Sonia di Maulo offers free online course on learning and lifestyle
How can we use pedagogy to better prepare students for success – before, during and after their time at university?
Sonia di Maulo, is a part-time professor in the departments of Applied Human Sciences and Education, and Chief Reinvention Officer, Harvest Performance, a leadership development agency that encourages emerging leaders to engage in purpose-driven actions so that they can leave a positive impact on the world.
She has developed a free online course that anyone can take to hone their life and learning skills.
We caught up with her to learn more about the new project.
Tell us about the course and how it evolved.
Take the Leap! Make an Impact ia an award-winning program that helps emerging leaders prosper. This program launched in March 2019 and consisted of blended learning activities including an in-person workshop. Participants from the five program deliveries were from academia, students, professionals, and executive leaders.
After an extensive measurement study, it came to light that the greatest need for this program was within Higher Education (students, staff, and faculty), and needed to move to an online format. This was in December 2019, so we were following the online-learning format well before the COVID-19 pandemic moved university courses online.
The 13-week online program (delivered via Moodle and Zoom) is free, thanks to funding by the Concordia University Part-Time Faculty Association (CUPFA) and The Experiential Learning Office.
Our goal is to provide an exceptionally inclusive and diverse learning environment that helps students increase clarity, engagement and resilience. Especially now.
How is this course different than other online offerings out there?
The Take the Leap! Program is based on ‘The Model of Growth for Emerging Leaders’ developed in my Ken Blanchard-endorsed book, The Apple in the Orchard.
At the core of the program is an exercise that helps you use your 4Ps (Powers, Principles, Passions, and Purpose) to develop your living legacy.
The instructional design of the program integrates research-based positive education methodologies that consider academics, well-being and character development to create a learning environment that moves learning to actionable next steps. The program is open to all students in all disciplines and works concurrently with their other classes.
And, it’s payment-free and stress-free!
What can students expect?
Students will spend between 15-30 minutes a week on carefully curated activities that include reflection, writing, reading, exchanging with each other, watching videos, and participating in Zoom calls with the program designers and peers.
Our goal is to engage students so that they finish the program with a living legacy that reflects a deep vision grounded in meaning and purpose.
By the end of the program, students will be able to describe their living legacy - what’s needed to activate it, a readiness to navigate emotions, and the confidence to bring it to life.
What’s next?
This first-of-its-kind online program is the seed. While the student cohort launches, there will be a simultaneous cohort of faculty, staff and administrators who will also participate in the course.
The long-term vision is to balance academic activities with those that support well-being and character development systemically throughout the university ecosystem.
Our next step? This fall, we’ll be teaming up with the District 3 Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as part of their Business Validation Program.
Students, staff, faculty and recent graduates can register for the course here. The deadline to register is Wednesday, September 2.
Students can register here, and staff and faculty can email sonia.dimaulo@concordia.ca