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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Communication Strategies for a Virtual Age by University of Toronto

4.8
stars
4,267 ratings

About the Course

Communication has changed! The traditional rules for speaking and presenting, meeting coordination, influencing people, negotiating and selling ideas no longer apply in a world of skype, messenger, video and teleconference. This course will act as an overview on several concepts each of which could be a course of their own and our goal is to give you tools that you can practice and perfect on your own. By the end of this course, you will be able to: • Apply communication principles and techniques for in-person and virtual teams • Use a science based approach to create impactful presentations • Refine your communication style to better persuade and influence others • Run more effective and impactful meetings • Incorporate strategies to have positive difficult conversations and make people feel valued and listened to *** This course will require you to record yourself speaking. Therefore you must have a phone/computer with a functional camera and microphone.*** WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE? Anyone looking for professional and/or leadership development. This class mainly uses examples from the professional, business environment. If you are looking to advance at your current organization or to enhancing your personal value for potential employers this course is for you. WHAT MAKES THIS COURSE EFFECTIVE? Many educational experiences describe and explain, but in this course we will apply and demonstrate. We teach practical and proven concepts, show you how to apply them and give you opportunities to practice them in a safe and supportive environment. This course is full of opportunities to put the ideas presented into practice and test their effectiveness for yourself. WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE THIS COURSE? We will challenge the preconceived ideas about what it means to be part of a virtual team, and support you to be a dynamic team contributor no matter where you work. In this course you can expect to be both energized and uncomfortable – like in most experiences that result in positive growth and change! This course is offered through the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (https://learn.utoronto.ca/)....

Top reviews

GP

Aug 12, 2020

I love this course. It's broken down to simple bits which makes it easy to understand. I didn't like the polls that pop up in the videos but that's just a small thing compared to the value I received.

YR

May 10, 2020

The course was really helpful to strengthen communications skills and I got a chance to learn many new aspects. Thanks a lot for making this course available. I really enjoyed learning something new.

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51 - 75 of 1,381 Reviews for Communication Strategies for a Virtual Age

By Jacob N

•

Mar 12, 2021

I came into this class with very low expectations, both of the subject and what the goals were. But I was very much proven wrong and this is among the most useful classes I have ever taken on Coursera.

This isn't really a class on Communications in the academic sense. I took one of those on Coursera and it was not exactly useful or engaging. This is a class on how to get your point across and get people to do what you want. And it is obvious that the lecturer uses the techniques he is teaching in order to better get them across to others.

I am going to retake this class once I finish, just to refresh the information.

By Amy M

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Nov 28, 2022

Ivan is a dynamic speaker. Easy to implement tools to make sure your next email or presentation is no longer boring. His tools are based on real-life experience and his own background in Toastmasters, and well as behavioral psychology.

Examples used in the course, whether they were videos or articles, were effective in illustrating the points he wanted to get across. Structure of the course made sense.

Highly recommend the live office hours, if you have a chance to work it into your busy schedule and attend one.

Thanks Ivan! I will certainly be using the tools I learned in this course in my work and volunteer engagements.

By Christopher P O

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Jul 20, 2020

This was my second Coursera course and was signficantly more enjoyable than the first. The initial course I took contained good information but this course lecturer practices what he preaches. These presentations/lectures were engaging and full of valuable insights on how to make better virtual presentations that are memorable and how to present them so your listeners will remember the information (at least your main point!). I highly recommend this course for anyone that wants to gain a better understanding of the psychology behind better presentations and tips to improve your presenting skills.

By Varsha V

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Apr 18, 2021

It was an amazing experience. I am proud of my decision to join this course. This course enabled me to improve my communication skills both in virtual and real world.

Also this course helped me learn many new skills, about making great presentations, how to talk in an effective way, how to attract the audience attention and to present my topic in the best way possible ever!

I am grateful to coursera for including this course in the list and to Ivan Sir for being such an amazing teacher, instructor and leading us through the course with enthusiasm and making awesome contents. Thank you Sir.

