Online and Remote Learning

Self-driving laboratories (SDLs) incorporate AI and automation into scientific laboratories to speed up the discovery of new materials for applications such as clean energy and cancer drugs. Discover the essential principles of SDLs by building a ‘Hello World’ SDL from scratch. In this asynchronous, remote course, you will build a self-driving colour matcher using dimmable LEDs and a light sensor. This introduction will help you implement hardware/software communication, database integration, microcontroller programming, and Bayesian optimization. Each of these are important components of an SDL, and you will get a taste of these in the course modules that will prepare you for deeper dives in future courses. This course is presented in partnership with the Acceleration Consortium at the University of Toronto. 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 1 year to complete it. 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 course, you'll be able to: Define and explain key terms and principles of self-driving labs to demonstrate understanding Apply MQTT or similar frameworks to send commands and receive sensor data over WiFi Demonstrate the ability to use MongoDB to store and retrieve experiment configurations and results effectively Develop and implement software on a Raspberry Pi Pico W microcontroller to control device power and read sensor data accurately Modify a Bayesian optimization script using the Ax Platform to iteratively propose new experimental configurations Integrate the individual SDL components to orchestrate the full ‘Hello World’ workflow Competencies/skills developed in this micro course include: Basic self-driving lab literacy Microcontrollers and sensors Bayesian optimization Hardware/software communication Database management Workflow orchestration

Learn how Buddhism can teach us techniques to tolerate pain, conquer anger, relinquish fear, and live a life of greater peace and fulfilment.  We’ll discuss Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, a calligrapher and prolific writer of poetry, memoir, and Buddhist dharma.  He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and named the father of modern mindfulness. We’ll read selections from his poetry, journal, memoir, children’s stories, and biography of the Buddha. We’ll discuss his political activism, called Engaged Buddhism, in relation to that of other visionaries such as Dr King and Mahatma Gandhi who spoke of satyagrapha, or truth-force. Through contemplative practices and journaling, we’ll look at Buddhist practices in a pragmatic and open way.    Study the core ideas of Buddhism such as impermanence, “interbeing,” the art of happiness, and the art of transforming one’s suffering (No Mud. No Lotus), and explore its continuing relevance to our contemporary life.  Understand the contemplative practices of Buddhism such as Mindfulness, morning and evening practices, loving kindness (metta) practice, and the recitation of gathas (short verses). Learn the story of Thich Nhat Hanh, the principles that guided him during tumultuous and dangerous time and study his excellent biography of the life of the Buddha.    Engage, if you wish, in contemplative practices such as mindfulness, journaling, and composition of your own gathas (short verses).   

If you want to make films but lack the track record to attract major funding, this course is for you. You’ll learn how to produce a film, from writing through distribution, on a budget under $250,000. You’ll break down a script, create efficient schedules, calculate appropriate tax credits, and get tips on working with union crews to run a smooth shoot. You’ll tackle post-production, draft a marketing plan, and learn how to pitch your project to producers, broadcasters, distributors, and other funding agencies. Adapt a script to work within the micro-budget world and breakdown a script; Execute applications for arts grants and other Government funding agencies; develop and execute a crowdfunding campaign; and calculate CPTC and OFTTC tax credits; Create a budget and production schedule, run a smooth shoot (principal photography), and tackle post-production; Execute a marketing and distribution plan to create maximum exposure for your film; Create materials needed to pitch your projects to producers, broadcasters, distributors, and other funding agencies.

If your organization outsources services and processes, you need to understand the System and Organization Controls (SOC) reports third-party vendors submit. In this course, you’ll learn how to use these reports to support service auditing, vendor-risk management, regulatory compliance and procurement. You’ll interpret current SOC reporting standards, examine key components of the reporting lifecycle, and create a comprehensive checklist to ensure compliance. You’ll come away with strategies to avoid common issues and findings encountered during the completion of a SOC report. This is a complementary course to the SCS Internal Audit certificate program. 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: Examine the connection between various assurance engagement standards and guidelines pertaining to SOC reporting Explain the specific responsibilities of management of the service organization and the service auditor Analyze the service organization’s processes and how to evaluate the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of the service organization’s controls Identify the criteria that are used to evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of controls at a service organization Analyze testing results and exceptions Evaluate the elements of the Service Auditor's Report Develop strategies to avoid common issues and findings encountered during the completion of a SOC report Competencies/skills developed in this micro course include: Guidance Knowledge SOC Reporting Lifecycle Management Relying Parties Requirements Analysis Risk Assessment

