@KJ, I know few lower rated players who are struggling to reach 1200 in a chess.com "online" game. While they know how to castle and so on, their challenges involve decision making at the board, while the clock is ticking, vice book study. Is this a crazy idea? What are your thoughts?
Chess.com University Class Suggestions
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I have a few ideas off the top of my head which could be one-shot lectures, mini-courses or full length courses:
1. Positional evaluation in even midgame positions. Deep analysis of positions, opportunities, weaknesses and making a winning plan above and beyond finding and analyzing the forcing moves. This could be a 1500-1800 rated course.
2. Advanced opening repertoire. This could build on the 1200-1500 class that is being offered now but going deeper into openings or a new stand alone classs designed for higher rated players which would look at more complicated openings.
3. Teaching students how to annotate their own games or GM games and learn from that process. This may be a lecture or mini-course.
Oct 18, 2013
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#5
Thank you for the feedback! I wish more individuals had commented but this is a good start.
May be you can have classes on Calculation Techniques, Winning won positions, Manage Time pressures etc for players in 1500 - 1800 ELO
From DP's post, another vote for #1 Evaluation and plan making above and beyond forcing moves. "What does the position require" based on solid evaluation.
Also loved DP's idea #3. Annotating own games, and learning from that process, AND/OR How to Study Master games. I have tried this many times, and lose interest fast because I don't know how to assimilate what I am seeing. Usually I look for games with similar openings that I play and observe the ideas, but I know I am missing a ton of knowledge because I don't know what I am looking for, or how to study it.
Oct 19, 2013
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#8
@ Raja23, Chess 012 would be very useful to you. The version for 1500 - 1800 ELO will be taught some time in 2014 but will be very advanced. Chess 012 is probably good for those in the 1200 - 1650 range or so. I highly recommend it for you assuming you are below 1650 ELO. But yes, a similar course for a higher-rated audience is on the horizon for sure.
@ Vladimirduce, There will be more positional chess, planning, etc. involved in the 1500 - 1800 ELO course on strategy and tactics. Solid evaluation requires lots of knowledge regarding positions, structures, etc. Reaching the stage where you can plan well, evaluate positions correctly, etc. is rather hard. In my case, there are certain openings and certain structures that I am extremely good at. Keeping the dynamics in mind in addition to the positional features involved, I can play some positions almost perfectly, at least for a few moves. But, there are also positions that I understand less and am often not sure whether to make a certain B vs. N trade, push a pawn or not, etc. I have to spend time and think. Sometimes I find the best plan; sometimes not!
This area of chess is completely different than your typical tactical play, forcing moves, etc. as no knowledge is required. As long as you can calculate and you know which moves to look at, you're all set!
Teaching a strategy class for 1500 - 1800 that is effective will be a challenge but for sure within the next 6 months I will teach such a course.
The questions studying master games, annotating games, etc. is good for a one-time seminar I believe. Thank you for the suggestions!
During the middle game and end game, how to spot a checking move or mating move, afew moves ahead of time.It would help me from making mistakes or useless moves before, during, and after my opponent makes these checking moves.
Its hard for me to say what the lessons should focus on because I feel im at a brick wall trying to find the way over 1800 rating. Finding the best of the best moves I would say pleages us in the 1500-1800 rating zone. How to evaluate the position to determine wether to play for space, key squares, or spoting a vulnerable area to focus on.
Teaching chess is very difficult.Perhaps picking some of thier games and explaing why some moves are good or bad will help and ofcourse i,m not talking about blunders just close games between players rated under 1200.I have seen some players in uscf tournaments much lower rated then 1200 win an upset prize against a much higher rated player and they are more thrilled obout that then the person that wins the whole tournament.
Apr 2, 2014
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#12
I am not sure if you are already doing this... but how about "teaching games" ? :-
- Teacher play "online, takeback, unrated" games vs students
> rate of play 3 days or 5 days per move
- Teacher play "simple" moves appropriate to each student's level
> e.g. play like 1500ELO against C-class player
> or simply use a weak chess engine to play (so teacher does not play against "himself"
- Teacher takes-back stupid/bad moves + explains why + hints on better plan/moves
Personally, I think this kind of teaching games are very useful for continuing learning. After all, chess is not 100% similar to textbook classes.
>>> I think for fee at about USD10-20 /game (depending on level), such teaching games might be popular here<<<
I think that there needs to be more emphasis put on the beginners...although I am not a beginner you would not know it by my inability to get to 1200...lol. ( a lot of that has to do with my decision making in the middle game ) I think that more concentration in this particular area will start the newbies off with a tremendous foundation..one that I apparently missed. 
Apr 8, 2014
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#14
I think there should be more classes aimed at middle and endgame for 1500-1800 strength players. I know that I would likely enroll in a class covering one of these two topics
Apr 13, 2014
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#15
@cissmjg, such a course is already planned for later this year. Prerequisite would be Chess 014: Endgame Technique for 1200-1500 ELO Players or a USCF/FIDE rating 1400+ with a certain score on the pretest.
Chess 014 covers all types of opposition and K P vs K endgames as well as important positions with two pawns (K P vs. K P and K P P vs. K). Basic minor piece endgames, queen and pawn endgames, Lucena/Philidor, fortresses, and endgame principles also covered in Chess 014. This means the next endgame course would be quite advanced. Chess 014 covered material up until 1600-1650 USCF/FIDE so I will design the next course to be good up until 1900 or so.
We will also have one more opening course for 1500-1800 this year and a general improvement course for 900-1200 ELO players.
A few seminars for players in the 1200-1800 range are also on the agenda.
How about teaching a little course about the value of pieces, to help in decision making. The should I or should'nt I dilemma or what are reasonable exchanges > when or when not to... etc
I would do a 1500-1800 endgame course.
May 3, 2014
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#18
1500-1800 endgame course is planned for later this year!
A course regarding "decision-making" is also on the agenda. Such a course would be similiar to what you are asking, nutwing. It would focus on decision-making in terms of trading pieces, attacking vs. preparing, whether to sacrifice a pawn for activity, etc.
Personally, I am very busy for a few more weeks but we will have several new courses in June and July so stay tuned!
You can class on endgames middlegames etc
During the last few months, I have designed and taught two popular online classes for Chess.com University: Chess 012 Strategy and Tactics for 1200 - 1500 Players and Chess 013 Opening Proficiency for 1200 - 1500 Players.
In terms of the format, these classes resemble online college courses and are learner-friendly.
I plan on teaching Chess 014: Endgame Proficiency for 1200 - 1500 Players later this year but wanted to ask the members of Chess.com University what they are interested in.
Should we offer any classes aimed at youth chess players? Is there any interest for classes aimed at new players that cover everything from how to castle, capture, decipher chess notation, etc. to everything an individual must know to reach 1200 USCF/FIDE level?
What about classes for players in the 1500 - 1800 ELO rating range? What topics would you be interested in?
We need more input from the students to further improve Chess.com University.
Feel free to leave some feedback! Thanks!