By Susanne M

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Nov 3, 2020

This is a very hands on course, immediately applicable in daily life. Whether you are a high level manager or a student, communication travels far and can make or break (work) relationships. it gives you tools, suggestions and opportunities to review what works when presenting, engaging or convincing teams.

Note it doesn't have sheets and is mostly explained which is done in a highly engaging way. Just watching Ruiz explain and take on different hats is already a benefit for yourself.

Recommended for anyone who wants to leave an impression, do better at negotiation or close a deal.

By Tetiana M

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Jun 8, 2020

The structure of the course helps very well to understand and practice the tools for efficient communication. The examples are mainly from USA business/ public spheres — for me an additional bonus of immersing into a new environment. A final task enforced me to leave a comfort zone, however, the feelings of self-growth and good-job-made were worth it.

Ivan is a very charismatic speaker — it was exciting to listen to all the lectures. I don’t agree with some of his statements, but I think it’s okay and encourages thinking. Thank you for this course!

By Darshan M D

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Dec 30, 2020

Perfect length, engaging videos and knowledge that can help us wit our daily life as well as work/business. Prof. Ivan and University of Toronto have truly created a course that can solve your problems when trying to communicate with your colleagues, relatives, friends or family on difficult issues or awkward situations. It helps to give you confidence as a public speaker or for doing presentations too! Looking for a solution to get your raise or crack a business deal? This is the right course for you! Highly recommended for all!

By Queanna

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Nov 29, 2022

I came into contact with this course because of a relative who is a UofT Alum, so grateful she got me interested. I must admit this is the first course that kept me engaged to the end. Also it's the first course I've ever completed on Coursera! I learned so much about my audience, communicating with others and of course more about myself as a listener and team member. I can't wait to use this new found knowledge and apply it in the real world! Thank you Ivan and the team at UofT, very grateful for this initiative.

By Alexandra S

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Jul 13, 2020

It's a well-informative course for starters! I can clearly understand from the instructor, and it has taught me so many things about communication that can be applied to the real world. However, I seem to notice a lot of typos here and there which can be improved for a better overview. Additionally, I was kind of confused by the Peer-Review Assignment since many weren't following the instructions which made me have to report them multiple times. Overall, it's a good course but there's always room for improvement.

By Marcos S

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May 19, 2023

The course exceeded my expectations, teaching clearly and objectively the importance of message customization and strategies to maintain the attention of the virtual audience. It provided a fresh perspective on online communication, showcasing opportunities to reach a wide audience and establish deeper connections. I am grateful to Mr. Ivan Ruiz and the University of Toronto for the quality of the course and highly recommend it to anyone looking to excel in the digital era. Well-deserved five stars!

By Dhara N

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Jun 21, 2021

Ivan is an excellent professor! The lectures are engrossing and so easy to understand. His verbal skills and tonality will keep you engaged in the lecture. The content is well-distributed and Ivan does complete justice to elaborating it and presenting it in simpler ways. It is an amazing course and everyone from all walks of life must take it! Irrespective of what your professional background is - Ivan and his course will contribute highly in making you a better communicator! Loved the course!

By Warisara M

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Jun 1, 2020

This course is highly recommended. The content is very helpful which I can apply in my real life. The instructor taught professionally and could drag my attention with his speaking. Moreover, there is a Test per Week and a final assignment that I need to record my VDO and did slide for my virtual presentation. I'd love it so much because It's fun and I also could try applying all of the strategies with it then we could share and review with many learners from around the world.

By Anne B

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Oct 6, 2020

This was a great class. So many great tips and learnings. I particularly liked the tips on creating inclusive and compelling virtual meetings with remote teams. I loved the bowtie methodology for communication along with the myth-busting around beliefs about in-person and virtual meetings. I loved the part about catering your communication to what the person/people you are communicating to need versus what you personally need. I loved the pop quizzes throughout the course.

By Joessy T

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May 1, 2020

This was the perfect course to attend during this challenging time. I felt it spot on with my everyday life and communication. The instructor Ivan is a natural and excellent presenter. I thoroughly enjoyed each topic and the suggested tools to tackle them. The resources and links offered are also incredibly helpful for future reference. I would talk about the course with friends and family who are also interested. So glad I stumbled upon this on LinkedIn!

