SPECIAL FEATURE
cerns. Safety aspects of architecture intend to limit or prevent accidental injury or death among users of the buildings or sites. Welfare aspects of archi- tecture engender demonstrable positive emotional responses among, or enable equal access by, users of buildings or sites. Huag says he is always interested in courses
that allow him to investigate new aesthetic possibili- ties for metal projects. “I have frequently applied the knowledge gained in courses related to finishes and profiles to my own projects,” he says. Brow says he has found that architects love to see design-oriented CEU programs. “We have found that architects, in general, want programs that can qualify for both HSW and sustainability design credits.” Architects not only benefit from current technolo-
gies and procedures, but many feel business princi- ples pertaining to metal architecture could be helpful. “CEUs could be of benefit if they actually taught pro- fessionals better business practices, prepared young professionals to take on more responsibility, taught how to manage larger, more complex commissions, dealt with ever-changing business environments and laws, prepared them to react properly and profession- ally to a challenge when they arises, and taught them how to teach others to grow and be better mentors,” says Tony Cosentino, project design coordinator at Perini Building Co., Henderson, Nev.
AIA IS TOP TEACHER Manufacturer-sponsored and AIA-approved CEUs are the most common way to learn about metal industry developments and the niche metal markets of con- cern to architects. The AIA Continuing Education Sys- tem (also known as AIA/CES) is a thriving, multifac- eted, lifelong professional development program and the largest source of education specifically targeted to the design and building industry. This program was developed by the AIA to help members meet their state mandatory continuing education (MCE) require- ments and to help them fulfill their AIA continuing education requirement for membership renewal. Most state licensing boards with MCE require- ments recognize AIA/CES as the primary source of continuing education for their licensed architects. “In addition, AIA/CES tracks continuing education courses taken by members and records them on their AIA transcripts as a service and as a benefit of AIA membership,” says Richard L. Hayes, Ph.D., CAE, AIA and director of knowledge resources at Washington, D.C.–based AIA, “AIA/CES enables architects to keep current, master new knowledge and skills, plan for the future, and responsibly meet the role society entrusts to a professional architect. The program also allows members to fulfill a require- ment for AIA membership and meet any state man- datory continuing education requirements. In this role, the program has the potential to be a primary
20 METAL ARCHITECTURE June 2012
www.metalarchitecture.com
force in the advancement of our profession.” The AIA has developed a network of more
than 2,000 educational providers made up of AIA chapters, affiliate organizations, firms, manufac- turers, universities, non-profit organizations and government agencies. A search for courses by topic area and by provider in the AIA may reveal a course specific to a particular need via an online course directory. This system allows architects to determine in what areas they need to become better educated. “AIA members and other architects licensed in
states with [MCE] requirements for license renewal are required to complete a minimum number of hours of HSW-related training,” Hayes says. “AIA members are required to take 12 learning unit (LU) hours of con- tinuing education per year in approved HSW topics.”
IN-PERSON VERSUS ONLINE With online continuing education, you can gain CEUs from anywhere in the world while you are sitting in your own home. With in-person “live” education, you get spontaneous interaction and instantaneous responses to questions. Which mode of education de- livery is best? It depends on who you talk to. “Online seminars seem to be the preferred choice; it has the obvious advantage of convenience,” says Steiner. “No doubt this trend will continue.” Dow Building Solutions has recently introduced
webinars and will continue to support this type of continuous education with sessions planned on metal buildings. “Our experience with webinars has been overwhelmingly favorable,” Todd says. “With live presenters officiating, attendees can easily log in, watch the training session, download any supporting documentations such as CAD details or specifications, and ask any questions during the live session. An additional feature is it permits on- demand webinars where participants can log in later or even re-watch a webinar.” But as an architect, Fredley prefers live educa-
tion. “It is more meaningful and memorable,” he says. “To be able to listen to someone who has experience in the field is far more personal and infor- mative than online. Nothing substitutes being able to use all of your senses to gain information in person.” Brow agrees, saying, “The ability to interact with a presenter is missing with most online education. Immediate questions cannot be addressed.” ATAS is not doing any online CEUs and the
primary reason, according to Bush, is “getting people out in front of the architectural community to present the programs in a professional manner, where we then in turn also become a resource or a consultant to those architects when they do pose questions. So it is a two-fold initiative, we are providing a service to the architectural community and it also allows our field representatives to create some face-to-face relationships to respond to ques-
tions face-to-face. Our AIA continuing education is typically lunch-and-learn type programs. Typically our field product representative conducts these face-to- face at an architect’s office, where they may bring in, if it’s a firm of 100 architects, 20 to 50 of them participating in the topic you are presenting.” Lilley feels both vehicles are great for learning.
“The online classes offer the architect freedom to complete when it is most convenient and without need for travel or taking time out of the office. The live education classes allow for another level of un- derstanding as they have direct access to an expert who can answer questions and clarify topics. Plus, interaction with the rest of the class can be engag- ing and helpful to the learning process.” Warr also sees advantages to both forms of
learning. “A benefit of online training is it gives the architect more flexibility. If something comes up and a course needs to be paused, then the partici- pant can easily return to the place they left off. Live training provides a great opportunity to interact with other professionals and continue the discussion after the presentation is complete. Most architects know which methods of learning work best for them and their schedule, so it is important to identify courses that fall into those strengths.”
Learn the new AIA CEU rules
AIA members can no longer self-report health, safety and welfare (HSW) courses for credit. Members must complete HSW credits by tak- ing qualifying courses from registered AIA/CES providers and these providers must report HSW courses for members to receive HSW credits. These courses may be taken through traditional, face-to-face classroom learning, or virtual learning. Providers will be responsible for reporting HSW credits to be posted to member transcripts. Members can continue to self-report a gen- eral education course as it applies to the archi- tectural profession for learning unit (LU) credit. Qualifying topics will help AIA members improve the performance of their practice. In addition, members may self-report Professional Community or self-designed activities involving research or analysis. The new education requirement allows for six learning unit credits per year. While some courses do not qualify for HSW and sustainable credits, these learning unit courses are equally as important to the architectural profession. When submitting a self-reported activity, you
must include the name of the course, four learning objectives or an in-depth description, the number of learning units, and the contact information for the administrator of the course you attended.
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