Learning designed
to engage your mind
Each course, same easy format.
A course plan, a mix of learning resources and interview are shared to hieghten your learning experience.
- You will receive a kit of information including a course plan, links to learning resources including Open Textbooks and detailed assignment descriptions.
- We meet up once a week online to go over lessons, assignments and address any questions you may have. We also talk about the lessons and how they fit into the course plan and boost your studies.
- How-to videos set up each week of learning activities including lesson concepts, explaining why these lessons and resources matter as we guide you through the learning process.
- Your learning modules include interviews with past students and working professionals. These folks share their learning experiences and insights on how they've navigated their careers so far.
- Assignments, quizzes and a final exam are included with each course. These are methods for evaluation and assessment. Details are provided in your course plan, which you will receive at the start of your course learning.
Our curricula
The course plan, the lessons and the learning outcomes
Each course is structured to help you grasp new concepts in step with learning outcomes that frame your learning goals and overall results. Clear as mud? Here's what we mean -
- A learning outcome is a statement of what a learner should be able to achieve from course studies and lessons. Think of a learning outcome as what you take away from the course.
- An example of a learning outcome might read like this: "Learners can accurately describe and analyze the eight steps of the professional writing process.
- Is a learning outcome a goal? Yes, it is. Each course has a goal centred around helping each learner develop the skill required to be successful in the workplace. Goals also influence the teaching method so that learners understand, retain, and draw upon those important skills.
- The focus of lessons presented in each course is learner-centred, which means the focus is designed to not only help learners learn but to help learners achieve the results of the lessons.
Our storyboards
Learning at a glance
Every course has a kit and every kit has a storyboard. This visual teaching tool walks you through each step of the process you will be studying.
We recommend you print out your storyboard and post in on the wall of your study area. That way you can refer to your storyboard quickly and see the entire story of what you are studying. It's a very helpful tool because it also helps you remember the steps and understand the order as well as the meaning.
Methods for selecting content
Current, relevant and open
Selecting learning resources ideal for each course is job one at Kwriter Academy.
Standards were set based on how people learn and retain that knowledge by:
- finding current and relevant Open Textbooks.
- developing our own compelling visual aids.
- adhering to skills learning requirements.
- exploring professional expectations in today's workplace.
Each course now has its own unique series of handouts, slide decks, videos, editorials, Open Textbooks and assignments. We opted for this mix of materials to keep your learning experience interesting and relevant to the workplace.
Our instructional design approach
Enabling career readiness
Key elements
- Behavioral engagement: This involves how we notice student participation and effort, such as attending sessions, participating in discussions, completing assignments and meeting deadlines.
- Cognitive engagement: This refers to the learner's mental investment, employing critical thinking, solving complex problems and making meaningful associations to understand content deeply.
- Emotional engagement: This is the student's affective connection to the learning experience, encompassing curiosity, interest, a sense of belonging and a positive attitude toward learning and relationships with others.
Engagement
- Relevance and authenticity: Students are more engaged when the material connects to their real lives, interests, and future goals. We use real-world examples, case studies, and project-based tasks to make learning purposeful.
- Active learning and interaction: Moving beyond passive listening to active participation is crucial. Strategies include hands-on experiences, group discussions, peer teaching and simulations that encourage students to construct knowledge themselves.
Criteria for success
- Autonomy and choice: We strive to help learners feel heard, to have a sense of ownership over their education, which means having a choice in topics, assignments and learning pace. We believe ownership can increase motivation in learning.
- Clear expectations and timely feedback: Learners need to understand the learning objectives and success criteria. Regular, constructive and timely feedback helps students monitor their progress, correct misconceptions and stay motivated.
- Instructor support: Strong, supportive relationships and opportunities to connect with the instructor foster a sense of belonging.
- Appropriate challenge: Tasks are challenging enough to be interesting but not so difficult as to cause frustration. This "just right" challenge helps students achieve a state of flow and build confidence in their ability to succeed.
- Curiosity and creativity: Engaged learning enhances curiosity, providing opportunities for creative expression and problem-solving.
- Varied instructional methods: We use a mix of teaching strategies and tools to present content in manageable pieces. This constructivist approach -- to build gradually -- helps hold attention and engage learners with varying learning styles.