Continuing Education Continuing Education OnlineOnline

by Evan H. Shu, FAIAby Evan H. Shu, FAIA

Prepared byPrepared by::

Abdulaziz Al-SudairyAbdulaziz Al-SudairyID# 427121514ID# 427121514

Continuing Education OnlineContinuing Education OnlineWe live in a wonderful age in which architects can be We live in a wonderful age in which architects can be educated in almost any subject you can imagine, via educated in almost any subject you can imagine, via the Internet. Over the course of this last year, I have the Internet. Over the course of this last year, I have gone “back to school” online for lessons in such gone “back to school” online for lessons in such diverse subjects as book publishing, SketchUp photo diverse subjects as book publishing, SketchUp photo modeling, calibrating bitmaps in DataCAD, doing modeling, calibrating bitmaps in DataCAD, doing ZiPCAD punch lists, and solving a Rubik’s Cube.ZiPCAD punch lists, and solving a Rubik’s Cube.

Such online education is available in a broad range Such online education is available in a broad range of topics, formats, and effectiveness. Some of it of topics, formats, and effectiveness. Some of it comes completely free; some is free but with strings comes completely free; some is free but with strings attached, such as product promotions. Some online attached, such as product promotions. Some online educational offerings charge modest fees, and some educational offerings charge modest fees, and some charge hefty fees. charge hefty fees.

The Continuing Education Series C1 such topics as approaches to prefabricated house.Image: Architecture Record

The Architecture Knowledge Review Podcast Series .Image: American Institute of Architecture

My experience has been that the educational My experience has been that the educational quality of these courses has little or no correlation quality of these courses has little or no correlation with their price. You are just as likely to find great with their price. You are just as likely to find great lessons for free as you are to find them at a high lessons for free as you are to find them at a high cost.cost.

There is, however, a greater correlation between There is, however, a greater correlation between method of delivery of the information and its method of delivery of the information and its teaching effectiveness, especially now that teaching effectiveness, especially now that broadband Internet connections that can serve broadband Internet connections that can serve video and audio are becoming more common. video and audio are becoming more common. Many of the most effective lessons are now being Many of the most effective lessons are now being delivered in on-demand streaming mode delivered in on-demand streaming mode designed specifically for Internet viewing. Still, a designed specifically for Internet viewing. Still, a broad range of online lesson formats persists.broad range of online lesson formats persists.

Static LessonsStatic Lessons

Many examples of lessons that satisfy continuing Many examples of lessons that satisfy continuing education requirements are direct conversions of education requirements are direct conversions of print documents. The Continuing Education Series print documents. The Continuing Education Series from from Architectural RecordArchitectural Record, for instance, posts the , for instance, posts the text of articles free online; after you read an article, text of articles free online; after you read an article, you link to an AIA reporting form, answer a few you link to an AIA reporting form, answer a few questions, and, if you pass the quiz, you qualify for questions, and, if you pass the quiz, you qualify for AIA “learning units.”AIA “learning units.”

There is nothing too exciting about the presentation, There is nothing too exciting about the presentation, but these articles can be useful if there are specific but these articles can be useful if there are specific nuggets of information you need or if you are facing nuggets of information you need or if you are facing a deadline for accumulating required learning units. a deadline for accumulating required learning units. Recently, these static lessons have been upgraded Recently, these static lessons have been upgraded for computer viewing by the addition of slideshows, for computer viewing by the addition of slideshows, PDF files, and PowerPoint presentations. PDF files, and PowerPoint presentations.

AIA eClassroom of seminars as video downloads, such as one by Santiago Calatrava.Image: American

Institute of Architecture

Tutorial “viewlet”.Image: DataCAD

Audio Only: PodcastingAudio Only: Podcasting

Audio learning can be terrific for those situations in Audio learning can be terrific for those situations in which graphics are not needed to supplement which graphics are not needed to supplement explanations, and when you can’t sit in front of your explanations, and when you can’t sit in front of your computer, such as while commuting or drawing computer, such as while commuting or drawing manually.manually.

