Top 23 online courses in Canada – June 2020
Discover the most popular courses for Canadian learners and see what learning opportunities are out there for you.
Online learning has always been a popular choice in Canada, and this has only been accelerated by the outbreak of COVID-19.
Canadian learners are using FutureLearn for a wide range of online courses, from dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic to discovering more about historical wonders like Ancient Rome. Read on to find out what the 25 most popular online courses in Canada are, and who knows, you might find some inspiration yourself.
1. COVID-19: Tackling the Novel Coronavirus
Fighting the novel coronavirus has been a world-wide-struggle, and courses such as this one from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK) have been instrumental in helping both health practitioners and the general public. Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars, it has been one of the most popular FutureLearn courses each month since its launch in March this year.
2. Understanding Fashion: From Business to Culture
The Canadian fashion industry is valued at a whopping 43.6 billion Canadian dollars so it’s not surprising this course on the business of fashion is highly popular. You’ll receive exclusive insights from leading figures in the world of fashion, including designers such as Simon Porte Jacquemus, Christelle Kocher, Paul Smith, and CEOs at Chanel, YSL and Hermès, and study fashion as both a cultural phenomenon and a creative industry.
3. Understanding IELTS
IELTS is one of the world’s most popular English language tests, with 3.5 million tests taken each year. It’s the English test of choice for educational organisations, professional associations, and employers across Canada.
This program explores how the test works and how key language skills are examined in the IELTS and what you need to demonstrate to the examiner in order to pass. This program is designed by the British Council and is the perfect way to prepare for the test.
4. Rome: A Virtual Tour of the Ancient City
Italy is a popular destination for Canadians — nearly 900,000 of them visited the country in 2018, many of them to the country’s capital of Rome.
With the COVID-19 pandemic restricting travel at the moment, the next best thing is a virtual tour, and that’s where this online course comes in. Explore ancient Rome with this historically accurate 3D model and learn more about the ‘eternal city’.
5. Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology
If you’ve ever been fascinated by the world of forensics, then this course could be your opportunity to channel that passion. You’ll discover the world of forensic archaeology and anthropology through a series of real-life case studies, video lab sessions, interactive 3D models, photographs and podcasts.
On this course from Durham University, you’ll also learn how to analyse skeletal remains and be introduced to DNA analysis.
6. How to Teach Online: Providing Continuity for Students
As the fight against COVID-19 continues, and many schools in Canada remain partially or entirely closed, teachers need to be equipped with the skills to teach online and provide continuity for their students.
On this course from FutureLearn, you’ll learn how to adapt your teaching for an online context, and how to collect, review and evaluate student feedback on your new approaches.
7. Teaching English Online
Similar to the ‘How To Teach Online Course’ above, but with a particular focus on English teaching, this course from Cambridge Assessment English (part of the University of Cambridge) is perfect for those English teachers transferring to an online environment.
You’ll receive expert guidance from experienced educators, and discover tips and tools to help you become an effective online English teacher.
8. A History of Royal Fashion
British royal fashion, from the modern-day Windsors to previous dynasties like the Tudors and the Stuarts, has always been closely scrutinised.
On this course, from the University of Glasgow, you’ll be taken on a fashion journey through the ages, with exclusive access to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.
You’ll learn how the Royal Family has utilised fashion for their own ends, and identify key fashion developments from the sixteenth century to the present day
9. England in the Time of King Richard III
When the skeletal remains of Richard III were discovered in a Leicester car park, it caused headlines all over the world, including Canada. Now, with this course from the University of Leicester, you’re able to travel back to the time when King Richard was ruling the country.
You’ll discover what English life was like in the 15th century and how the remains of Richard III came to be discovered.
10. Understanding IELTS: Speaking
The IELTS Speaking test is one of four parts of the IELTS qualification. You’ll be asked questions about your life and your family, as well as a long discussion about a specific topic.
On this course, the British Council will prepare you for the IELTS Speaking test by going through strategies for each section of the test, and building your confidence so you can confidently speak in English.
11. Understanding IELTS: Writing
The IELTS Writing test is another crucial part of the IELTS qualification. The exam consists of two separate written tasks, and this course will help prepare you for both sections.
