Are you wondering what the future of work looks like, and what’s your place in it? We know there’s a ton of info out there, with a lot of buzzwords and hype. It can be confusing! Check out this Lifelong Learning 101 tip sheet, so you can know the facts about 21st-century skills.

LIFELONG LEARNING

Learning doesn’t end once you’ve earned a college/university credential! Continuing education is no longer a “nice to have”; it’s a need for workforce engagement and personal career satisfaction. Essentially, learning and having a career isn’t a linear path like it might have been in the past; it’s an intricate journey full of twists, turns, and exciting opportunities.

SKILLS GAP

This means there is a disconnect between the qualifications employers are looking for, and the skill sets that potential employees have. The pandemic, rapid changes in digital technology, and dynamic global markets have widened this gap. 

INDUSTRY 4.0

This one sounds intimidating, but it’s not! This term simply refers to the increasing emphasis on digital and technology-focused skill requirements. It means we have moved beyond the Third Industrial Revolution, (i.e., the emergence of the personal computer), and we are in a new era of automation and artificial intelligence – which we call the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0.

UPSKILLING AND RESKILLING

It’s easy to mix these two up! They have a common goal: to teach skills that will help you gain 21st-century job qualifications. Upskilling means you are enhancing your current knowledge and skills, whereas reskilling means you are building on your existing knowledge while gaining new in-demand skills in a new domain. 

In a nutshell: Industry 4.0 = Increasing skills gap.

The answer to the skills gap? Lifelong learning! 

We hope this helps. You’ve got this!
 

With the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, we're seeing workplace communication continue to evolve. Many workplaces are adopting a hybrid model, where team members are co-located, with some working remotely and others physically present in the office. This presents unique challenges. For example, how do you establish meaningful connections in this new environment? How can leaders and employees alike avoid miscommunication, distraction, lack of flow, and reduced motivation and decreased productivity during hybrid meetings?

In fact, a groundbreaking 2021 study exposes a digital communications crisis. The study suggests that 44% of employees experience frequent digital anxiety, citing confusing, vague, unclear, or non-existent communication as the primary concerns. 

As a leadership coach and communication skills trainer, my approach to the problem is to bring my full humanity to every interaction. When I first began teaching my public speaking, presentation, and leadership classes online at SCS due to the pandemic, the “best practice” in the industry was to keep my sessions as micro sessions, capping classes at two hours. I was told that no adult learners would last three hours in a class. And yet, my courses are two and three hours in length, and I consistently receive feedback that it is a rich learning experience, supported by an intimate, safe, virtual space. It is possible to conduct effective and engaging online meetings, presentations, or lessons.

Here’s five tips to help you clearly communicate your true message, engage your team, and boost productivity.

1. Prepare with your audience front-of-mind

Demonstrating empathy is more important than appearing clever.

Don’t lose their attention! You may have many ideas and lots of information to share.  But it’s all too easy to get lost in the details and stray from the original point of the presentation. Instead, keep your audience – and their thoughts, feelings, and realities – front of mind, as you prepare for your talk. 
In fact, acknowledging that you, too, are grappling with the uncertainty and awkwardness of this moment, shows humility.

How to do it:

• Ask yourself: what is the purpose of this meeting/ presentation? Why is this relevant to my audience? How will this information change their lives? How might they react, and what’s my main message?
• Prepare an outline of your talk that is simple and clear. The purpose of preparing is so that on the day of your event you can be present.
• Use transitional phrases so your audience can follow along.
• Show respect for your audience by preparing a message that takes into account their current situation, hopes, fears, and feelings. 

2. Offer your full presence

Before you can connect with others, you need to ground yourself.

Powerful connection with others begins when you are grounded, centered, and at peace with yourself. You’ve done your prep work – you’re clear on your purpose and considered your audience and the impact your message may have on them – now your task is to be there with them.

How to do it:

• Take 5 – 10 minutes before your meeting to ground yourself. 
• Step outside, shut down tech, do deep breathing, and anchor yourself in the moment.
• One of my favourite ways is the 5,4,3,2,1 exercise.

3. Connect authentically

Empathy is critical.

It’s so important to establish empathy, since many of our non-verbal cues are lost when we’re not in the same room, physically.

