Yes! Our Zoom Classes Are Surprisingly Interactive and Fun
In the past few years, I have taught Pet First Aid 4U classes to students living in New Zealand, South Africa, Egypt, Greece, Canada and most of European countries without ever packing a suitcase or catching a flight.
How? Easy, through ZOOM. When COVID pandemic struck, ZOOM soared in use by educators, business leaders and others to communicate needed information to their audiences.
But let’s be candid. Today, some people groan at the thought of hopping on a ZOOM class in order to complete a hard-sought certificate in their specialty areas. That holds true for those in the pet industry.
That’s why I have purposely made my ZOOM-based pet first aid/CPR classes engaging, practical and a little fun. Student feedback has been positive – or pawsitive as we say in the pet world.
My keys to ZOOM class success:
I limit the number of students who can enroll to 10. This way, everyone feels like they are being seen and heard – and not feel invisible.
I showcase not one, not two, but three real pets as my teaching assistants. Students get to see pet first aid demos performed on Pet Safety Cat Casey plus Pet Safety Dog Kona and Pet Safety Dog Nova 6 Toes. This sure beats demonstrating on flimsy stuffed animals.
I encourage students to practice the demos if they have well-mannered pets in their home.
I quickly have each student introduce themselves and answer this question: “What do you want to make sure we cover in today’s class?” When we come to a topic, such as seizures, I make sure to say the names of those students who mentioned wanting to learn more about seizures.
I ask students to name their pets. This enables me to use the names of their pets when covering various pet first aid topics.
I promise them upfront that our class will not be “death by PowerPoint” with far too many slides. I also promise them that I will not read any slides with lots of text. You can hear a collective sigh of relief coming over the Internet.
I alert students that there will be no quizzes at the end of class. Earning their two-year certificates depends on them interacting in class. Some people do have written test phobia, so I stay true to my mission: teaching pet first aid skills in a hands-on, practical way.
I know there is a lot to learn in a pet first aid/CPR class, so I help students remember with fun sayings, rhymes and even what I call, The Gum Game. The goal is to get everyone talking out loud because when you hear it and when you say it, you are more likely to remember it.
I offer professional discounts to professional pet organizations who see the value in having their staff certified in pet first aid/CPR. As a small business owner, I also recognize the need to stick to a budget and to stay current in pet skills.
I finish on time – or a little early. Always. It is important to respect that students are busy people with lots of family and professional obligations every day. Finishing on time makes everyone happy and willing to book their staff again.
I share a screenshot of students in my congratulations email that also includes the certificates and my social media links.
I teach with joy and passion. I believe each and every student deserves to learn from teachers who love to teach.
Parting message
To all you pet parents and pet professionals who live anywhere in the world, we invite you to check out our Pet First Aid 4U teaching team. And, to enroll in one of our classes. We make the learning practical and fun.
We offer three options for you to earn veterinarian-approved two-year certificates in our pet first aid/CPR programs:
In-person classes primarily aimed at pet professionals and first responders.
Interactive via ZOOM classes offered monthly and on demand
Self-paced online classes for those wishing to learn anytime, anywhere.
Pick the best option for you and sign up today!
About the Author:
Arden Moore, founder of Pet First Aid 4 U, is a Master Pet First Aid/CPR Instructor who teaches veterinarian-approved, hands-on safety courses alongside her teaching team of Kona (dog), Nova (dog) and Casey (cat). Known as “The Pet First Aid & Safety Coach™,” Arden is also a nationally recognized behavior consultant, bestselling author of over 25 pet books , and the award-winning host of the “Oh Behave!” podcast, a Fear Free Certified Professional, she brings decades of pet expertise to all her endeavors — with a mission to help pets live safer, longer and healthier lives.
