What is SOCA LLC and what does it do?
SOCA LLC is an online educational resource based in New York.
SOCA’s vision: We propose a model where everyone attends regular online classes based on socially-accepted principles and real-world lessons. The classes will serve as a reminder of core philosophies as well an endless source of new information. Each class has outcomes and expectations for the students. The gathering, itself, will also build relationships among the students and provide long-term social support. These classes are not intended to replace traditional occupations: work and school. They are designed to meet outside of normal business hours, leaving the most productive hours of the day available to maximize life experience outside of the classroom. The time commitment for the student is similar to training sessions in a health club. By nurturing the students and instilling beneficial codes of conduct into the students’ lives, these classes will yield life-long benefits.
All SOCA classes feature:
A live instructor
Live classmates, you can see and hear
Social interaction, both with the instructor and with other students
Why online classes?
Independence: You don’t need a ride or any other help to attend.
Students can access our classes on their own. They can also take ownership of their class experience and consider it their “thing.”
Consistency: Never miss a class, even in a snowstorm or when you’re home sick
Consistency builds results.
Efficiency: No travel time. A one-hour class requires just one hour of your time.
We strive to deliver the maximum benefit with the smallest time commitment possible. We do not dedicate time to simply “hanging out.”
Comfort: Access to your own snacks and bathroom.
Since it is the lesson that is most important, traditional school etiquette is not an obstacle. Students are invited to dress comfortably, sit at ease or have a snack during class sessions.
What makes us different?
SOCA classes are not designed to provide our students with a way to pass time. SOCA classes are meant to be a compliment to real life. The point of our classes is the not classes. Our goal is to improve life outside of class time.
Who are our students?
At this time, SOCA classes serve adults (over 18). The classes are open to everyone.
Specialized training provides an additional benefit for students struggling with anxiety and for individuals on the Autism spectrum.
Additional Social Elements: The Student Text Loop
All students are given the opportunity to add their mobile numbers to the SOCA Students Text Loop for class reminders and friendly communication.
Here are some actual texts sent among students of the SOCA Students Text Loop:
“Hey guys, just to give you a heads up that the first day of my job is pushed up to the 31st.”
“Anyone seeing Avatar: The Way of the Water this week?”
“I’m setting up my computer right now for my session with you guys.”
“Just finished my workout at the gym.”
“See you all tomorrow and let’s have a peaceful day.”
What do we teach?
Healthy Living: A Mindfulness Class for Adults
The Healthy Living Class curriculum is an ongoing study of:
Mindfulness
Gratitude
Optimism and Positive Thinking
Continuous growth and expansion
Our connection to others
Acceptance
Charity
Love
Every Healthy Living Class features:
A live, group meditation guided by and under the supervision of the instructor
Breathing Exercises for Calm and Focus
Gratitude Practices
A Lesson based on the principles of the class
Experts agree about the benefits of meditation
“The benefits of meditation include: lower blood pressure, decreased pain, better immune system function, better mood, and brain function” - University of Rochester Medical Center
“From generalized anxiety disorders to phobia, panic disorders, obsession, and bipolar mood swings, daily meditation practice helps in regulating the unreasonable emotional ups and downs.” - PositivePsychology.com
“Meditation regulates anxiety and mood disorders.” - Madhuleena Roy Chowdhury, BA
“More Doctors are Prescribing Meditation” - Puff, R. Ph.D.
Class goals and outcomes
The Healthy Living Class aims to help students:
Build and maintain a regular routine of calming techniques
Build and maintain a regular gratitude practice
Build and maintain a regular routine of meditating on their own (outside of class)
Learn about the different types of meditation available
Learn about Mindfulness and how to apply it to daily life
Success will be measured by:
Continuous improvement in overall happiness, as reported by the student and their family
Continuous improvement in daily optimism, as reported by the student and their family
A continuous decline in daily anxiety, as reported by the student and their family
The continuous growth of interests and new experiences, as reported by the student and their family
Vocational Training through Media: Basic Work Training Principles
Our Vocational Training Class focuses on the study and application of our 12 Rules of Work:
Pay Attention: Watch and listen at all times. When you are being paid to work, you are being paid to pay attention.
