Long before pandemic protocols introduced students of all ages to virtual learning, Global Initiatives' Office of Continuing Education was at the forefront of online education. Since 2002, our partnership with ed2go has provided affordable non-credit career and professional development programming, both instructor-led and self-paced. If your summer plans include professional development—or if you just enjoy learning new things—take a look at some of the hundreds of courses offered by ed2go.

How Does It Work?

With more than 2000 educational and corporate partners, ed2go is a national leader in accessible online education. Offerings include a variety of courses and certification prep, ranging from computer applications to website development, customer service, and language courses such as Speed Spanish.

Courses are open to anyone, and there is no age restriction. Affiliation with Miami is not required.

• Instructor-led courses are for students who prefer a structured learning pace with instructor guidance. Each six-week course typically offers 12 lessons, with a lesson released on Wednesday and Friday of each week. At the end of the course, students complete a final exam.
• Self-paced tutorials are for students who prefer to learn at their own pace and are comfortable with self-guidance. Students gain access to all course material, quizzes, and the final exam at the time of enrollment.

Students who pass the final exam with a minimum of 65% receive a certificate of completion.

Job Enrichment and SMART Goals

According to Donna Gouvan, Manager of Administrative Services, hundreds of Miami employees have taken advantage of ed2go, primarily to develop new skills or to improve existing skills. For example, Crissy Jessie, Recruiting Coordinator for Miami's Center for Career Exploration & Success, took an ed2go Excel class to enhance her skillset. She said, "Professional development is important to me because it helps to make me a better person and colleague as I grow with learning new things to assist me in my job performance. It's great Miami provides opportunities like this for staff, and I encourage everyone to look into it."

Since these are non-credit courses, Miami's tuition waiver does not apply. However, those who participate in Miami’s Job Enrichment Program (JEP) may have the cost of the courses paid by their department if they pertain to the employee's job duties.

Gouvan also points out that ed2go courses can be used to set SMART goals in Miami's new PageUp Performance Evaluation. "If an employee wants to improve their customer service rating, they can participate in courses such as Managing Customer Service, Administrative Assistant Fundamentals, or Keys to Effective Communication. Or if they want to improve their knowledge and skills using Microsoft Word or Excel, they can do any number of MS Office courses," she said.

Getting Started

Please visit our ed2go Professional Development Online Instruction Center to see exact start dates for the courses that interest you. New course sessions begin each month.

Most courses cost between $105–$129. Payment can be made by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. If you work for Miami and your department will be covering the cost of the course, contact Donna Gouvan at gouvandm@MiamiOH.edu to get registered.

In a recent survey regarding the quality and extent of the online learning experience, 89% of respondents found the value of ed2go courses "just right." But lifelong learning is not only a good value: it's priceless in so many ways. Check out the courses for yourself, and spread the word about this versatile virtual learning resource to your family and friends.