RISD CE Online Courses
Connect, engage and create with RISD CE Online
Rhode Island School of Design Continuing Education online classes offer accessible, flexible and immersive learning experiences that you can access from anywhere in the world, at any time of day or night. Join RISD CE online to:
- Access RISD’s acclaimed curricular concept and renowned instructors from anywhere.
- Continue your creative journey of lifelong learning on your own schedule.
- Enjoy the flexibility of our courses by taking them at any time of day or night.
- Collaborate with like-minded creatives and join a community of thinkers, tinkerers and makers.
- Learn, connect and engage with RISD CE faculty who are experts in their fields.
- Update your skill set to advance your profession on your own time.
Online Instruction Formats
Your online course will follow one of two formats: Asynchronous Online Course or Asynchronous Online Course with Live Sessions.
Asynchronous Online Course
All of our courses for adults (ages 18+) are Asynchronous Online, with the exception of certificate Final Studio courses, which are Asynchronous Online with Live Sessions.
Asynchronous online courses can be taken anywhere in the world and at any time of the day or night, as there are no required meeting times. Course content is delivered weekly through Canvas, our learning management system, where you will:
- Learn from video demonstrations
- Read through course material
- Respond to discussion topics
- Share in-process and finished work
- Receive feedback from your instructors and classmates
Coursework is flexible and can be done on your own time, as long as it is completed within the assignment period. While this learning option offers great flexibility, the courses are not self-paced, and you will need to check in regularly to keep up with the workload.
See example (below) of a schedule for an asynchronous online course. When viewing the course information on our course registration system, you will see Online, Asynchronous listed under Type. Note that there are no scheduled meeting times.
Asynchronous Online Course with Live Sessions
Online, Live Sessions are only available for our Teen Online courses and Advanced Program Online.
Asynchronous online courses with live sessions are a blend of asynchronous (recorded) and synchronous (live) activities. You will interact with your instructor and classmates in two ways: through Canvas (explained above) and through live Zoom meeting times. This means:
- Zoom meetings will be at a set date and time in Eastern Time. Meeting schedules are listed in the section details, and you are required to attend and participate in the scheduled live meeting times.
- In addition to Zoom meetings, you will log into Canvas to post images of your work, participate in discussion boards, watch demos and tutorials and keep pace with assignments.
- You’ll have access to the online course content any time of day or night.
- The majority of class content, assignments, demonstrations and tutorials will be in Canvas.
See example (below) of a schedule for an asynchronous online course with live sessions. When viewing the course information on our course registration system, you will see both Online, Asynchronous and Online, Live Sessions listed under Type. Select View Details under Schedule and Location for a comprehensive schedule. The full online, asynchronous schedule of April 22–May 28 is supplemented with five online, live meeting times (Mondays, April 24, May 1, 8, 15 and 22, from 7–8 pm ET).
