope I have is limited. It is why I created online class content in the first place. I knew under late-stage capitalism more people were going to need information on being a healer and I wanted to get that to as many people as possible.

When I have webinars or create online classes, I “reach” so many more people. Dozens to hundreds at a time. But I miss the connections, the “aha!" moments for students that I get to witness, and frankly- I get more curiousity and questions in meatspace classes.

I went ahead and took the plunge and am designing more online content again. Bought a space on a platform and am dumping content in there and revising and updating what I have, or converting it from a meatspace class to a virtual one.

I have so many that I am currently working on - I have completed the People’s Medicine Course (for people wanting to heal family and friends and learn 12 herbs really really well). Now I am working on Wellness Business Bootcamp (business coaching for healers), Wellness in Weeks (a six month webinar class that does group wellness coaching for people with chronic illness, injury, or pain), a class on Incense- its history and how to make it; Bodies for Herbalists (anatomy and physiology taught in a holistic connected way), Essential Oils 101 (a safety course warning people away from MLM advice in disguise), and Fundamentals of Medicine Making.

Am I overwhelmed? Heck yes! I am working on these in the small, quiet moments in between running my other businesses. It makes for slow going, as there are few small quiet moments around here.

Questions for learners and educators alike:
What do you like about online content? What has turned you off about it?
Is there a way to make real connections with students/teachers this way?
What features have you experienced that help you do that?

Thanks for your feedback, it is much appreciated!