Be Punctual: Don’t be late to work or when coming back from work breaks
Treat People with Respect: Everyone in or near your workplace is important.
Clean: A workplace must be clean - make the workplace clean and/or keep the workplace clean
Every rule has a reason at work: Follow every work rule, even if it doesn’t make sense to you at first. If a rule at work does not make sense to you, it is because you have not worked in that workplace long enough to see why that rule is important.
Cell Phone: Do not use our cell phone when working
Be Professional: Doing the best job is the highest priority, above personal needs and comfort
Accept Responsibility: There is no room for blaming others in the workplace. Excuses don’t have the same value at work as they do at home.
Be prepared: Sometimes work must be done before the work shift starts. Tasks such as having your work clothes clean and ready, getting enough sleep in order to be your best, and learning certain business information must be done before work.
Get Training: You cannot do your job if you do not know how to do your job. Listen to advice and training from experts and superiors. Training is valuable.
Control Your Emotions: The only emotion that is acceptable in a workplace is Happy.
Learn about the Business: Learn about all parts of your workplace. Learn all that you can.
We use “vocational shows” like “Hotel Hell,” “Bar Rescue” and “Restaurant Impossible” to study real workplaces. We critique and apply the 12 Rules of Work to the content covered in class in order to see our philosophies in action.
The Vocational Training through Media class is also developing a Podcast. The podcast is Coming Soon and will serve as an apparatus to practice and apply the work skills being studied in class. Every student will be expected to contribute to the Podcast, as they would be expected to contribute to any other workplace.
The Vocational Training Through Media Class aims to help students:
Learn how businesses operate and earn profit
Learn how expectations in a workplace are different than in other areas of life
Learn how customers’ opinions and satisfaction with the work delivered effects the student and their employment
Learn how emotions affect work performance
Learn how social skills affect work performance
Study a wide variety of work setting to recognize the similarities and differences among the many types of employment
Learn how a Podcast is recorded and edited
Learn how Podcast content is created
Success will be measured by:
Student’s ability to learn the 12 Rules of Work
Student’s ability to apply the 12 Rules of Work to the content covered in class
Student’s ability to apply the 12 Rules of Work in life outside of class
Student’s ability to complete class work assignments independently and entirely
Student’s ability to contribute to the creation of Podcast content
Student’s ability to perform on the Podcast when called upon
Student’s ability to anticipate the success or failure of the content being created
Everyday Money: Basic Financial Skills
The Everyday Money Class curriculum is the ongoing study of:
Budgeting: Yearly, Monthly, and Daily
Banking: Savings accounts, checking accounts, Debit Cards
Credit and Borrowing: Interest, amortization, FICO scores, making payments on time
Financial Goals: Saving for the future, Buying a home, owning a car
Basic financial math: making change and calculations
Shopping: customer reviews, comparing items, recognizing value
The Everyday Money Class aims to help students:
Learn about how to build and adjust a personal, financial budget
Learn about credit and how a FICO score is determined
Learn about borrowing money and paying interest
Learn about comparative shopping
Learn how to use customer reviews to affect their purchase
Learn how to compare prices and features between multiple items
Success will be measured by:
Student’s ability to create a monthly, household budget independently
Student’s ability to create a personal, financial budget for an event/outing independently
Student’s ability to independently determine if a new purchase fits within their budget
Student’s ability to choose between two items, when purchasing both would not fit within their personal budget
Student’s ability to determine the value and quality of a potential purchase
Student’s ability to understand terms listed in real-life advertisements, independently
Student’s ability to independently plan and save for a large, future purchase
At SOCA LLC, we value continuous growth and learning. As our students meet class benchmarks, new content and expectations will be added to help our students reach their full potential.
We are always open to new ways to improve our students’ experience. Please feel free to contact us about ways we can improve our work.
Burak Uzun is an award-winning writer and instructor. He has received thousands of hours of training and hands-on experience in guiding individuals with social and emotional challenges. He also co-wrote a feature film called Team Marco, which was featured in over fifty film festivals around the globe and was distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Please feel free to reach out to Burak here.
Learn more about SOCA LLC and Burak’s classes here.