Continuing Education
An Academic Approach to Continuing Education
After almost 30 years in the engineering industry, I took a departure from consulting engineering to teach college. In the years since switching to academics, I have started to realize why traditional continuing education has not been rewarding in the past. The continuing education courses that I have taken in the past were not based on an academic approach. It was missing some of the basic features of traditional collegiate education: clear expectations, a focus on outcomes, course materials, and interaction between the instructor and those in the course. Our continuing education training seeks to improve upon all these categories, and bring you technically valuable training from industry experts.
Clear Expectations: A course needs to establish what the expectations are for those attending, but also for the instructor. Out training sessions include a "mini" syllabus for all courses weather they are an hour long, 2 hours long, or spread out over several weeks.
Focus on Outcomes: Continuing education should have expected outcomes, and verify if the outcomes were met at the end of the course, making sure that there are any gaps in what was conveyed. A critical part of our focus on outcomes is seeking feedback from those taking the course at the end.
Course Materials: When is the last time you received valuable course materials as part of a continuing education class? It is rare, although I have seen it for full-day seminars that cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Every one of our participants deserves course materials including summaries, worksheets, and other tools to put in practice what you are learning.
Interaction: One of my pet peeves is when you get to the end of a 1-hour seminar, and you have plenty of questions, and the presenter says "It looks like we have time for 1 or 2 questions". Questions should be solicited throughout the presentation. It can clear up confusion that could delay or interfere with comprehension, and it can improve the overall outcomes of the training. We make time for these critical interactions!
CURRENT PACKAGED FACE TO FACE AND WEBINAR TRAINING SESSIONS:
2-Hour Ethics in Engineering: Learn why ethical obligations are critical guidelines to making engineering decision. This 2-hour webinar explores:
Ethical Dilemmas, Obligations, Standards, and Consequences. It also explores case studies, how to spot an ethical dilemma, and discussions on ethics in daily practice.
Learning Outcomes:
Identify an ethical dilemma, find guidance on ethical standards, a
1-Hour Ethics in Engineering: Learn why ethical obligations are critical guidelines to making engineering decision. This 1-hour webinar explores:
Ethical Dilemmas, Obligations, Standards, and Consequences. It also explores case studies, how to spot an ethical dilemma, and discussions on ethics in daily practice.
Learning Outcomes:
Identify an ethical dilemma, find guidance on ethical standards, a
1-Hour AI in the AEC Industry: Learn about the basic capabilities of generative Artificial Intelligence engines including ChatGPT, and the uses, risks and regulations that fall within your company in the AEC industry.
Learning Outcomes:
Abilities and limitations of generative AI, AI use in the AEC Industry, risks of employees using AI, tools available to detect AI content in the workplace, and