If you have an MP3 player (iPod or other) you can If you have an MP3 player (iPod or other) you can subscribe to interesting podcasts of your choice and go subscribe to interesting podcasts of your choice and go completely portable. In some cases, you can earn completely portable. In some cases, you can earn continuing education credits via self-reporting means.continuing education credits via self-reporting means.

One excellent source is the AIA’s Architecture One excellent source is the AIA’s Architecture Knowledge Review Podcast Series. You can download Knowledge Review Podcast Series. You can download various segments, each about 15 minutes long, on such various segments, each about 15 minutes long, on such interesting subjects as “Sustainable Design: Current interesting subjects as “Sustainable Design: Current Trends and Measurement Tools,” “How Technology Can Trends and Measurement Tools,” “How Technology Can Complement Building,” and “Feng Shui for Residential Complement Building,” and “Feng Shui for Residential Architecture.”Architecture.”

Online Learning CaImage: AEC Daily

Page from a lesson Lateral Load Resistant Systems.

Image: American V Council

Catalog of monogram from the National C of Architectural Registration Boards

Image: NCARB

Semidynamic LessonsSemidynamic Lessons

Other types of lessons, created for Internet Other types of lessons, created for Internet viewing, are somewhat dynamic, combining audio viewing, are somewhat dynamic, combining audio with animated bitmap loops, for instance. An with animated bitmap loops, for instance. An animated bitmap is a series of static images animated bitmap is a series of static images played sequentially giving the appearance of real played sequentially giving the appearance of real motion.motion.

These images can be combined with an audio These images can be combined with an audio feed to simulate animation, but they use feed to simulate animation, but they use relatively small files and so are still suitable for relatively small files and so are still suitable for users without fast Internet connections. An users without fast Internet connections. An example of such a feed is a series of free lessons example of such a feed is a series of free lessons on playing the blues piano.on playing the blues piano.

Animated Screen FeedsAnimated Screen Feeds

The next level of online lessons incorporate actual screen The next level of online lessons incorporate actual screen captures of computer screens, often with accompanying captures of computer screens, often with accompanying audio. Programs such as Camtasia Studio, from TechSmith, audio. Programs such as Camtasia Studio, from TechSmith, now make animation capture a breeze for software now make animation capture a breeze for software vendors, so you now see many software applications vendors, so you now see many software applications offering such tutorials, usually for free.offering such tutorials, usually for free.

These lessons might invoke a pop-up window, via Java These lessons might invoke a pop-up window, via Java script, in your browser to play the animation, or they might script, in your browser to play the animation, or they might use two of the most commonly available free video use two of the most commonly available free video players. Windows Media Player or the Quick Time Player.players. Windows Media Player or the Quick Time Player.

DataCAD has some nice examples of their so-called DataCAD has some nice examples of their so-called “viewlets,” with balloon captions but no sound. Also, CADD “viewlets,” with balloon captions but no sound. Also, CADD Tutorials Online offers a number of CAD related lessons – Tutorials Online offers a number of CAD related lessons – screen captures along with audio commentary by screen captures along with audio commentary by instructor Geoff Langdon – at a cost of $1 per minute. instructor Geoff Langdon – at a cost of $1 per minute.

True VideoTrue Video

Finally, requiring the highest broadband of all Finally, requiring the highest broadband of all these options, you can get true video feeds these options, you can get true video feeds streamed or downloaded. These are much more streamed or downloaded. These are much more than screen captures. They feature actual video than screen captures. They feature actual video footage usually via software players such as footage usually via software players such as Windows Media Player, Real Player, or Quick Windows Media Player, Real Player, or Quick Time.Time.

The AIA eClassroom offers professional seminar-The AIA eClassroom offers professional seminar-quality continuing education courses as video quality continuing education courses as video downloads, for about $65 pr learning unit. As a downloads, for about $65 pr learning unit. As a demonstration, they are currently displaying a demonstration, they are currently displaying a snippet from “Santiago Calatrava Works His snippet from “Santiago Calatrava Works His Magic.”Magic.”