How to do it:

• Slow down when you speak!
• When a meeting begins, allow time to land; prepare a short and meaningful icebreaker.
• Make eye contact with every person on the screen, one-by-one, and say their names and an individual hello. In that moment, connect with them energetically. I actually beam a feeling of goodwill towards my audience.
• Remember that behind each of those Hollywood Squares tiles is an actual human being, sitting there, doing their best, and wondering how this meeting is going to help them. 

4. Use Vocal techniques 

Your voice is an important tool.

Your team has so much on their minds, stress levels are high, and distraction levels are heightened. You want to make it exceptionally easy for them to understand you, and receive your key message.
There is enough of a disconnect that happens virtually – and any technical glitch or delay will further “distance” you from your audience. Your voice is an important tool not only when it comes to delivering a clear message, but also when it comes to establishing trust. Many leaders overlook the importance of developing their vocal range.

How to do it:

• Practice speaking slowly and clearly.
• Make your words, voice, and face match.
• Familiarize yourself with the vocal range available to you.
• Incorporate pauses, aim for a moderate pace, and be aware of your pitch.

5. Include everyone in the conversation

Ensure you are making a conscious effort to include everyone in the discussion.

Be sure to treat all members of your team fairly and give them equal speaking and engagement time – whether they are joining in-person or remotely. MIT research demonstrates that remote employees tend to receive fewer promotion offers, and exhibit lower performance because they lack the facetime that their team members in the office have.  Become aware of your own unconscious bias, and ensure you are making a conscious effort to include everyone in the discussion. Especially when it comes to the virtual realm– where so much nuance is lost – you’ll want to regularly check for comprehension.

How to do it:

• Ask for feedback from everyone on your team.
• Invest in the technology and tools to use polls for questions, and get your audience engaged.
• Pay attention to the body language, facial expressions, and comments coming from your team – and follow-up on what you are noticing.
• Call on team members by name, asking them to participate.
• Invest in your communications plan and necessary training to ensure your team members are aligned on how to have conversations that include everyone.

Try implementing these tips, and watch your team engagement - and productivity - soar!

Sarah Lang is a University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) instructor, and professional certified coach (PCC, CPCC). She has a passion for supporting leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to grow their presence, professionalism, and poise. Sarah serves as a Leadership Mentor at the Ideation Clinic, and is the Founder of LeadWell Consulting Inc. Sarah teaches two courses at SCS: Public Speaking & Presentation, and Leadership Presence & Presentations.

With major tech companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook investing heavily in augmented and virtual reality technologies over the past few years, it’s no surprise that the demand for AR/VR development jobs has exploded, with no sign of slowing down any time soon. 

That’s why the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) has collaborated with Circuit Stream to offer a course designed to equip learners with the specialized skills needed for Extended Reality (AR/VR) development. 

Through XR Development with Unity’s project-based curriculum, learners can obtain the in-demand skills to get them building immersive technologies and exploring new career opportunities.

“We’re so pleased to be collaborating with Circuit Stream on this course in such an exciting, current, and innovative area of study,” says SCS Dean Maureen MacDonald. “We see so much potential to help equip learners with the kind of knowledge that can tap into their skills and creativity and lead to amazing growth in their careers.”  

XR Development with Unity will be offered online, with twice-weekly live classes recorded so learners can study part time and on their own schedule. Learners who successfully complete this course receive a certificate from Circuit Stream, certifying them as an XR Developer with Unity. 

Registration is now open. For more information or to register, please visit the course information pages:

• XR Development
• XR Design

There’s a lot of information out there about the jobs and skills of tomorrow, and the predictions of an uncertain post-pandemic reality. It can be a lot to take in! So, we worked with the University of Manitoba Extended Education to help you navigate ideas and concepts related to lifelong learning, and how it affects you.  

Check out our Toronto Star article, Beyond Buzzwords: A User Guide for the Future of Work.

This year’s first place prize has been awarded to Kathe Gray for her breathtaking short story, Panorama. Two honourable prizes have been awarded to Mark Burgess and Melany Franklin. These three writers have unleashed their creative potential, and we are proud to celebrate their innovative work. 

