Micro Course Student Guide_2025

ROBERTSON MICRO COURSE STUDENT GUIDE _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Contents *Robertson College reserves the right to change the information outlined in this handbook at any time.

Robertson: We are the School of New Work Welcome to Robertson Land Acknowledgement Robertson’s Micro-course Approach Regulatory Information Robertson Campuses Robertson Policies Student Resources Academic Support Micro-course Learning at Robertson Contact Information Netiquette Responsibility for Learning Access to Your Micro-course Brightspace: Online Learning Management System (LMS) Hardware Requirements Software Requirements Course Materials/ebooks Communication with Instructors Micro-course Assessments Retaining Assignments Writing Guide Micro Course Evaluation Surveys Failure of a Micro-course Academic Disputes Refunds Refund Eligibility Refund Process Completion Letters and Transcript Requests Confirmation of Completion Letters & Transcript Options Fees To Request

Last updated: 2025

Robertson: We are the School of New Work Welcome to Robertson Welcome to Robertson! We are pleased you have chosen us for your micro-course studies!

The simple formula for success of ‘go to school and get a good job’ isn’t so straightforward anymore. Society’s expectations of what defines a good job are changing, which is why at Robertson, we want our students to find opportunities to contribute to the world and their workplaces in a meaningful way.

To learn, be valued and be valuable – this is our mission for our students.

Our micro-courses are: ●​ aligned with in-demand careers ●​ facilitated by industry experts (Note: Only micro-courses with a fee attached are facilitated by industry experts)

●​ designed to help learners tailor their education to their specific goals ●​ learning experiences that support industry expectations

Land Acknowledgement At Robertson College we acknowledge that we work, study and live: In Winnipeg on Treaty 1 territory, the traditional lands and waters of the Anishinaabeg, Inninewak, Anishinewak, Dakota Oyate and Denesuline, and the birthplace and homeland of the Red River Métis, Our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation in Treaty 3 territory.

In Edmonton on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional gathering place, travelling route and home for many Indigenous Peoples including the Nehiyawak/Cree, Tsuut’ina, Niitsitapi/Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Haudenosaunee/Iroquois, Dene Suliné, Anishinaabe/Ojibway/Saulteaux, and the Inuk/Inuit.

In Calgary on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina Nation, the Îyâxe Stony Nakoda Nation (Chiniki, Bearspaw, Good Stoney), the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

We acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and dedicate ourselves to raising awareness and working in collaboration with Indigenous partners in the spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.

As part of our commitment to ensuring an inclusive, culturally rich learning and working environment, Robertson is a member of the Indigenous Accord and is committed to working alongside community partners and stakeholders to support the vision and principles of the accord, which is outlined on the Winnipeg Accord website.

Last updated: 2025

Our Self-declared goals statement that describes our commitment as an institution and The Call(s) to Action/Call(s) for Justice is as follows: Robertson College will build a learning environment that embodies and instills Indigenous values, knowledge, worldviews, histories, and realities. We are committed to holding ourselves accountable in continuous learning and reflecting on the truth and demonstrating impactful actions in reconciliation in our community in partnerships with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Elders. We will draw upon the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples to ensure our learners and staff have access to appropriate spiritual healing.

Robertson’s Micro-course Approach In the dynamic landscape of education, traditional teaching methods are undergoing a transformation to better cater to the demands of modern students and employers. A pioneering solution that has emerged in response to this shift is the introduction of micro-courses.

These innovative courses are tailored to enable learners to delve into subjects that ignite their interest while equipping them with the essential skills required to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving job market and digital era.

Micro-courses offer a unique learning experience by breaking down the course into manageable modules, allowing students to focus on specific areas of interest or skill development. With their bite-sized format, these micro-courses provide a flexible and accessible means for individuals to enhance their knowledge and expertise in a convenient, self-paced manner.

Regulatory Information Robertson College is a registered PVI (Private Vocational Institution) in both Alberta and Manitoba.

Robertson Campuses Robertson College operates in three physical locations: Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton.

However, students are welcome to participate in micro-courses from anywhere in the world.

Robertson Policies Robertson's policies apply to micro-courses which can be accessed. Visit Robertson College: Policies Page for a full list of our policies.

Last updated: 2025

Student Resources Students may access additional resources through the Student Resources Widget in Brightspace (as per the image on the right).

Students can also reach out via email at help.learnersupport@robertsoncollege.ca

Academic Support Robertson is committed to creating an accessible, welcoming, barrier-free, and inclusive learning environment that accommodates students with disabilities and protected characteristics. Students who have documented disabilities, temporary or chronic medical conditions, and who may therefore require academic accommodations for online navigation and assessments are encouraged to complete an Accommodation Request Form and provide documentation of their disability from a health care professional.

After doing so, the Academic Support Team collaborates with the student to put an individualized accommodation plan in place.

With consent, the Academic Support Team shares the plan with the student's instructors and provides instructors with support to enact the plan.

Please see Accessibility at Robertson for more information.

