Online and Remote Learning

In this course, you’ll learn about the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), the self-regulating organization governed by the Architects Act, as well as the professional obligations of every architect in Ontario. This is the OAA’s opportunity to complement your education and training with some practical information relevant to your success as a licensed professional in the Province of Ontario. It addresses professional and responsible conduct for an architect, an architect’s responsibilities for projects or practices, and how to make a practice more productive. This is an online, self-directed course, and you can work through the modules at your own pace. You can expect to complete the course in a month, but have up to two months to complete it. Quizzes In the course you will be asked to complete a Confidence Quiz, which contain a set of 20 multiple choice questions. This quiz functions differently than traditional quizzing, as they allow you to retake any question you are unsure about the answer and/or select an incorrect answer, and you may retake them as much as you'd like to. Successful course completion involves receiving a score of 100% on the quiz which is based solely on core module content.  Notes: The OAA Self-Study Series for Architects comprises training modules drawn from the mandatory OAA Admission Course each intern architect must complete as part of the licensing process. This material, while not new to those have completed the Admission Course, is valuable to practising architects and related audiences. OAA members can select the modules in which they’re interested, cover the material at their own pace (over a three-month period) and successfully complete a quiz to complete the course. Grade Report documentation is usually available 4 - 6 weeks after you have successfully completed the course. Once your grade is available, you will be informed by email, and given instructions on how to access your grade. Please use this documentation to claim Continuing Education hours with OAA. Whether you are an architect or architectural technologist wanting to review some foundational material, someone from outside of the province planning to work in Ontario for the first time, or an architectural practice staff member, participants benefit from the essential material covered in these à la carte courses. The self-study modules and correlating OAA continuing education hours are: Professional Responsibility, Ethics, and Membership in a Self-Regulating Profession (CE Credit Hours = 3.0); The Construction Act (CE Credit Hours = 3.0); Legal Aspects: Professional Liability and Architects’ Contracts (CE Credit Hours = 3); Planning and Development Approvals (CE Credit Hours = 3); Ontario Building Code Act and Building Permit Application Process (CE Credit Hours = 3); Ontario Building Code Compliance Data: Concepts and Code Analysis (CE Credit Hours = 6); Bid Theory and Bid Practice (CE Credit Hours = 3); and Construction Contract Administration and General Review (CE Credit Hours = 3). For intern architects, please note that taking the Self-Study Series for Architects does not count toward completion of the Admission Course. For more information on the Admission Course, click here. Recognize the rationale behind the OAA Admission Course; Describe the legal instruments and regulations for the practice of architecture; Explain professionalism and professional obligations; Outline the structure and functions of the OAA; and Perform an architect's professional responsibilitie

If you’re seeking practical tools to bring about positive change in your life, this experiential course is for you. You’ll explore the 16 Guidelines framework to deepen your experience in mindfulness as an embodied practice. You’ll enhance your capacity for personal reflection, resulting in a greater sense of well-being, confidence, purpose and emotional resilience. Drawing on proven techniques from positive psychology, social justice practices, neuroscience and centuries-old Eastern philosophy, you’ll develop an ethical, holistic approach to self-improvement and cultural change. Notes: This course is recognized by Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, as part of their Training Pathway to become an Accredited 16 Guidelines Level 1 Facilitator. For more information about the 16 Guidelines program and a full list of all their accredited facilitators and other programs, please visit their website: www.compassionandwisdom.org   Apply mindfulness and ethical practices to all aspects of life by using a set of practical and transformative tools. Identify your own embodied practice of mindful qualities in your personal and professional practices. Describe the elements of the theory and practice of embodied mindfulness-based practices.  Integrate and apply mindfulness to the four wisdom themes of the 16 G: Mindful thought; mindful actions; mindful relationships; and mindful purpose and livelihood

Water is one of our most precious resources and managing it in a changing world requires new approaches. In this course, you’ll explore connections between water and broader economic and social issues, including food production, energy, transboundary conflict and health. You’ll examine the impacts of climate change and human demand in developed and developing countries. You’ll emerge with a greater appreciation of the benefits and limitations of current practices, and the challenges facing planners, managers, policy-makers, advocates and sustainability professionals. After completing this course you’ll be able to: Identify and explain current critical issues related to water resources management, Assess future evolving challenges to water resources, both due to human demands and environmental change, Analyze the similarities and differences between developed and developing countries,  Evaluate a variety of approaches which are used in managing water resources, including the benefits and limitations involved, and Assess the need for new approaches to water resources management in a changing world.