You’ll learn from the British Council, who are experts in preparing candidates for the IELTS test.
12. Understanding Autism
It is estimated that 1 in 66 children in Canada will be diagnosed as autistic. First identified over 70 years ago, autism refers to a range of conditions characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, as well as by unique strengths and differences.
On this course, you’ll build your understanding of autism and discover a new perspective on the lived experiences of people on the autism spectrum.
13. Dyslexia and Foreign Language Teaching
Dyslexia affects 10-15% of the global population, and the condition can have an impact on their ability to learn a second language. This course has been designed for teachers of additional languages, with a specific focus on accommodating the needs of students with dyslexia.
You’ll learn new techniques and discover the latest computer-assisted tools to help with teaching languages to students with dyslexia
14. Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance
With everything the world is dealing with at the moment, you can be forgiven for feeling a little stressed out. Mindfulness is the process of making yourself more grounded in the present and what you’re doing, and using that as a way to reduce stress and feel calmer.
This course, from Monash University, looks at the latest research on mindfulness, the problems associated with unmindfulness and how it can improve your work and performance.
15. Food and Mood: Improving Mental Health Through Diet and Nutrition
We all know that eating poorly can affect both our physical and mental wellbeing. In fact, poor diet is one of the leading causes of mortality in Canada and globally.
It’s important for all of us to understand the relationship between diet and our health, and this course, from Deakin University, explores this in detail. If you’re a healthcare practitioner, the course also looks at the principles and strategies of dietary change for patients.
16. Understanding IELTS: Reading
This popular course focuses on the Reading Test aspect of the IELTS exam.
You’ll develop strategies to improve your performance on test day and gain a better understanding of the format and likely questions in the exam. You’ll also learn how to deal with any unfamiliar vocabulary in a calm and logical way.
17. Digital Skills: User Experience
User experience (UX) is a crucial part of any digital product, and it’s one of the main factors in whether that product succeeds or not. UX is how a person feels when they use your product, so keeping that in the forefront of your mind is important.
This course, part of Accenture’s Digital Skills series, will provide you with a full understanding of what UX is and why it’s so important to businesses in Canada and around the world.
18. How to Succeed at: Interviews
Most of us will have had interviews at some point in our lives. Some of them will have gone well, and others… less so!
This course has been put together by interview experts at The University of Sheffield to help ensure that your future interviews have the best possible chance of success. You’ll learn about different types of interviews and how to handle them, as well as identifying any areas of weakness that you can work on.
19. Start Writing Fiction
If you’re thinking about writing fiction, whether just for fun or if you’re thinking about writing professionally, then this course from The Open University can help you achieve your goal.
You’ll discover the habits and routines of highly successful writers, including Louis de Bernières, Patricia Duncker, Alex Garland, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Tim Pears, Michèle Roberts and Monique Roffey, and hear how they began their writing careers.
The course doesn’t require any previous experience of writing fiction.
20. Understanding IELTS: Listening
The IELTS Listening exam is one of the four parts of the IELTS qualification. It consists of four separate listening tasks, including listening to and understanding conversations and monologues.
This British Council course will help you prepare for the test, by going through exam strategies and techniques, and considering what to do if you’re faced with any unfamiliar topics during the exam.
21. Food As Medicine
Diet is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This course, from Monash University, looks into the concept of food as medicine in more detail and explores the importance of food both in preventative health and in managing chronic conditions.
It also looks into the history of food as medicine and gives an introduction into the relationship between food and various parts of the body, including the gut and the brain.
22. Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime
Did you know that art crime totals more than £8 billion pounds globally, each year?
On this course, you’ll learn more about how art and antiques are stolen, trafficked, and in some cases found and returned to its origin. You’ll also learn about the fight to protect heritage sites from thieves from those at the forefront of the fight to save the world’s precious artefacts.
23. Language Assessment in the Classroom
Being able to accurately assess language capabilities, and design tests that give an accurate representation of a student’s abilities are valuable skills for any language teacher to possess.
On this course, from the British Council, you’ll explore the basic principles of language assessment and learn how to assess the four key language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.
