Thank you for registering for an upcoming session! Our workshops and learning experiences are led by our learning and development specialists, in the physical training room, a virtual training room, and through self-paced online courseware.
To ensure that you have the best experience in one of our sessions, we suggest you review the information in the below sections before you attend.
- Pre- and Post- workshop tasks
- Accessibility
- Attending an in-person workshop
- Participating in virtual experiences (online synchronous workshops or self-guided courses)
- Canceling
- Taking care of you
For questions related to workshop registration, please visit our Learning Frequently Asked Questions.
Some sessions may ask you to complete pre- or post-work before or after the workshop. Pre-work is usually indicated in the session description in Portal.
Pre-work:
The purpose of pre-work is to allow you to gain knowledge and understanding of the content at your own pace and at a convenient time. This pre-work allows the group to dig deeper into the ideas and concepts in the session. It is meant to prepare participants in advance for meaningful group discussion and deeper exploration of the topic. In some cases, an assessment is required in advance of the workshop.
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OHD will send an email containing your pre-work up to one week before the facilitated workshop is scheduled.
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Once you’ve received it, complete the pre-work in full and at your earliest convenience.
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The workshop will build upon the content learned during the pre-work.
Post-work:
Most sessions will request that you set a goal from the learning to help “step into action” meaningful outcomes from the session. This allows you to apply the material in your work and life.
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All workshops and learning events request that you complete a post-session survey through Qualtrics to support continuous improvement of the experience.
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Check out our OHD Resources site for any additional information and resources related to OHD content and topics.
Accessibility is very important to us at OHD. We are dedicated to enhancing our online learning with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and adhere to WCAG 2.1 standards. Additionally, we are beginning to adopt WCAG 2.2. Your input matters — if you come across any areas we overlooked, need specific accommodation, or have valuable suggestions, please contact us at ohd.onlinelearning@uwaterloo.ca.
Organizational and Human Development is committed to promoting accessible and inclusive learning for all employees. We are guided by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the University of Waterloo's Accessibility Policy, and global standards in web accessibility by the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
While we strive to ensure our workshops are accessible in nature, if you have specific accommodations, please email our Events and Programs Coordinator, Krystal Mittler or ohd@uwaterloo.ca.
In-person workshops
Workshops will be held in-person in either the OHD training room (EC1 – 1004) or the Human Resources (HR) training room (EC1 – 1023), with a maximum of 18 or 30 participants depending on the session. Both training rooms have access to a water cooler, fridge, and a microwave for your use. Please bring your own water bottle and be considerate of the sensitivities of other participants. OHD and HR are scent-free, nut-free spaces.
Workshop Participation
Most OHD in-person workshops invite active participation. Participants join in the conversations and contribute ideas through group work and discussions. If you require further accommodation to participate comfortably, please send us an email at ohd@uwaterloo.ca
Being on time matters
The room will be open 15 minutes before the workshop start time. Please join us early to get settled in advance of the start time. We appreciate you planning your day to ensure you can participate for the duration of the full workshop and recommend booking at least 15 minutes before and after an in-person workshop to allow for travel time.
Plan your route to East Campus 1 (EC1).
Parking
Parking is available nearby in Q lot for a fee of $7.25. Participants can either download the AMP mobile app through Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store on your phone, or register through the AMP app website. Payment can be made using a credit card via secure online transaction.
Online synchronous (virtual) workshops
OHD’s virtual workshops are facilitated workshop experiences, allowing you to get the learning you want, from wherever you are. These workshops typically have a maximum of 30-40 participants and are delivered as interactive sessions, not lectures. We limit the number of participants to allow for effective group work, discussion, feedback and questions to ensure participants get the most from the session.
Virtual workshop participation
Most OHD (virtual) online synchronous workshops require active participation. Participants will be invited to join in the conversations and to contribute ideas through breakout groups and discussions. You may be asked to contribute using your microphone or on the chat function.
Whenever possible, please join the call in a private space where you will not be disturbed and feel you can speak freely without disturbing others. You will get the most from the session if you join and participate with both audio and video. If you require further accommodation to fully participate, please email us at ohd@uwaterloo.ca
Please make sure you arrive on time. Joining a workshop late can be disruptive to the rest of the group.
