Expand your knowledge with an online course
Delve into subjects of interest offered on the web
By Ilona Biro
It’s late on a weeknight. His daughter tucked safely into bed, Bryan Brochu is finally getting down to his school work.
Along with a growing number of Canadians, Brochu is taking classes online, so he can work whenever and wherever he wants. “I don’t have to fight traffic to get to school, I don’t have to leave work early, and I can be at home with my family when I’m studying,” he says. That flexibility has allowed him to continue working in Toronto while pursuing an MBA from Athabasca University in Alberta.
Similarly, Karen Reppin has continued teaching English as a second language in Vancouver while working on a masters degree through Aston University in Birmingham, England. Students request a module (or course), do the reading and research, complete the assignments, and send them to their instructor. They request the next module and repeat the cycle until the degree is complete.
Whether you live in a small town or a big city, the Internet opens the door to a multitude of online courses in an unlimited number of subjects and price ranges.
Tools to take an online course
The majority of online courses are self-directed and delivered online or on CD-ROMs using text, animation, video and other media. Some professors such as Clare Brett, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, use technologies such as video conferencing and chat to enhance group discussions and create the feeling of an academic community. For these courses you may need a microphone, a web camera and a high-speed connection.
Weigh the pros and cons of taking an online course
For Reppin, the biggest pitfall is not having deadlines, which means that degrees can drag on forever. The upside of that, however, “is having all the time you need to complete an assignment, being able to do all the reading you want to do and establishing new friendships online.”
But she does miss being with other students, “sharing ideas and helping understand various debates in the field.” To remedy that, the university distributes e-mail addresses of students, so they’re able to contact one another and form discussion groups.
For Brochu, the downside is less spontaneity. “You don’t have the opportunity to think on your feet when challenged by a colleague or instructor. One can always gather one’s thoughts and conduct research prior to responding. That does not simulate real-life situations as completely as I would like. But, having said that, I wouldn’t hesitate to take another online course,” he explains.
Online education is evolving to meet those criticisms and make online or distance education just as engaging as the traditional model. Brett brings her remote classroom of graduate students together using all of the communications technology currently available. “I don’t make it a requirement, but we try to use webcams, microphones and text chats to enable our discussions and interaction. The goal is to make students feel a part of a community that they’re not physically present in,” she says.
Brett’s advice to those considering an online course is to find out everything you can on the web site and look for signs there will be interactivity. “But if you aren’t sure of what the course will be like, get someone on the phone who can explain in more detail.”
Find your niche
Online universities and colleges
To finish a degree or start a new one, head to Distance Education Canada or Canadian Virtual University. They bring together hundreds of courses from 11 of Canada’s universities. Or, if you want to study at a particular institution, find its web site and search for courses online.
One of the oldest distance universities in the world is the U.K.’s Open University, founded in 1969. Some courses are open to international students, but gaining credits for degrees and courses may take time. The Canadian equivalent is Athabasca University, which began life as a correspondence school and now offers more online courses than any other university in the country.
Would-be writers
Aspiring writers can access a staggering number of online courses that teach nuts and bolts skills (e.g., plot or character development) and practical courses (e.g., how to write a book proposal). Some of the most highly rated classes are given by Writers Online Workshops, Gotham Writers’ Workshop and the Humber School for Writers which offers a mentoring program for writers based on e-mail correspondence.
Software how-tos
Learning how to use new software can be a challenge. Instead of reading daunting Bible-length manuals, software users may find that taking an online course is better. Adobe offers its own courses for a fee. But you can also find free tutorials on web sites such as About.com which offers courses in QuarkXPress and other desktop publishing software.
Brush up on your Microsoft Office skills with free online courses found on the Office Online site.
Take a course for fun
Online courses aren’t just for career advancement; there are just as many devoted to hobbies, self-improvement and fun. How about learning the basics of a foreign language before setting off on holiday? BBC Learning offers a series of language classes, including Greek, Portuguese and Chinese along with other leisure topics, such as gardening and family history.
Other leisure courses are easy to find through a web search. Check out these two American-based sources — WorldWideLearn and eLearners — which aggregate online courses from hundreds of universities, colleges and training companies. Free online courses are also plentiful: see, for example, the Berklee Shares music lessons offered by the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Another interesting source can be found at Fathom. Launched in 1999 by Columbia University, Fathom brings together a fascinating collection of courses from prestigious institutions. A sampling includes the Secret History of the Corset and Crinoline from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Many more free courses abound. Take advantage and expand your mind for free.