By Jenis A

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Oct 26, 2020

I have found this course very fond and challenging at the same time. It has helped me to understand myself and the people around me.

I was challenged to upload my first Youtube video plus I had to redo my assignment and I had to watch more of Sir Ivan videos which were very stimulating.

I believe you can learn so much about communicating and understanding ways to communicate with your colleagues.

You would truly enjoy every moment of learning from this course.

By Carley S

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May 5, 2020

Ivan is an amazing instructor who makes learning easy and engaging! In a few months I will need to engage a group of students online and I cannot wait to utilize some of the things I have learned from this course! It was well worth my time and I think this course is great for almost everyone. It is one that can help you virtually and in-person with co-workers or friends. I highly recommend and wish this course was even longer than the few weeks.

By Eleni A

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Sep 1, 2020

Engaging, enlightening and, most importantly, highly applicable.

The pandemic has created the need for excessive virtual communication and this course provides everything you need to survive and excel in virtual as long as face to face communication. The knowledge offered can be applied to every-day, academic and professional situations.

Amazing professor, short-length videos and perfectly suited tests/ assessments.

Cannot recommend it enough!

By I V N V K

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Jun 19, 2021

Thank You Sanofi for providing this wonderful learning opportunity. Thank You Coursera for hosting this contemporary and apt course in association with University of Toronto. Mr. Ivan is blessed with the ability to connect with people (even offline - over web) and share this wisdom which such simple points that the listener (student) feels charged up to try every thought point and make their own experience - eventually way of life.

By Kamil B

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Sep 30, 2020

Awesome course. A lot of practical tips, materials and resources. I'd say, it's a great started because after it, you can start your adventure with better and more effective communication both face-to-face and virtual. I'd happy to come back to the materials and review them again e.g. the books they talked about and additional links. The presenter/host is really great at what he does, he does it naturally and is easy to understand.

By Amjadhusain M

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Jan 18, 2024

This course is for everybody in the world because communication is the skill with which you can move forward. I am 50 years old and thrilled to see the master of communication, Sir Ivan Wanis Ruiz. he had the command of his language and explained this course very easily. I became a fan of him the way his explanation, his examples, and his communication strategies are very nice, A lot of thanks for enrolling me in this course.

By Celeste

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May 25, 2020

This course was excellent from beginning to end! Ivan presented the material in an engaging way and the topics covered are things I often overlook but will definitely give more attention going forward. I was apprehensive about recording myself and sharing it with the class but it turned out to be an eye-opening experience. I recommend this course to anyone interested in developing more effective and efficient communication.

By Kirija S

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Dec 15, 2022

Best instructor ever! Knows how to keep people engaged. Amazing course! Useful for everyone, young and old. My daughter is in elementary school and had to do a presentation, so I shared some of the tips with her. The instructor is not only very knowledgeable, but is very kind in wanting to share all his knowledge with others. As he says, that is the point of learning, to share your knowledge and improve things.

By Viacheslav O

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Feb 19, 2022

Really amazing course! My personal impression about the teacher Ivan was changing exactly like my impression about Benedict Cumberbatch in Shelock Holmes. First I was feeling suspicious and did not fully trust. But at the end of the course, I was listening to each and every word! The course itself is structured great, gives an essence of what you should know. One of the greatest courses I have ever seen, no jokes!

By Temitope A

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Dec 6, 2020

One of the best courses offered on Coursera. I learnt different tools used to communicate with people with different communication styles and underlying motivation.

This course took my presentation skills to another level.

It is very practical and the examples used are from professional or business environment. I am definitely recommending this course to anyone who wants to improve on his/her communicate skills.

By William E R P

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Oct 5, 2020

The course effectively tackles issues of professional communication in the workplace as well as that of meetings and presentations. The pertinence of the methods explained and the clarity with which they are explained make it all very easy to understand and follow. The videos and materials were very well designed, very pertinent and trending, which makes the course fun to go through.

Thank you very much.