If you’re interested in expanding your mind from the comfort of your own home by learning a new skill or gaining a fresh perspective, you’ll want to check out the continuing education courses and workshops available online through Trent University this spring.
Trent University is offering a diversity of classes appealing to a broad range of interests during the spring term, which is the popular term for lifelong learners according to Dr. Michael Eamon, Director of the Trent University Continuing Education program.
“We try to hit on all the different interests that people may have,” Eamon says. “We have a little bit of literature, a little bit of history, a lot of art and painting and photography, and writing. The common thread is that we want to build community, but we also realize the community has a lot of different interests.”
All the courses and workshops are delivered online and most are conducted live on Zoom at a scheduled time. Most of the courses begin at the end of March, with the workshops scheduled throughout April and May.
New courses for this spring include ‘Canada – Multiculturalism & Our Society’ and ‘The Story of Rock and Roll, 1951-1966’. Workshops run the gamut from arts and humanities to technology to health and well-being, with ‘Demystifying Memoir: Write Your Story Workshop’, ‘Paint your Pet’, ‘Wildlife Photography and Ecotourism’, ‘Google Spreadsheets’, ‘Introduction to Video Projection Mapping’, ‘Design Thinking as a Tool for Problem Solving’, and ‘Your Inner Warrior: Conquering Fears and Striving for Meaning’ among the offerings.
A complete list of courses and workshops is available at trentu.ca/continuingeducation/, where you can also register online.
“There are so many interesting new ones,” Eamon says. “Another interesting one is on video game design. We have broad categories of topics. We also tried to get all ages and interests in.”
The always-popular painting and photography workshops are also returning this year, he adds.
“We have some great local artists and photographers who offer the workshops,” Eamon explains. “People love it because they learn online and then go out and do it their own. They can be in nature and paint something or take a photo of something.”
The courses and workshops are an affordable option for people who want to learn something completely new or build upon their existing knowledge or skills. Workshops start at $35 and courses start at $190 (some workshops may require students to purchase additional materials).
Recognizing that adult learners often have other commitments during the day, Trent University schedules the courses and workshops around the standard nine-to-five work schedule.
“We try to make the courses happen on evenings and weekends to fit people’s busy lives,” Eamon says.
Courses are taught in a seminar format. Each weekly class has a particular topic that connects and builds upon the previous classes and connects with the overarching subject of the course. Most workshop classes are offered on weekends in half-day, one-day, or two-day formats.
Trent University began delivering its Continuing Education courses and workshops online at the beginning of the pandemic, which has allowed the university to also reach adult learners from beyond Peterborough.
“We have people signing up for classes in Toronto, Eastern Ontario, and other places, which we never had before,” he says, adding “We’re hoping for a return to in-person classes for the fall.”
According to Eamon, Trent University’s Continuing Education program is one way the university can support those members of the community looking for opportunities for lifelong education.
“Trent University was started with a commitment to the community,” he explains. “It’s important that, through continuing education, we give back to the community and support the community that originally supported Trent.”
To explore all the Continuing Education courses and workshops offered through Trent University this spring, and to register online, visit trentu.ca/continuingeducation/.
This story was created in partnership with Trent University.