The world’s water resources are being taxed as never before. In this course, you’ll study the issues facing our water supply, including best practices for reducing demand and maintaining supply continuity. You’ll explore patterns of use, regulation and governance, different types of infrastructure in municipal settings, and supply vs. demand management approaches. You’ll examine the important role of water audits in planning and management, and emerge with the tools and resources you need to measure, manage and reduce water usage. After completing this course you’ll be able to: Identify and Describe the goals of water management: economic efficiency, social equity and environmental sustainability  Apply supply vs. demand management approaches to water resources Explain the theory and application of water audits at residential, commercial building, industry and municipal levels from a policy and technical perspective Explain and apply tools and processes to quantity and manage water usage Compare and contrast best practices and technologies to reduce water demand and maintain continuity of supply Analyze current and future trends that will affect water planning and management and the important role to be played by water audits

If your organization needs to boost productivity and improve service quality, it must build its service design capabilities. In this course, you’ll study the history and key principles of service design. You’ll learn to build long-term value by better understanding your customers’ needs. You’ll create customer journeys that unfold over time, identifying key opportunities for meaningful interaction through multiple channels. You’ll emerge better equipped to analyze your organization’s existing services and apply service design principles to help it remain competitive. 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: Describe what Service Design is and how it differs from User Experience (UX) Design and Customer Experience (CX) Design Identify and explain the principles of Service Design and compare with Design Thinking Recognize service as a customer journey and distinguish the key moments in that journey Analyze an existing service in order to judge its efficacy and value Plan to start practicing Service Design Competencies/skills developed in this micro course include: Client Focus Design Thinking Strategic Thinking Leading Change

If you’ve completed the Introduction to Service Design I – Principles and Concepts, you’re ready to delve further into a discipline that can dramatically improve productivity and quality and help your organization remain competitive. In this course, you’ll adopt a more systematic and creative approach to enhance your strategic design capabilities. You’ll use proven brainstorming techniques to generate rapid, meaningful prototypes of experiences you can evaluate. You’ll learn how to avoid common mistakes and create meaningful journey maps that allow stakeholders to share your vision. 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: Understand what tools and methods are commonly used by Service Design, and how they align to principles of the practice Create meaningful Journey Maps to visualize how a person interacts with touchpoints in order to achieve a goal Construct an artifact to organize the components of a service into a blueprint Create new ideas by using effective brainstorming techniques Develop rapid, low fidelity prototypes of experiences to evaluate ideas and present them to stakeholders Competencies/skills developed in this micro course include: Journey Mapping Service Blueprinting Ideation Facilitation Prototyping

Greek is the language of the civilization that most influenced Western culture. Join us and study more simple narratives in Attic Greek, spoken around Athens in about 500 - 300 BCE, the language of some of the greatest works of Western literature. Through the consideration of English words derived from Greek, we’ll see the vital part that Greek still plays in our language and thought. We’ll look at some more cultural and historical aspects of the language. An acquaintance with Latin or another inflected language will be useful but not necessary to continue your introduction to this beautiful and nuanced language. Continue to acquire Greek vocabulary. Read narratives in Greek. Understand more basic structures and forms of Attic Greek.

Discover the benefits of an embodied movement practice to help participants integrate past trauma. In this course, you’ll acquire the basic tools to practice in a group with ample time for experiential learning. By combining theory and practice, you’ll gain direct experience of mindful movement practices, including Trauma-Informed Yoga and Somatic Experiencing (SETM). You'll study the impacts and neuroscience of stress and trauma so you can share gentle movement practices in a safe environment and adapt them for various populations.  Identify and explain the basic tenets of Mindful Movement.  Describe the impacts of trauma on the nervous system and the basic elements of the stress response system.  Learn and practice interoception during gentle Mindful Movement practices.   Explore how to share a simple movement practice while creating a safe as possible environment. Learn how to adapt the practices for various populations.  Discuss and demonstrate the use of inquiry while facilitating Mindful Movement.

The University Lecture Series invites leading scholars, thinkers, experts and leaders to address an eclectic range of topics in a short, accessible format. All the recorded presentations of the University Lecture Series from the St George Campus are now available to explore and revisit as often as you like. Hear thoughtful insights, critical analyses and provocative ideas. Dating back to 2018, these 45-minute lectures can be viewed on a subscription basis. Learn more about new interests or hear new points of view on topics you care about. Listen at your own pace for a period of two months. Renew your subscription if you would like to continue your access. Hear about issues and events that are new to you. Challenge yourself with the opinions of thought leaders who address current realities. Evaluate new perspectives on topics that are familiar to you. Gain background on important Canadian and international news.

Mindful teaching supports learners of all ages in their development of compassionate, prosocial behaviour. In this course, you’ll develop a repertoire of mindful and compassionate teaching practices that help students build supportive and collaborative relationships with their peers. You’ll explore relevant connections to learning skills and work habits, curriculum, policies and resources, along with active learning strategies that build community. You’ll learn how to create safe, inclusive learning environments in schools, post-secondary institutions, hospitals, training centres, and in the workplace.   Identify and create a safe, inclusive learning community in a variety of contexts Explore how to weave mindfulness and compassion practices into planning, instruction, facilitation   Discuss and demonstrate how to support learners in their personal growth and cultivation of compassion toward self and others Describe how to integrate active learning strategies, resources and curriculum which advance  well being and mental health Discuss how to respond skillfully to learners through mindful and compassionate embodiment