Online and Remote Learning

Wield the power of Information Architecture to create a stronger user experience. In this six-week online course, you’ll define the relationship between content and its on-screen interface. You’ll create and arrange more meaningful content and improve navigability to meet users’ needs and expectations. You’ll translate business goals and UX research findings into more effective maps and workflows. You’ll apply tested principles and best practices to improve content creation, distribution, management, validation, prioritization, organization, space allocation, taxonomy and terminology. Within 4-6 weeks of successfully completing this course, you will receive your micro-credential indicating achievement of the outlined learning outcomes and competencies/skills. Micro-credentials are tamper proof, verifiable, blockchain-based and 100% digital. They can be shared on social media, including LinkedIn and Facebook, embedded in websites or downloaded as PDFs. By the end of this micro course, you'll be able to: Develop User Experience design through content creation and information management  Align IA with business goals and user needs Understand information gathering and structuring data Develop content structures and information taxonomy Gather and apply insights towards better content creation and information management Understand the application of content and IA into product development processes and business processes Competencies/skills developed in this micro course include: User Experience Design Thinking Strategically  Information Planning & Analysis  Problem Solving  Insights Management & Analysis  Organizational Awareness

If you want hands-on experience in digital mapping and basic spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), this online course is for you. You’ll start with foundation concepts such as digital data, scale and map projections, then learn to input and store data, create maps and analyze geographic problems. Blending theory and practical skills development, you’ll explore a real case study that applies high-resolution aerial photography and the latest GIS techniques to determine whether brownlands in Toronto are suitable for reclamation and residential development. Acquire and input data from a range of sources. Create and edit data using different file formats. Store spatial data in geodatabse and run queries from tabular or spatial data. Perform basic types of vector spatial analysis such as map overlay. Design a quantitative map to communicate analysis results. Approach a GIS-related problem with confidence, knowledge and skill.  

Build on your knowledge of GIS-based spatial analysis and data modelling for environmental management in this advanced course. You’ll delve into techniques and functions that yield better analysis of spatial data. You’ll learn patterns and processes that underpin features in spatial databases. You’ll analyze indicators of environmental risk, create and analyze three-dimensional surfaces, visualize geospatial data clearly, and understand point patterns and spatial autocorrelation. You’ll emerge better prepared to implement GIS-based analysis and modelling, and manage projects that use them. Make informed decisions about solving any GIS-related problem Use the right geoprocessing tools for each situation, in the right order. Visualize surfaces using 3D terrain analysis, and explore relationships between land cover, elevation, slope and aspect. Understand advanced GIS concepts and theory, such as spatial autocorrelation. Apply spatial-analysis and data-modelling skills to environmental management.

Broaden your knowledge of Remote Sensing (RS) concepts and environmental applications in this advanced course. You’ll process and analyze remote sensing images and learn advanced techniques now used in environmental research and applications. You’ll use hyperspectral, LiDAR and RADAR datasets to study land, ocean and atmospheric processes. You’ll get more hands-on experience processing digital images and applying various image analysis packages. You’ll learn how RS sensors detect, extract and evaluate quantitative information about different objects on earth, and how to use this information to map environmental changes.

This is the third step in the Certificate in Creative Writing poetry stream. Weekly workshops and a focus on craft, technique, and poetic forms will be explored. Grow your portfolio of polished work and gain a deeper understanding of poetic process as you develop and strengthen your writing practice. Further develop your poetic voice and style. Express and demonstrate your artistic interests as you expand your poetry repertoire. Get constructive instructor and peer feedback on your work. Expand and strengthen your portfolio of poems.