Additional SourcesAdditional Sources

The AEC Daily Online Learning Center offers The AEC Daily Online Learning Center offers continuing education courses with (free) continuing education courses with (free) registration. It offers over 120 courses, mostly registration. It offers over 120 courses, mostly provided by product manufacturers, but the site provided by product manufacturers, but the site has clear ties to the Construction Specifications has clear ties to the Construction Specifications Institute, the AIA, the American Society of Institute, the AIA, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and other professional Landscape Architects, and other professional organizations, with some automatic reporting of organizations, with some automatic reporting of credits. The lessons are mostly presented as PDF credits. The lessons are mostly presented as PDF slideshows.slideshows.

The American Society of Professional Estimators The American Society of Professional Estimators offers Educational Resources/Online Courses as offers Educational Resources/Online Courses as downloadable modules, in a self-paced format, at downloadable modules, in a self-paced format, at $410/$440 per course.$410/$440 per course.

Page from “Presen Standards and Guidelines for Histo Buildings”.

Image: PDH Center

Wood construction guide.Image: EngineeredWood Association

Glulam Product GuImage: Engineered Wood Association

The NCARB Monograph Series, from the National The NCARB Monograph Series, from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, is an Council of Architectural Registration Boards, is an acclaimed set of professional development courses acclaimed set of professional development courses – currently with 18 titles – in booklet from, each 100 – currently with 18 titles – in booklet from, each 100 to 200 pages in length. The books must be ordered to 200 pages in length. The books must be ordered for postal delivery (cost $135/$210), but the for postal delivery (cost $135/$210), but the quizzes can be taken online for professional quizzes can be taken online for professional accreditation.accreditation.

PDHCenter.com provides online continuing PDHCenter.com provides online continuing education courses for engineers, surveyors, and education courses for engineers, surveyors, and architects. Their approach is different from that of architects. Their approach is different from that of many others: registered users can browse the many others: registered users can browse the catalog of courses available and study the course catalog of courses available and study the course materials free of charge. But to earn continuing materials free of charge. But to earn continuing education credits you pay a fee ($29 to $200 per education credits you pay a fee ($29 to $200 per course) to take the quiz.course) to take the quiz.

RedVector.com offers online continuing education RedVector.com offers online continuing education to engineers, architects, contractors, and land to engineers, architects, contractors, and land surveyors. Courses can be downloaded as PDF surveyors. Courses can be downloaded as PDF files or viewed online. Registration is free and files or viewed online. Registration is free and includes one demo course, but be forewarned includes one demo course, but be forewarned that the registration process asks for more that the registration process asks for more personal and professional information than is personal and professional information than is requested at other sites. Also RedVector employs requested at other sites. Also RedVector employs a telephone follow-up sales technique. a telephone follow-up sales technique.

VEPOnline is a Web-based continuing education VEPOnline is a Web-based continuing education program designed to teach design professionals program designed to teach design professionals about risk management in their performance of about risk management in their performance of design professional services. It was originally design professional services. It was originally developed for the CAN/Schinnerer professional developed for the CAN/Schinnerer professional liability insurance program.liability insurance program.

Wood University, by the Engineered Wood Association, Wood University, by the Engineered Wood Association, offers free online courses on various aspects of wood offers free online courses on various aspects of wood design, connections, and detailing.design, connections, and detailing.

Whatever your desire for further education, it will be Whatever your desire for further education, it will be worth your while to search for it online. This is much worth your while to search for it online. This is much less intimidating and frustrating that trying to find the less intimidating and frustrating that trying to find the right teacher for yourself, and much more fun and right teacher for yourself, and much more fun and effective than seeking out a book at the library. Give it effective than seeking out a book at the library. Give it a try, and who knows? You might learn something!a try, and who knows? You might learn something!

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Evan H. Shu, FAIA is an architect with Shu Associates Evan H. Shu, FAIA is an architect with Shu Associates Inc. in Melrose, Massachusetts. He is a contributor to Inc. in Melrose, Massachusetts. He is a contributor to the Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice and is the Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice and is publisher and editor of Cheap Tricks, a monthly publisher and editor of Cheap Tricks, a monthly newsletter for DataCAD users and computer-using newsletter for DataCAD users and computer-using architects.architects.