If your organization needs to improve its productivity and services to remain competitive, this six-week course is for you. You’ll learn how to analyze your research to better understand your stakeholders and meet their needs. You’ll build deeper customer empathy, uncover actionable insights and identify framework designs that resonate and reconcile the needs of different stakeholder groups. Through hands-on activities and projects, you’ll explore the mindset and theory behind basic analysis and synthesis methods and build your confidence using both. 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 the value of Insights in the Design process Facilitate a qualitative Design Research study from beginning to end Understand the mindsets behind each step of the research process and implement basic data Analysis and Synthesis methods Recognize and practice creating the different types of sense-making frameworks Develop actionable Insights from the research Competencies/skills developed in this micro course include: Design Research Facilitation Design Research Synthesis Design Research Analysis  

No prior knowledge of Farsi is needed to take this beginners course. It uses intensive class participation to teach you everyday interactions by focusing on phonetics, the spoken word and simple grammar. Whether for professional or personal reasons, you'll be able to greet people, request and give information about your immediate surroundings, express simple likes and dislikes and describe where you live and people you know. Learn more about Farsi heritage and Central Asian and Indian history. Pronounce Farsi clearly. Begin to use appropriate grammar, syntax and vocabulary in simple everyday situations. Form simple sentences in Farsi about yourself and your family.

The emerging discipline of Service Design can dramatically improve any organization’s productivity and quality of services. In this course, you’ll learn how to use strategic design to improve the customer and employee experience in a systematic and creative way. You’ll learn frameworks, tools, and techniques that make a project successful and how to communicate vital touchpoints, messages and options to stakeholders. You’ll emerge better equipped to plan and lead initiatives, evaluate team structures and project approaches, and build better services. 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: Analyze what makes projects successful Compare different options for engaging stakeholders in projects Compile different options for project goals, outcomes, and deliverables Evaluate different team structures and project approaches Communicate the value of a Service Design project Develop communication materials for stakeholders Create a stakeholder engagement plan that leads a design project from start to finish Competencies: Business Perspective Information Gathering and Processing Fostering communication Thinking Strategically Planning and Organizing Managing Resources

With business-to-business (B2B) sales now outpacing sales to consumers, organizations need people who can craft dynamic, data-driven B2B strategies that drive growth and achieve revenue goals. In this course, you will learn to develop customer-focused content that aligns to marketing strategies and use multiple indicators to measure and evaluate the business impact of your efforts. You will explore key tactics that modern B2B marketers leverage across the buyer’s journey and learn how to collaborate with sales teams to satisfy shifting buyer demands. By the end of this course, you'll be able to: Design a data driven B2B marketing strategy that achieves revenue goals and drives business growth Understand key tactics that modern B2B marketers leverage across the buyer’s journey Practice effective techniques to build strong relationships with sales teams, emphasizing the critical role of collaboration and communication in achieving B2B marketing success Develop content that is customer centric, educational, and aligns to your marketing strategy Measure and evaluate the business impact of your marketing efforts, using both leading and lagging indicators

Accelerate your career in data management with this overview course designed to help you align digital assets with organizational strategy. You’ll learn the basics of data architecture, management, and governance and master the vocabulary used to design, execute, and communicate data strategy effectively. You’ll acquire tools and skills to manage data responsibly and emerge ready to manage data assets through the lifecycle and take on larger, more strategic projects. By the end of this course, you'll be able to: Define guiding principles and best practices for data management and how these can be applied to functional areas and roles of data management.  Explain how data modeling, storage, data mapping and lifecycle management allow organizations to best structure and store data with consistent processes.  Discuss how integration and interoperability can be used to maintain privacy and confidentiality.  Apply techniques related to master data, reference data, and metadata to utilize and organize different versions of data and descriptions of the data.  Apply the foundations of data warehousing and business intelligence and analyze how staging and storing data can be used to present useful organizational insights. Explain how data quality and controls help an organization ensure that the data assets retain the highest quality and accuracy. Consider different data governance and security policies to provide ownership and oversight for an organization to manage data as an asset in a sustainable manner.

The emerging discipline of service design can help your organization remain competitive through systematic, creative approaches that build better services. In this six-week course, you’ll explore the fundamentals and principles of design ideation and prototyping to improve customer and employee experiences. Upon completion of this course, you will be ready to become a service design ambassador who can generate, evaluate, and test ideas; present results and revisions to decision makers; and advocate for holistic systems of solutions in addition to standalone products and services. 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 how to approach Service Design as multichannel systems of solutions Implement ideation techniques that will help you generate great ideas Evaluate and prioritize ideas Practice using different degrees of fidelity to prototype and test designs Apply best practices for presenting test results & design revisions to decision-makers Competencies/skills developed in this micro course include: Ideation Research Planning & Facilitation Concepting Design Validation & Testing Stakeholder Communication