Six essential courses.

Multiple skill-building lessons.

About your instructor, Kwriter

I started my own writing and communications business in the 1990s and have been working for business and government ever since. Mostly providing services to the education and health sectors, I've also written editorials for magazines, ad copy for merchandise and social media thought-pieces for senior executives. In all, I've learned a great deal in the last 35 years.

Grant MacEwan College, now MacEwan University, in Edmonton, AB, hired me to teach my first course on writing and communications for the workplace. I then led courses with the City of Edmonton and the Government of Alberta. I would go on to teach undergraduate students at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, while working as a communications officer with the University of Victoria.

All of my past experiences have informed the six new courses presented here. I have aligned my syllabus with curriculum standards, sought out professional peer reviews, current employer needs, new Open Textbooks and communication outcomes from a mix of recent projects and campaigns.

Here you will find relevant, authentic lessons loaded with skill-building content offered at a fair price. I invite you to be among the first to explore these courses, all self-paced with instructor support and assessments. Try out the free Career Planning course and let's see where this learning can take you.

Welcome to my online school!

Kate Hildebrandt, instructor
Kwriter Academy

About the need for professional skills

Professional skills are critically important in today's workplace. Employers value workers with technical knowledge, computer skills, as well as interpersonal and behavioral attributes. Career success includes having the ability to adapt to fulfill work needs, to be productive, supportive, sensible and an effective communicator.

Key skills employers look for

Professional communication and writing.
Critical thinking and problem-solving.
Adaptability and flexibility.
Leadership.
Emotional intelligence and empathy.
Teamwork and collaboration.
Time management and organization.
Continuous learning.

About learners and their stories

Undergrad

You're about to begin your first year at university. It's a big step and you're ready. You made a plan to polish your writing and presentation skills to improve your grades. You signed up for our professional writing course and liked the self-paced learning with some instructor support. Students succeed when they know what they want.

Working dad

You've got such a happy life and a great job. Even so, that opening for a leadership role has got you thinking. You've been wanting to advance but feel the need to refresh your communication skills to meet management requirements and to boost your own confidence. Our Strategic Communications course can help you excel.

New hire

Congratulations on the new job! The workload is interesting, steady and, at times, quite challenging. You're learning a lot and feel good about your expanding skillset. You keep thinking now would be a good time to refresh your portfolio website to showcase your learning and most recent work.

New citizen

You have worked hard to master the English language -- reading, writing, spelling, speaking fluently. What an achievement! Now, you're building a more detailed career plan to define specific goals on how you will reach those goals using our career planning micro course. Next, sign up for our membership plan. Learn and save.

About our Open Learning Resources

Various reputable sources add relevance, depth and interest to each lesson so learners can connect with real life concepts, stay engaged with their course content and retain the learning each lesson provides.

The only textbooks needed for each course are Open Learning* pressbooks. We will provide you with the links and info within each course plan. Many of these open texts are published by Canadian colleges and universities. The majority have been issued within the last few years.

By using a mix of Open Learning Resources, we uphold academic quality, relevance, authenticity, and the thrill of great learning with a dash of the unexpected. These are free, high quality learning tools.

*Open Learning allows anyone access to free educational resources across the globe via the Creative Commons copyright. Read more in our Kwriter Academy Blog.

Check out BCCampus and their commitment to OER - Open Educational Resources - including Open Textbooks and other open learning tools. Lots of great information and learning resources on their website.

BC and Canada are also major players with Creative Commons and Creative Commons Canada. Learn more about this international group, the free CC license and tools, what it all means, and take a look at the many, impressive learning resources here, too.

About course format and delivery

Your course plan
You will receive a course plan by email after you register for your course or membership. The plan will include a schedule, a course outline, information on what you will study across each module with details on how to log on and access each lesson.
Tasks and assignments will be explained so the learner will know what to do and when. Lessons are structured with mixed media to stimulate the brain and enable various learning styles. The 'knowing' and feelings of confidence may start slowly and should build gradually towards completion.
Course delivery
These are part-time, 100% online courses that each require six weeks to complete.
The micro course is a free two-week course, designed to serve as your starting place.
Real-time sessions are held Mondays every week. Log in to access these sessions using the schedule provided in your course plan. These sessions will also be recorded for viewing at your convenience.
Learners work through course modules on their own time and at their own pace.
Note the assignment expectations and deadlines for submission. Your instructor provides feedback on your assignments in writing. These comments are to acknowledge your effectiveness and where you can further advance your skills. A virtual meeting can be arranged to discuss your work and to ask questions.
You also have access to a forum on Facebook where you can post and discuss questions with other learners.
Learning objectives
Each course overview*, included in your course plan, is built around four or five objectives learners are expected to achieve.
Course content is structured to support learners using various resources including reading materials, slide decks, videos and handouts.
* To learn more about a course, go to the home page, scroll down to the six course panels and click on the Course Overview button of your choice.
Expect a slow start and gradual increases in complexity
Each course begins with a storyboard showing key steps of the course learning process. This is a highly visual tool designed to enable your understanding. Keep it handy. Better yet, post it on a wall near your work desk.
Building on each step of learning, course content becomes gradually more complex.
Refer to your course storyboard and become familiar with each step in the learning process of your course. In time, you will get to know each step and master the process.
Various formats for various learning styles
A variety of formats are used to improve all learners' abilities to understand each lesson.
Content is visually appealing, written in Plain Language and easy to understand.
Learners complete quizzes, assignments and a final open book exam with each course, except the micro course.
If you get stuck, feel confused or want to discuss something, email your instructor. The email address will be provided with your course plan.