Online Additional Qualification Courses

Benefits | Course Formats | Course Platforms | Technical Requirements | Self-Evaluation | How to Apply

Online Learning Benefits

Accountability: Candidates can experience a sense of accountability and responsibility for their own learning.

Course content organization: Syllabi, grading policies, assignments, etc. just don't get lost. The online course structure allows easy referrals/links to further information.

Critical thinking: Instructors can encourage candidates to have complex thoughts about their subject by requiring and modeling high standards in postings. Furthermore, the asynchronous format encourages candidates to take the time to formulate meaningful responses.

Electronic resources: Candidates can easily access resources online, including e-journals and the University of Toronto Libraries.

Extended learning communities: Course participants (instructors, candidates, and guest speakers) can be from a range of geographical areas and more diverse teaching experiences.

Flexibility and convenience: Participants can access the course at any time, and in the case of those who have access at home or at work, save time (and parking fees) by not having to travel. While the new online participant can expect to spend some initial time becoming comfortable in the online learning environment, this can generally be offset by time saved from commuting.

Focus on meaning: Minimized visual and auditory distractions encourage candidates to focus on content.

Formative assessment: Peer and instructor responses to contributions in online discussions help candidates gain insight into how they learn and how their work can be improved.

Increased contribution opportunities: All candidates have the opportunity to answer each question raised, and to respond to their colleagues' comments.

Relevance: In AQ online courses, more than one conversation, or developing series of thoughts, can take place on different "threads" at the same time. Candidates can discuss what interests them, as well as what the instructor wishes them to. Also, the asynchronous format takes advantage of students' curiosity. As soon as a candidate has a response to a posting or feels curious about a specific topic, they do not need to delay their curiosity (and perhaps lose interest) by waiting until official class time.

Reflection time prior to contributing: Increased time available for responding encourages candidates to take the time to formulate meaningful responses, since "class time" can be spread out over a period of days instead of hours. The online environment engages candidates to reflect on both personal and professional levels by requiring individual responses.

Course Formats

We offer both partially online and fully online AQ courses.

Course Platforms

Additional Qualification online courses are offered on the BlackBoard platform. Once you are registered for an online course you can visit the 'Online Courses - Registered Students' page for more information.

Technical Requirements

Basic Computer & Access Requirements:

Participants in all online AQ courses with OISE must:

• have a computer with Internet access and an up to date web browser installed.  Compatible web browsers include:
  - Microsoft Internet Explorer
  - Mozilla Firefox
  - Apple Safari
  - Google Chrome

• have easy access to the Internet, daily for Summer session courses and at least three times a week for Fall/Winter/Spring session courses.

• have an e-mail address and be able to send and receive e-mails with attachments. To meet this requirement, ensure that you have enough free space in your e-mail account to receive e-mails and that your e-mail filters will not block messages from unknown addresses.
  
  A day or two before your start date for your online course, you will receive a pre-course email from your instrcutor. Therefore, as a precaution, disable junk mail or spam filters at least one week prior to the start of your course.

• have and utilize on a regular basis, a system for backing up your work, such as a USB/memory stick, CD burner, etc.

Basic Internet, E-mail and Word Processing Skills:

Participants in an online course with OISE must:

• be comfortable using a computer

• have comfort uploading and downloading saved files

• have and comfortably use a word processing program (e.g. Word, WordPerfect)

Self evaluation

How to apply

To apply for an online, partially online or in-class AQ course click on 'Additional Qualifications Course Offerings' on the left menu bar.