The success of the OrigamiUSA Convention depends upon our volunteer teachers! If you teach at the Convention, you may be eligible for Priority Ticketing. Details of how Priority Ticketing works are here. If you have any questions, write to us, and mark your envelope Convention 2018 Teaching, or contact us at convention-teaching [at] origamiusa.org.

Register to Teach A Class

These forms are for those who know what they want to teach. If you don't know what you want to teach, take a look at what people are requesting, or for further ideas, please contact us at convention-teaching [at] origamiusa.org.

Remember that we must have the creators' permission to teach their designs, and that diagrams may be distributed only with permission from the diagrammer and creator.

Please note: you must register for convention (even if you are not taking classes) before you can sign up to teach.

  • Registration for teaching is closed.

Impact of Online Class Registration

The introduction of online class registration this year will have an impact in several ways on teaching classes:

  • The cutoff date for entering classes—see the schedule on the Class Schedule and Previews page—since the final class schedule must be posted before online class registration can begin. Note that, as usual, the preliminary schedule will be posted several days before the final schedule is uploaded, preceded by an email announcement. After that time, modifications to the schedule will be made only to correct any errors.
  • The increased importance of providing good photographs and descriptions on the web class preview pages (see below): The online schedule will be the “virtual model menu” for online registration, and its photos are uploaded from the web preview pages. Therefore, it is more important than ever to make sure that the background is neutral and the photos are clear.
  • Priority ticketing for teachers: See how priority ticketing works in the new environment.

Class Previews

When you register to teach a class, a description of your class will immediately appear on our class preview web pages. Within the teaching registration form you will have the option to upload a photo of your model, which will be shown on the class preview web page. Uploading a photograph is optional—but very important for the online class registration system (as indicated above). Please do not delay telling us what you want to teach, even if you don't have a photo. It can be added later if you attach it to an email addressed to convention-teaching [at] origamiusa.org.

Once your teaching form is entered, the following fields will be shown on the class preview web page: Teacher Name, Model Name, Description, Level, Special Requirements (if any), and Image (the photo, if you submitted one).

See the class preview pages here:

  • Class preview pages are closed.

Model Menu

The physical model menu continues to be an important feature of Convention, partly to accommodate on-site registration and partly because it is a beautiful visual focus of the convention environment.

Your model for display on the Model Menu must be available in the Hospitality Area no later than 5:00pm on Friday afternoon. If your travel plans do not allow you to deliver your model by then, please mail it to the OrigamiUSA office so that it arrives by the Monday before convention. Mark the box "Model Menu" and mail it to OrigamiUSA, 15 West 77 Street, New York, NY 10024.

Your sample should be appealing, but please make certain that it is bigger than 3" and smaller than 8" to fit the space available. Model Menu samples need to be picked up by 4 pm on Sunday. Any that remain will be considered a contribution to the organization.

Teaching Materials

As in past years, we will try to accommodate requests for special materials (primarily paper) for our teachers, as specified on the teaching forms. If we can’t match your requirements exactly, we try to find an alternative that is acceptable.

An email summary of the materials to be ordered is always sent, which states: Please reply to this email, confirming, correcting, or canceling your request for special materials. If we don’t receive your confirmation, we’ll have to assume that the request is canceled.

In the past, many teachers have not responded as requested and we have not followed through with the cancellation. However, we have found that—much too often—materials ordered are not picked up. Therefore, this year we will cancel any unconfirmed orders.

One additional note on materials: 6-inch and 10-inch foil will no longer be included in the survival kits. So, if you need it for your class and don’t wish to provide it yourself, you will need to ask us to order it for you.

Information for Teachers

If you are planning (or considering) teaching a class at convention, please read through the information below to help plan your class, its level, and to insure a smooth and successful activity.

On-Site Training for Teachers

There will be a Teaching Skills session, to highlight best practices for those volunteering to teach. It will be held in the Hospitality Area on Friday night. Check the Hours page for the scheduled time. In addition to the usual Friday night session we will be creating a video before Convention which can be viewed here [URL TO COME] when ready.