Last updated: 2025

Micro-course Learning at Robertson Where life and learning happen together.

Robertson is dedicated to offering flexible learning that meets the needs of adult learners.

Micro-course learning at Robertson allows learners to study anywhere. With micro-courses, you choose where you learn. Our flexible course format gives you the freedom to study where, when, and how it works best for you.

Contact Information Email: help.learnersupport@robertsoncollege.ca

Netiquette Students, faculty, and staff of Robertson are expected to respect the general rules of online etiquette when participating in courses via Brightspace, Robertson’s online learning platform.

In doing so, users are expected to: ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​

Use positive, professional language when communicating on online platforms.

Avoid sharing your username/password with others.

Cite sources when using materials from the internet, books, magazines, journals, and other forms of media.

Avoid sharing Robertson curriculum and information with others.

Avoid conduct such as harassing, spamming, copying information, storing obscene/offensive materials, accessing others’ accounts, damaging other users’ files or other forms of network abuse.

Responsibility for Learning As a student, you have a role to play in shaping your experiences in your micro-course studies.

Your instructor should always be the first point of contact for any questions you have regarding your course content. If there are other questions about your enrollment or Robertson in general, you can reach out to help.learnersupport@robertsoncollege.ca. When you do reach out, it is beneficial to be specific and clear about what your question is.

There are a number of other ways that you can take responsibility for your learning including: ●​ Reading the course outline for the micro-course and asking questions about the course outline at the beginning of the course. ●​ Reading assignment instructions and asking questions about the assignment. ●​ Asking for clarification of concepts, terminology, and activities as needed. This might mean emailing your instructor to ask a question.

Last updated: 2025

●​ Engaging in your learning by asking your instructors questions in Brightspace. This might mean clarifying a concept or asking for another demonstration/example of the concept at hand. ●​ Use a planner or calendar to keep track of your Course Access Duration to ensure you submit all assignments before your access ends. Please review the section below for more details.

Access to Your Micro-course Brightspace is Robertson College’s Learning Management System. You will use Brightspace to access your course content with 24/7 access. Work on your course when it makes sense for you.

Robertson micro-courses are made up of modules that break down the course content into easily manageable pieces of information.

Students may access their micro-course anytime during the course access duration period. There are no set class times as micro-courses are fully self-paced.

The access duration time frame for each microcourse is listed in the table below Micro Course Hours

Micro Course Duration

1 - 10 Hours

Three Months Course Access

11 - 100 Hours

Six Months Course Access

Brightspace: Online Learning Management System (LMS) All micro-courses at Robertson are hosted by our Learning Management System Brightspace (D2L). The Brightspace Working Group is responsible for Brightspace administration, enhancement, and strategy. Brightspace offers: ●​ Tools to communicate with instructors through email. ●​ Student progress tracking capabilities through Brightspace. ●​ Students have access to Brightspace Help under the Course Tools tab in Brightspace, which serves as a Brightspace hub where students can find specific help articles and resources ●​ Readspeaker: a text-to-speech software integrated into Robertson’s LMS, Brightspace.

It facilitates content interaction on a personal level and offers learning tools that help understanding by making it easier to access online content. Readspeaker is accessible to all students.

Last updated: 2025

Hardware Requirements All students must have a PC laptop or desktop computer and a reliable internet connection before the start of their micro-course. Macs are accepted for some programs but not others (see note below). Tablets and mobile devices are not sufficient to complete the required coursework.

Students should also ensure they are running the most current version of their browser for an optimal experience. Students must ensure that they have a minimum of 4GB Memory and up to 2GB of free hard drive space NOTE: Students taking Bookkeeping or QuickBooks micro-courses are strongly encouraged to use a windows-compatible (PC) computer or laptop to access the software required for these courses.

Software Requirements All students at Robertson should sign up for a free Microsoft 365 account. Students may require Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook for their programs; therefore, the Microsoft 365 Family Account or Microsoft 365 Personal Account will suffice. 2016 and 2019 versions of MSO software are acceptable.

Course Materials/ebooks Course materials in the form of eBooks, or other electronic materials, software, and/or media will be provided to students by Robertson in the applicable courses. eBooks are accessible and support learning in a variety of ways such as: ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​

ReadAloud feature highlights and notes search capabilities adjust font size automatic generation of citations and references Bookshelf applications for most books (to read ebooks offline)

Communication with Instructors Students provide an email address when they register with Robertson. Robertson will use this email address to communicate with students. Students may contact help.learnersupport@robertsoncollege.ca to change their email address.

All communications with instructors should be through official Robertson channels.

Students may contact instructors in Brightspace through the email provided by the instructor in the micro-course. Students are asked to contact their instructor directly if they have any questions related to their course content. Instructors are expected to respond to student emails within 24 hours. Instructors may post news, information and updates for students in their Brightspace course..

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Instructors will use the student’s email address for communication about course or operational matters, and students should check their personal email for communication.

Micro-course Assessments Assessments in Micro-courses must be submitted before the course access end date.