Extend your knowledge and understanding of Machine Learning to Deep Neural Networks. In this course we will cover the theory and practice of modern neural nets through a series of exercises and examples in different domains. You will build your own algorithms to classify images, perform rudimentary language translation and generate synthetic images or music. Know the theory and practice of modern neural networks. Use Tensorflow2 to create and train deep neural networks Tuning deep neural networks for different tasks  Understand the difference between various network architectures like CNN, RNN, transformer and generative algorithms Apply deep-learning network architectures to solve a range of problems- e.g.  classify images, predict trends and generate artworks    

Modern Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems often combine techniques from many sub-disciplines: Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Planning, Intelligent Agents, etc. In this course, you’ll build your knowledge of techniques that can be built into AI’s that allow them to reason about their current situation and plan their next move. You’ll build AIs that can learn to play games and need to trade off exploiting strategies they already know are useful vs. exploring new strategies that may be even better. You’ll be ready to apply these techniques to solve real world problems such as finding adaptive strategies for dealing with difficult customers or optimizing use of parking spaces. By the end of this course, learners will be able to: Create your own system of intelligent software agents Use constraint solvers to find solutions to difficult problems Use increasingly rich forms of logical inference to enable the agents to make decisions that will help them achieve the goals you’ve set out for them Use probabilistic reasoning to allow them to make decisions with incomplete information Use Reinforcement Learning to enable the agents to learn winning strategies for themselves while exploring the environment they find themselves in Combine these techniques and apply them to industrial, scientific or business challenges

This course teaches you the design, application and maintenance of flat roofing systems. You will learn why some roofs fail, define the necessary scope of repairs and predict the probable performance and service life of the roofing system. Topics include alternative roofing systems (including green roofs), material selection, design and application considerations, historical perspectives, drainage and penetrations.   The course material covers part of the Examination Learning Objectives of the Building Envelope Systems Exam conducted by Building Science Specialist Board of Canada (BSSB) for the Building Science Specialist (BSS®) designation. Understand and describe the historical evolution of roofing systems. Design, apply and maintain appropriate flat roofing systems. Select roofing systems and materials based on every relevant aspect of building design. Choose the right drainage system. Prepare to write the Building Envelope Systems Exam- Roofing portion- for BSS®

Walls and windows function together as part of a building envelope. This course will teach you industry best practices on how it's done. You'll learn how different assemblies work, including solid masonry walls, cavity walls, exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), wood and precast concrete walls and curtain wall systems. Case studies will illustrate issues such as thermal and moisture performance, air leakage resistance, durability, maintenance, life-cycle cost, fire safety, environmental impacts and low-energy building design using passive solar strategies.   The course material covers part of the Examination Learning Objectives of the Building Envelope Systems Exam conducted by Building Science Specialist Board of Canada (BSSB) for the Building Science Specialist (BSS®) designation. Understand key performance, maintenance and life-cycle cost indicators and how they're applied to building construction cladding. Choose the right wall and window systems for contemporary buildings. Understand how and why different structural elements are used in masonry buildings. Understand environmental requirements and their impact on costs. Use your knowledge of durable wall design and construction to design wall and window systems. Prepare to write the Building Envelope Systems Exam -Wall & Windows- for BSS® 

This course deals with the interrelationship of building envelopes and environmental control with an emphasis on sustainable building practices. The course will examine thermal comfort and indoor air quality, heating, cooling and moisture regulation, air distribution and pressure regimes, energy usage, solar and internal gains, natural and hybrid ventilation, and heating and cooling loads. More responsible building practices are identified and illustrated throughout.   The course material covers the Examination Learning Objectives of the Mechanical Systems Exam conducted by Building Science Specialist Board of Canada (BSSB) for Building Science Specialist (BSS®) designation. •    Understand the basic layouts and pros and cons of common HVAC systems. •    Calculate energy requirements by applying psychrometric theory to basic air conditioning processes. Psychrometric charts will be used to assist students with visualizing the processes. •    Understand the energy-saving benefits of enthalpy wheels. •    Understand the comfort implications of indoor air quality, the common contaminants that affect IAQ and how they are controlled. •    Calculate air infiltration/exfiltration due to wind and the stack effect with the crack method as applied to walls, windows and doors. •    Understand several solar energy concepts and the direct and diffuse solar heat gain coefficients, and the effect of solar gain on the building cooling load. •    Calculate the heating load for a building based on conduction and air exchange through the building envelope. •    Understand the cooling load and qualitatively comprehend what contributes to this load – including several time-dependent heat transfers. •    Prepare to write the Mechanical Systems Exam for BSS®