Recordings
OHD workshops are typically not recorded. This is due to the interactive and participatory nature of the workshops, and also to ensure data protection and confidentiality of participants during discussions and on the chat boards.
Occasionally, an information session or workshop may be recorded, and you will be informed if this is the case.
OHD self-directed online courses
Self-directed courses have been thoughtfully created by our team of learning and development specialists and online instructional designers and specifically customized for the University of Waterloo employees. The courses usually last two or more weeks and are structured with weekly modules in consideration for those who prefer to reflect on their learning. Within each course, you'll have the flexibility to navigate the content at your own speed, and you should expect to spend no more than two to three hours in total.
Our self-directed courses offer a flexible, asynchronous learning experience, enabling us to provide accessible learning opportunities for all UWaterloo employees. If you've ever taken an online course before, you'll find these self-directed courses to be quite familiar and user-friendly. The aim is to make learning easy and convenient for you!
What to expect when attending a self-directed course
In each course, you may find some or all the following elements:
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Course content– the course content is developed by our Learning and Development Specialists and tailored to the evolving needs of UWaterloo employees.
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Resources – in addition to the course content, our L&D specialists will also curate relevant content that fit into our intended learning outcomes.
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Discussion forums – as a mean to connect with our colleagues with the University of Waterloo, there are discussion forums with each online course. These discussion forums can sometimes have specific prompts to allow our participants to reflect on their learning and share their thoughts with each other.
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PebblePad Pebble+ workbook – in addition to Waterloo LEARN, OHD’s self-directed courses may also leverage the Pebble+ workbook to engage with our participants. PebblePad is part of UWaterloo’s Ed Tech Hub and is free for all employees.
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Activities – OHD has meticulously crafted or curated activities tailored to the content of each self-directed course. These activities are designed to enhance the learning experience, ranging from watching a video to more engaging and interactive experiences.
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Quizzes –OHD’s self-directed courses may feature knowledge check quizzes. These quizzes are designed as “check your knowledge” to help with content recall. They are always “open book,” and you may attempt them for as many tries as you like!
Course Material and Technology
All course content, activities and resources are provided through Waterloo LEARN. Our courses are designed to work on both desktop and mobile devices. Please ensure you have a device with an internet connection that meets the basic requirements for Waterloo LEARN. Check your Waterloo LEARN compatibility.
Technology
For your best online learning experience, please ensure you have:
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Access to a computer/device with internet connection
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Access to Microsoft Teams (Part of your Office 365 experience through Waterloo)
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Access to and ability to participate by one or all the following: microphone, webcam and/or chat functionality within Microsoft Teams
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There is an audio caption feature available called “live captions” (located under the More Actions menu on the Teams Toolbar). Consider turning captions on if you would like the option of reading what is being said in real-time
Currently, all online workshops are hosted in Microsoft Teams.
If you can no longer attend
If your availability has changed, it is important you cancel your registration so that we can accommodate anyone on our waitlists. Simply log into Portal, find the workshop you are registered for and update your registration accordingly. An updated cancellation confirmation e-mail will be sent to you.
For last-minute cancellations (less than two days’ notice), please email ohd@uwaterloo.ca . This includes day-of notice due to illness. If we don’t hear from you, and you don’t attend the workshop, there may be a departmental charge to compensate for any associated costs.
We know that your work and life experience are multifaceted. Our learning and development opportunities are meant to be a resource for you to gain knowledge, seek different perspectives, grow a skill set, and connect with others in the University community. However, before you register, we encourage you to consider if you have time and energy to commit to a workshop or program series. Sessions will continue to be offered year-round, so there will typically always be another opportunity to engage in the conversation.
Ask yourself these questions when looking to register for any of our programs:
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Do I feel I have the capacity/energy to complete the requirements of the session?
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Can I commit to being present for the expected duration of the offering's components?
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Am I in a place where I feel ready to participate in the facilitated session?
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Can I commit to setting a goal and using the information learned from the session?
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Are there any other barriers to my participation that I need to consider?
We understand circumstances can change with only a moment's notice. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at ohd@uwaterloo.ca if you have any questions. We are here to help!