Carpentry & Construction   

This course introduces students to measuring techniques for items in a commercial construction project. Utilizing Excel spreadsheets, students will interpret construction working drawings and specifications to measure items such as excavation, concrete, steel, etc. Emphasis is placed on accuracy of measurement, standard descriptions, logical sequence of take-off, and estimating principles. The parts of a detail estimate will be identified. NOTE: This course has mandatory chats. Software required: Word, Excel and Adobe Reader. No textbook required.

Students explore various building materials and construction methodologies used in commercial construction, including: durability, availability, ease of construction, and aesthetic perspective. Studies include a review of commercial construction drawings and specifications. Students use a variety of learning tools including standard building practices, commercial working drawings, and trade publication websites. In this online course students use a variety of learning tools including standard building practices, commercial working drawings, and trade publication websites. Students participate in readings, quizzes, research, discussions and collaboration work groups. No textbook required. NOTE: This course has mandatory chats and mandatory group work. Software required: Word and Adobe Reader.

As projects become more complex it is important that all the parties involved (owner, architect, engineer(s) and general contractor construction) have a proper understanding of contract documents and their relationship to the entire project. This understanding of contract documents is essential to prevent or minimize disputes and claims, which can be very costly. Students are introduced to the documents that form a construction contract. The course builds upon the principles of law and introduces the most commonly used standard forms of construction contracts issued by the Canadian Construction Documents Committee and the Canadian Construction Association. Basic building law, contractual responsibilities and obligations are explored.

NOTE: This course has mandatory chats. Textbook required.

The course provides an introduction to basic blueprint reading and common methods of construction. Students will use construction drawings to discuss topics ranging from soil evacuation to roof design. We will discuss legal concepts of building/planning codes and statutes. You will gain a foundation of residential/commercial construction principles, and codes in practice today. Prerequisite: Recommended: A sound mathematics and English background is important for success in this course. Textbook required.

Students will develop skills toward jobsite administration and documentation, layout, set up, surveying, supervision, and safety. Contract types and the Construction Lien Act will be discussed along with a review of the programs that are available to help in managing the jobsite. Prerequisite: Material Estimating and Methods. Textbook required.

This course introduces students to the concept of construction scheduling and planning. This course will explore applications of effective project planning and analysis. Topics include Gantt schedule, CPM, Critic Path Planning, Resource allocation, Cash Flow Planning, Schedule Monitoring and Productivity Factors. Students will complete a detailed schedule for a small commercial project. No textbook required. NOTE: This course has mandatory chats and group work. Software required: Word, Excel, Adobe Reader and ProjectLibre (open source).

Successful businesses not only respond to their current customer needs, but often anticipate future trends and use innovation to develop new ideas, products or services. The future of skilled trades will be shaped by emerging trends such as sustainability, new entrants to the skilled trades and applied research and development as well as skills shortages driven by demographic s and economic factors. Leaders and entrepreneurs in the trades need to develop the capacity to leverage these trends and other changes that may arise in the future. The online modality of this course allows for greater flexibility, access and engagement for tradespersons from a variety of backgrounds who wish to develop their capacity to innovate in their fields. Emerging Trends and Innovation in the Trades equips future leaders and entrepreneurs in the trades with the ability to analyze and manage emerging trends and nurture a culture of innovation within their fields. With the help of case studies, research reports, online collaborative tools and creative thinking methods, students develop the ability to continually improve the day-to-day operations and long-term sustainability of a trades business.

Operating a trades business involves many legal and ethical issues.  This course will provide students with a foundation for understanding and improving their ethical position as a trades business owner including how to make tough yet ethical choices within the pressures of competition.  Using current events, case studies, and discussions; students will explore their personal integrity threshold, and determine the impact of their decisions on business results. Students will further examine legal consideration is the operation of a trades business such as legislative, contractual and municipal obligation. Selected case studies from the trades will be used throughout this course. No textbook required. 

This finance course is unique in that it provides a financial toolkit specifically designed with the entrepreneurial Journeyperson in mind. It is rich with common business taxation dilemmas faced by those operating their own businesses or for those serving in a managerial role. Although the focus is on practicality of use, the goal is for the Journeyperson to acknowledge and embrace the usefulness of the learning. Comprehending the logic behind appropriate project pricing and time to completion charting can be the difference between profit and loss. This course also introduces the simplicities of an IPO and the complexities of the risk and return correlation. No textbook required.

This course is intended to explain the process of Construction Estimating from the contract documents to the methods of measuring material quantities used in General Contracting Offices. This will enable the student to understand the position of estimator within the business of construction management both in the Contractor and Sub-Contractor's world. The course will concentrate on 'Taking-Off' methods of materials using simple residential and commercial exercises. Prerequisites: Recommended: Construction Blueprints and Methods. Textbook required.

This course is intended to guide a student through a proven method of cost estimating. This will aid the student in determining material quantities and unit cost for a complete project. This course will be of interest to those individuals wishing to learn about estimating in a commercial environment. Students will be able to utilize various documents created in the workplace. The build-up and calculations of unit costs for materials, labour and equipment will be the fundamental part of this course. Prerequisite: Introduction to Cost Estimating. The student will require a good understanding of Word and Excel. Knowledge of construction methods and details. Textbook required. Software Required: Excel and Word.

The student will be introduced to general considerations, and unique facets in the operation of a trades business. Using a business simulation scenario, students will go through all the stages of operating and maintaining a trades based business. Topics to be covered include planning, research, legal considerations, and day to day operation. Issues related directly to trades businesses will be the focus throughout the course. No textbook required.

The course provides students with basic knowledge of the principles of planning, organizing, and controlling administrative aspects of a project in the commercial construction industry. The contents of this course will prepare students for the day to-day administrating, planning and monitoring of a small to mid-sized commercial project.

Software required: Word, Excel and Adobe Reader. No textbook required.

NOTE: This course has mandatory chats and mandatory group work.

The student will be introduced to general considerations, and unique facets in the operation of a trades business. Using a business simulation scenario, students will go through all the stages of operating and maintaining a trades based business. Topics to be covered include planning, research, legal considerations, and day to day operation. Issues related directly to trades businesses will be the focus throughout the course. No textbook required. 

This course explores the many facets of the construction industry and develops a deeper knowledge of the many factors that impact this industry. Students increase their awareness of various participants and stakeholders that are typically involved in a commercial construction project, as well as and issues such as impact on the economy, safety, environmental, and use of technology. No textbook required NOTE: This course has mandatory chats and mandatory group work. Software required: Word, and Adobe Reader.