Winner ($2,500 prize):

Honourable Mentions ($1,000 prize each):

As many of us begin to return to in-person work during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important that we are prepared and equipped with important safety knowledge. To support Canadians in this transition, we worked with public health experts to sift through the abundance of information out there, and provide clear, accurate, and important facts that will help keep us all safe. 

Now, we’ve launched the first course in our Safe Together program: Returning to Work: Safe Together for Workers (Tier 1). Here’s what you need to know.

Gain knowledge, stay safe

• In this course, you’ll learn about:
• How the virus affects the body
• COVID-19 vaccines
• Public health preventive measures that are needed to protect yourself and others
• How public health measures apply to the workplace
• The importance of workplace measures in preventing the spread of COVID-19

Learn at your own pace 

This course is:

• Online
• Self-directed 
• Flexible: it takes approximately one week to complete, however you have up to one month

Demonstrate your new skills

• Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a micro-credential
• Easily share your micro-credential over LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Or, add them to a “digital wallet”, resume, or online portfolio, demonstrating your proficiency in the key competencies taught in this course.

Whether you’re a private or public sector worker, this course will provide you with a fundamental understanding of COVID-19, and how to keep yourself and others safe as we transition back to in-person work.
 

Adapting to changes in the workforce takes motivation and courage. But stepping up to get ahead of these shifts can pose financial challenges for some of our dedicated learners.

We don’t want financial barriers to stand in the way of your learning journey.

So, we are excited to share that many of our micro courses (which are short, compact learning solutions so you can develop in-demand competencies, fast) are now eligible for OSAP funding! This means that if you are interested in earning a micro-credential (a digital representation of the set of competencies or skills that you achieve in a micro course), there’s now another funding option. Be sure to check out all financial support opportunities on our Financial Assistance page.

You can explore the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities website to view a list of OSAP eligible micro courses, and to learn more about the application process.  Whether you are eager to gain new skills, upskill, or explore a new path as a result of the pandemic or labour market shifts, micro-credentials are a powerful way for you to showcase your abilities to your personal and professional networks. 

Together, let’s push past barriers and accelerate your learning journey. 

The Janice Colbert Poetry Award was created by award-winning poet Janice Colbert. Janice, who is an SCS Creative Writing Certificate earner, instituted this award in 2012 to honour learners who have created a piece of poetry that moves us. Valued at $1,000, plus two finalist awards of $500 each, this award celebrates the journey towards creative discovery.

1st Place/$1,000 Award Winner: Ashley-Elizabeth Best– Ghazals for an Absent Mother

Ashley is a disabled poet and essayist from Kingston, Ontario. Her debut collection of poetry, Slow States of Collapse, was published with ECW Press, and her most recent chapbook, Alignment is available from Rahila's Ghost Press. 

Finalists/$500 Award Winners: Jane Macdonald & Nayana Suchak

Jane Macdonald was born in Alberta. She now lives in a small town on the northeast shore of Lake Ontario. Her writing is saturated by the inhabitants and habits of a place marked by disappearance and loss.  Jane will soon earn her SCS Creative Writing Certificate.

Nayana Suchak writes poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction, and has benefited from the guidance and mentorship of the excellent writers at SCS. She was born in Kenya, grew up in Winnipeg, and now makes Toronto her home. She works as a physician in Markham, Ontario.

The Janice Colbert Poetry Award jury was comprised of three poets:

Heather Birrell – SCS Creative Writing instructor

Therese Estacion – SCS Creative Writing Certificate earner, former winner of the Janice Colbert Poetry Award, and published author

Liz Howard – Griffin Prize winner and former SCS poetry learner

Welcome to Curious U, the new University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies blog – your source of ideas and information to keep you curious and connected to the SCS community. 

Here, you’ll find stories about learners who are taking chances and making brave changes. You’ll read new ideas and bold opinions shared by our instructors, knowledge experts, and industry leaders. As we share news, announcements, and insights on current events, we’ll discover tomorrow’s unknowns, together.

Take a look around and check out this new information hub! You can customize your experience, and choose from three unique categories of content: 

Career

Whether you are early in your career, in the middle of your career, or highly established– or an internationally trained professional– this is the space for you! In our Career section, you’ll find inspirational stories about learners who are upskilling, gaining new abilities, making brave career changes, and taking their careers to the next level. You’ll also explore insights, tips, and strategies shared by our industry-leading instructors.

