What is Bridging Online

Bridging Online (BOL) is the online Co-operative Education pre-employment course that all SFU co-op students complete.  

BOL is a unique skills transfer course that intends to help you identify and use your skills and knowledge beyond where they were learned. Specifically, BOL will focus on helping you use what you have learned in school effectively in the workplace and vice versa. Whereas many employment-oriented programs focus on “the tools” necessary for employment success such as the resume, cover letter, and interview, BOL helps you critically focus on how the content of those tools is learned, applied, and moved from one situation to another.   BOL is divided into two courses: BOL I and BOL II. Each course is delivered via WebCT as a two-week online course.  

BOL I: The two main topics are: Skills Transfer and Effective Communication. You will complete BOL I after you have been accepted into your co-op program.  

BOL II : The two main topics are: Personal Management and Workplace 101. Register for BOL II prior to the start of your first co-op work term.  Students may wait to register for BOL II until they have secured a first work term so that the course is more relevant to their needs. 

BOL Session Offerings and Registration

BOL I and BOL II are offered during various sessions throughout each semester, please see below. To register for BOL, please go to Symplicity. Click on the "Log In" button and login with your SFU email and click on the Events Calendar.

FAQ  

What is the benefit of BOL?  

Students come to the Co-op program with various levels of experience and competence with respect to basic pre-employment preparation including resume, cover letter, and portfolio development. BOL is beneficial in that it allows students to self-pace and review the basics of pre-employment curriculum, thus freeing up time in the face-to-face workshops for higher-level issues. Also, it allows more of the face-to-face time to be spent doing those things which require face-to-face such as practice interviews.  

What outcomes does BOL offer?  

The objective of BOL is to help students develop the skills to integrate their academic and work learning, and mobilize that learning to their advantage. The BOL course will provide students with specific and practical information towards self -assessment, planning, and marketability to an employer. It will teach students how to articulate and transfer their skills and classroom knowledge from university to an upcoming work environment and back. Also, the BOL course covers basic employment features such as: resume writing, interview skills, self-assessment, work ethics, worker rights and responsibilities, and teams in the work place.  

What are the advantages of BOL?  

BOL allows flexibility for all study styles. Since BOL is an online course, freedom is achieved as time, place, and distance are not limiting. Plus, students will be able to choose where and when to fit BOL into their busy schedules. Students can better manage their academic and work demands because BOL is self-paced. In addition, computer literacy skills are developed as all work is completed in an online environment.  

What are some features of BOL?  

BOL's discussion areas (in WebCT) are one of its greatest features. These discussion areas allow for "Peer to Peer", "Peer to Facilitator", and "Ask an Expert" discussions. The "Ask an Expert" discussion is unique in that students will have an opportunity to gain first hand information from those with experience in industry. The discussions allow students to play with key course concepts, discuss ideas with peers, and relay concerns and questions to online facilitators. The discussions also allow students to post their important questions immediately.  

When should students take BOL I?  

Students who apply to Co-op and are accepted will be required to complete BOL I.  

When should students take BOL II?  

Register for BOL II prior to the start of your first co-op work term.  Students may wait to register for BOL II until they have secured a first work term so that the course is more relevant to their needs.  

When is the BOL course offered?  

BOL I and BOL II are offered during various sessions throughout each semester, please click here. To register for BOL, please go to Symplicity. Login with your SFU email (including @sfu.ca) and click on the Events Calendar, and Workshop.  

How long does BOL take to complete?  

The BOL program is divided into two courses, BOL I and BOL II. Each course is two weeks in duration. It is recommended that students log on to their sessions for ~ 30 minutes- 40 minutes per day. This program is flexible because students can progress at their own pace. In the areas where experience is greater, students do not need to spend time learning things that they already know. For the topic areas that are new, or where language is a challenge, students will not feel pressured to rush through things that aren't familiar.  

What are the learning and portfolio outcomes of BOL?  

Once students have completed the BOL, they are expected to be a more confident, self-directed learner. They will have acquired a better understanding of how their skills transfer from school to work and vice versa, and will have created a personal portfolio consisting of an industry standard resume, cover letter, interview preparation materials, and self-assessment examples.