By Monique Phillips
Students in the Faculty of Communication and Design now have free access to Lynda.com, an online training website that provides over 100,000 video tutorials.
Lynda.com is an Online Training Library that teaches basic computer skills through online video tutorials.
According to their website Lynda.com has “provided training to more than two million people.”
“The tutorials are very accessible, they are not too technical so it makes it easy for anybody to understand them,” said Kouadio.
Following a successful six-month pilot, Ryerson FCAD students recently received an email from Michel Kouadio, Director of Technology and Innovation, offering them a free subscription to Lynda.com.
The free subscription would regularly cost a student $275 a year, but by signing up through an FCAD computer, students get the same access for free. Once the registration process is complete students will have access to Lynda.com anywhere- including their mobile device by downloading the website’s app.
According to Kouadio some faculty members have successfully began implementing Lynda.com into their course work and this is something that he encourages.
“Faculty members want to optimize their time that they have with the students,” said Kouadio.
The innovative online training tool allows students to learn the basics outside of the classroom providing professors with the opportunity to focus more of their time teaching advanced skills that are required in the field.
“I definitely think the basics of design software such as Adobe Photoshop, can be taught online opposed to in a classroom,” said Mohammad Birkdar a fourth-year Graphics Communication Management student.
Kouadio does not recommend students using the online tool as a supplement to taking academic courses but recommends it as being a complement to what they are learning in class.
“Lynda.com is not an academic institution there is a difference between an academic course and what you may learn on Lynda.com,” said Kouadio.
In addition, the website only provides students with a general skill set. While this helps students get a stronger background it lacks a focus on the more academic aspects that are crucial.
Some other post-secondary institutions that are currently using Lynda.com as an online training tool for students are Ontario College of Art and Design, University of South California and Virginia Tech.
Lynda.com is one of many online tools that FCAD is looking to offer its students.
According to Kouadio, the faculty is currently working on a catalogue of resources for students to use.
“We are deploying different tools to help enhance the student learning experience at Ryerson.”
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