Assessments may include discussion posts, assignments, quizzes, tests, exams, etc.

Students do not have to pass all assignments in a micro course to pass the course. As long as a student obtains the minimum passing grade of 70% as the final cumulative grade in the course, the student will pass the course. These details are communicated for each course on the course outline.

Students who do not achieve the minimum passing grade as posted in a course outline may be permitted to rewrite or redo an assessment. A rewrite can occur at any time during the course; it does not have to be at the end of the course (thus, any time when it is clear that the minimum passing grade has not been reached). ●​ Tests and Exams: Students may rewrite each individual test and exam one time. ●​ Written assessments: Can be re-written and submitted through dropbox. ●​ Grades: On all rewrites, the recorded grade will be the one that the student earns on the rewrite, or the higher of the two marks. ●​ Please note a Confirmation Letter of Completion or Transcript will only show the most recent attempt of the course. If the course is retaken, the new grade will replace the old grade.

Retaining Assignments Students are encouraged to keep an electronic copy of all assignments they submit during their micro-course studies. Students must submit all assignments through the Assignment Dropbox in Brightspace. Assignment feedback and grades will be returned by instructors through the Assignment Dropbox in Brightspace.

Writing Guide The Writing Guide is designed to assist micro-course students with their studies. Specifically, the Writing Guide provides information on what constitutes plagiarism, what information should be referenced, and how to cite the work of others. The Writing Guide can be found in Brightspace under Learner Resources.

Micro Course Evaluation Surveys Micro-course students are encouraged to complete the Course Evaluation Survey at the end of their course. The micro-course Evaluation Survey is intended to provide feedback and improve the quality of course materials.

Last updated: 2025

Failure of a Micro-course Micro-course Student’s Confirmation Letter of Completion or Transcript will only show the most recent attempt of the course. If the course is retaken, the new grade will replace the old grade.

A grade under 70% is considered a failing grade for Robertson College micro-courses. Failure to complete the course will show a status of ‘Incomplete’ on your transcript/confirmation of completion letter. An ‘incomplete’ status is equivalent to a failing grade.

Academic Disputes Students are able to access their grades on course assignments in Brightspace through the Brightspace Gradebook. If a student notices a grade on an assignment or exam that they believe is incorrect, they are to approach the instructor to inquire. In most instances, the discrepancy is resolved in this way. If a student is unable to resolve the issue with their instructor, they are to send an email to help.learnersupport@robertsoncollege.ca. The situation will then be addressed by the College.

In situations where a student disagrees with the grade they receive on a course assessment or final grade in a course, they are to refer to Robertson’s Student Appeal Policy.

Refunds At Robertson we strive to give learners the opportunity to explore and be empowered by educational experiences through our micro-courses.

We understand that circumstances may arise where a student needs to request a refund for a micro course. Please review our refund policy below for your reference.

Refund Eligibility Refunds will only be considered when requested 1 - 7 days after the course start date and provided less than 25% of the course content has been accessed. For micro-courses, the course start date is the date of registration due to all the micro-courses being automatically accessible to the student upon registration. ●​ 1 - 7 days after the course start date refund amount: 50%. ●​ 8 days or more after the course start date refund amount: 0%. ●​ To be eligible for a refund, students must submit an email request to the Micro Course Team at upskill@robertsoncollege.ca within the specified timeframe.

Refund Process ●​ Email micro-course team at upskill@robertsoncollege.ca include the following: ○​ First Name & Last Name ○​ Micro-course

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○​ Upon receiving a refund request it will be reviewed and eligibility assessed based on the criteria outlined in the refund policy.

Completion Letters and Transcript Requests The following includes information on Confirmation of Completion Letter and Transcript requests along with payment steps.

Confirmation of Completion Letters & Transcript Options 1.​ For all micro-courses that do not transfer into Robertson Diploma programs students can request a Letter of Completion which they will receive by email (includes microcourse name, start date, end date, cost, and grade).

2.​ For micro-courses - Guiding Children’s Behavior 1 & Child Development 1; micro-course students can request an unofficial Transcript to be emailed to them which will assist with tuition reimbursement.

3.​ A student can request an official copy of their transcript to be emailed to a third-party post-secondary school upon request.

4.​ A student can request an official physical copy of their transcript which will be mailed to them for personal records or can be mailed to a third-party upon request.

Fees 1.​ Emailed Confirmation Letter of Completion - $0.00 2.​ Emailed Unofficial Transcript for Guiding Children’s Behavior 1 & Child Development 1 $0.00 3.​ Emailed Official Transcript sent to st\third-party post-secondary school - $0.00 4.​ Mail Official (physical copy) sent to student or third-party post-secondary school $20.00

To Request ●​ Visit: Requesting Micro Course Records Confirmation of Completion Letters and Transcripts will be provided upon request.

Any change in the student’s name, address or telephone number must be communicated to the college. Documentation will be required as proof of a name change. This information is considered confidential and for Robertson College use only.

Last updated: 2025