Adult and Continuing Education Courses

Adult Learning and Development

1.0 required course in the CACE program.

Only offered online.

The content of this course reflects the large body of knowledge in the area of lifespan development. We’ll examine adult development, learning and change, and relate these areas to andragogy.

Emphasis is placed on the importance of both contextual factors and individual differences when examining the process of learning in adults.

Facilitating Adult Learning

1.0 required course in the CACE program.

Only offered online.

In this course, we’ll explore the complexity of the teaching/learning process in the education of adults and identify and define the assumptions, values and beliefs that underlie your decisions as a facilitator. We’ll also analyze the application and implications of educational principles in the design, delivery and evaluation of adult learning.

Foundations of Adult Education

1.0 required course in the CACE program.

Only offered online.

Examine the history of adult education from both the international and local perspectives, and analyze the underlying philosophical, sociological, historical and political foundations of adult education. Then, apply your insights to contemporary adult education issues.

Program Planning in Adult Education

1.0 required course in the CACE program.

Only offered online.

In this course, you will identify and examine the planning procedures and strategies that result in efficient and effective programs for adults learning in a wide variety of social and institutional settings. You’ll also develop basic skills or enhance and redefine your current skill levels.

Assessment and Evaluation in Adult Learning

Available for 1.0 elective credit in the CACE program.

Only offered online.

This course focuses on the place of assessment and evaluation in the context of curriculum design/development/delivery and adult learning. Students will learn how to analyze and evaluate assessment and evaluation tools and strategies that allow them to meet the needs of various learners and stakeholders. Students will demonstrate their learning by designing an evaluation strategy appropriate for the curriculum used in their own workplace-learning context. 

Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Fundamentals

Become proficient in fundamentals of business intelligence and data analytics. This course will provide the framework for you to understand, use and evaluate a variety of techniques and skills in analyzing data sets and making appropriate interpretations of the data.

E-Learning: Design and Development

Available for 1.0 elective credit in the CACE program.

Only offered online.

If you want to learn how to design and build engaging e-learning courses, experiences and activities, then this course is for you.

This online course will provide hands-on learning opportunities based on each individual participant’s particular audience and learning strategy. Participants will learn how to create storyboards, conduct effective needs analysis and gain stakeholder buy-in.

Throughout the course participants will be building their e-learning courses, experiences and activities and upon completion they will showcase their final product. With a diverse learner population in the course, there will be opportunities to network, collaborate and share a variety of e-learning design and development techniques.

Facilitating Intercultural Relationships

This course facilitates intercultural relationships within the context of deconstructing systemic structures and ideologies, which impact every aspect of our society as well as our personal world-views.

Participants and instructors will engage critically, deeply and honestly. We will aim to facilitate and create a respectful community of learners using a dialogical (dialogue) model and an action-reflection process throughout classes and assignments. Topics for critical analysis include: equity, knowledge, leadership, privilege, race, class, identity, oppression, and social justice.

Improving Performance through Learning Transfer

Available for 1.0 elective credit in the CACE program.

Only offered online.

This course provides students the opportunity to investigate the critical components of the learning transfer process, and to get at the heart of improving performance and contributing to organizational results through changing behaviour. Learning transfer will be analyzed at the organizational, manager, trainer, and trainee levels. An understanding of how organizational contextual factors may impede or support transfer, and influence behaviour will be developed. Students will also examine how transfer considerations influences the adult instructional design cycle (i.e. ADDIE) from needs assessment to evaluation. Additionally, the importance of building business partnerships to gain clarity on expectations and promote actions to boost transfer will be explored. Students will leave with strategies and tools that will help improve training’s impact on organizational performance.

Instructional Design in Adult Education

Available for 1.0 elective credit in the CACE program. 
Only offered online.

Why should we study instructional design? What difference will this skill make to an organization? If you have ever had the experience of sitting through a training session or learning module and feeling that it was a waste of time, then you will immediately understand the value of designing instructional modules that engage the learner and benefit the organization. 

This practical, hands-on course introduces learning theories and models (ADDIE) that support the development of learning modules and enables you to apply these principles to support the professional development and training needs of your organization.

Introduction to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

This course supports learners in cultivating an equity lens and developing practical strategies and tools to challenge systemic and organizational barriers to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Through case studies, analysis and self-reflection, learners explore core concepts, frameworks and contestations of EDI, including intersectionality, accessibility, accountability, impacts of oppression, power dynamics, resistance, and reconciliation.

Planning Program Evaluation

Available for 1.0 elective credit in the CACE program.

Only offered online.

This course focuses on the application of program evaluation theory and principles with a focus on application in an adult education setting. Students will learn how to build a practical program evaluation, to understand the real-life barriers that face evaluation projects and the strategies that can be used to overcome these barriers.

We’ll briefly review program evaluation history, including the emergence of evaluation models. Five key models will be examined and related to the five forms of evaluation developed by Owen (1999). Mini case studies will be used to exemplify these models and forms. Evaluation approaches will be applied to the various mini-cases and a detailed design plan (blueprint) will be developed for a particular case.

Project Management

Get a handle on your project. Whatever your area of expertise, learn and apply the fundamental concepts of effective project management. A seasoned PMP designated professional will work with you throughout a project management cycle: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling and closing. This course will have participants take on the role of project team member to learn and apply the essential concepts of effective project management throughout a project management life cycle.

(Note: This course has a new course code. It was formerly TECJ410)

Format

The online format of the course lets you study from anywhere, anytime.

The course is 13 weeks in duration. Students login to the course and communicate with the instructor and fellow students via the course management system, Brightspace. For more information, visit our page on online learning.

This course is also available for in-person, on-campus instruction in a classroom environment.

Strategies and Tools for Teaching Adults Online

Available for 1.0 elective credit in the CACE program, but can be taken without registering for the program.

Only offered online.

This course focuses on the practical aspects of teaching adults online. You’ll learn how to apply adult teaching and learning principles to make your courses more meaningful and memorable.

Using online tools and strategies, you will create activities, content/curriculum, and projects that:

• encourage participation
• build community
• engage learners

You will discuss the challenges you and others may face in teaching online and find ways to overcome them.

*formerly titled Instructional Skills for Teaching Adults Online

Training Needs Assessment

Available for 1.0 elective credit in the CACE program.

Only offered online.

This course investigates how to identify needs related to learning and improvement. Through discussions and assignments, participants will develop a practical approach to successfully conducting a needs assessment for the purpose of creating valid, job-related courses and curricula.

Participants will learn to:

• locate and analyze information from different sources like performance appraisals
• prepare surveys and write effective survey questions
• prepare and conduct effective interviews
• analyze the data gathered and identify key trends and themes
• summarize findings into useful charts, graphs and reports
• interact with and manage stakeholders and team members
• present and explain the results of the needs assessment

During the course and working with others, participants will carry out a needs assessment under realistic conditions to resolve the problems encountered and share their experience with others.