Curiosity

Welcome lifelong learners of any age who are looking to stay mentally agile, explore new concepts, develop hobbies, and fulfill personal passions! In our Curiosity section, you’ll find stories about learners who are expanding their minds and exploring new territory. Our expert instructors will also share inspiration, fresh ideas, and new perspectives. 

What’s New

Stay informed! Our What’s New section is the place to be to stay up-to-date on SCS news, announcement, and events. We’ll keep you abreast of new partnerships, initiatives, courses, certificates, and programs. In addition, you’ll find SCS insights on trends and current events. 

We’re excited to launch Curious U, and embark on this journey with you.  Let’s take a chance, connect, and take ownership of our future, again and again.  
 

The Penguin Random House Canada Student Award for Fiction supports emerging writers on their learning journey! The competition for this endowed award is open to all learners who have taken a creative writing course at SCS in the previous year. These writers have taken a spark of an idea and transformed it into a piece of writing they (and we) are proud of. 

Congratulations to these finalists, who have unleashed their creative potential! Winners and Honourable Mentions will be announced soon! 

Finalists

Kimberley Alcock, Twilight
Diana Blackmore, Amid the Spaces
Mark Burgess, A Letter from Bielefeld
Jim Colbert, Alphabet: Twenty-six Letters
Melany Franklin, Sanctuary
Caitlin Garvey, The Chrysalis Protocol
Kathe Gray, Panorama
Susanne Kwon, Jack that 8
Nadja Lubiw-Hazard, Saving Seraphina
Megan Tady, Dark Horse

Picture this: you take a skill-development course, gain exciting new abilities, and list the course on your resume and social media profiles. Sounds familiar, right?

But wouldn’t it be great if there was a quick and easy way for your professional network —including potential employers—to view and understand the awesome new competencies you’ve gained?

We get it.

That’s why we will now be issuing micro-credentials for our micro courses! We appreciate that the concept of both micro courses and micro-credentials may be new to you. So, here’s the top five things to know about micro-credentials at SCS.

1) What are micro courses?

All of our micro courses (which are short, targeted learning opportunities that focus on skills and competency development), will now issue a micro-credential upon successful completion.

2) What are micro-credentials?

Micro-credentials are a digital representation of the set of competencies or skills that you have achieved in a U of T SCS course! Micro-credentials are a powerful way for you to showcase your abilities to your personal and professional networks. 

3) How do micro-credentials work?

You can easily share your micro-credential over social media. When someone clicks on the micro-credential, or link to the micro-credential, they will be directed to a web page that displays the full micro-credential, which highlights important information such as your learning outcomes, key competencies/ skills that you gained, and the date that your micro-credential was issued. 

4) How do you share your micro-credentials with your network? 

It’s super easy! With a few simple clicks, you can:

• Share on your LinkedIn profile. 
• Share with friends and family through Twitter and Facebook.
• Copy your micro-credential link and share with your network through email.
• Include your micro-credential with your resume, by downloading a secure PDF version.
• Add your micro-credential to your “digital wallet” or online portfolio.

5) Is there funding for micro courses?

Micro courses are accessible, and you can check out funding opportunities available on our Financial Aid page, including the Canada Training Credit, OSAP and Scale AI funding.

Take a micro course, earn a micro-credential, and showcase your skills in a whole new way!

Visit our Micro Courses and Micro-Credentials page to learn more.

Thanks in part to the generosity of writer and Creative Writing Certificate earner Marina Nemat, the School of Continuing Studies offers this award to the most promising Creative Writing Certificate learner(s) each year. Up to two $1000 awards are given to the most outstanding Final Project of a Creative Writing Certificate learner. The winner is chosen by an esteemed panel of Canadian publishing industry professionals. 

This year’s judging panel includes:

Elizabeth Philips, Senior Editor, Thistledown Press, 
Douglas Richmond, Senior Editor, Anansi
Patrick Crean, Publisher and Editor-at-Large, HarperCollins, Canada

2019/2020 Shortlist: