EducationFor Providers

October 31, 2012 –

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Provider Spotlight!

2. Architecture Billings Index (ABI) – September 2012 Survey Results

3. Provider Training Resources

4. Course Reviewer’s Corner

5. Monthly Provider Tips and Reminders

6. CES Calendar of Events

7. Call for Speakers

8. Media Scan

Provider Spotlight!

Recognizing Kayli Maslin of Dow Corning Corporation

By Ramiro Solorzano, Assoc. AIA
Manager, CES Provider Audits

For several months I have had the pleasure of working with Kayli Maslin. She is the Primary Point of Contact of the AIA Continuing Education System for her company Dow Corning Corporation. One of the fun parts about my job is the Provider Recognition program, highlighting Provider’s best practices as an example of quality education for architects. AIA CES started working with Kayli when she took over her Continuing Education program for her company. As she was new to the program, we worked together to take the steps in familiarizing her with the AIA CES program. I followed up with Kayli to ask her about her best practices.

Kayli started completely fresh to the program even though her company was already a part of the AIA CES Provider network. As a newcomer, she looked for ways to educate herself about the program and understand AIA CES Policies and Procedures. In an interview, Kayli explained her progress in becoming acquainted with AIA CES.

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We will be featuring a column devoted to AIA/CES Providers each month. We are looking for Providers with a story or secret to share regarding course development, marketing, etc.

Providers, share your story with us by emailing ramirosolorzano@aia.org and you could be featured in our next issue!

Architecture Billings Index (ABI) - September 2012 Survey Results

ABI Reflects Strongest Billings in Nearly Two Years

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) is a diffusion index derived from the monthly Work-on-the-Boards survey, conducted by the AIA Economics & Market Research Group. The ABI serves as a leading economic indicator that leads nonresidential construction activity by approximately 9-12 months. The indexes are developed from the monthly Work-on-the-Boards survey panel where participants are asked whether their billings increased, decreased, or stayed the same in the month that just ended. According to the proportion of respondents choosing each option, a score is generated, which represents an index value for each month.

Highlights from September 2012 Survey:

Architecture firms reported an improvement in business conditions for the second consecutive month in September, as the ABI climbed to a score of 51.6, reflecting the strongest growth in nearly two years. Inquiries into new work remained strong this month, and fewer firms reported a decline in the value of new design contracts.

Just like last month, firms in the South and West regions are reporting growth, while firms in the Northeast and Midwest are reporting weaker firm billings. After nearly five years of declining billings, firms in the West not only reported billings growth for the second month in a row in September, but also had the highest score of all four regions. By firm specialization, improvement is more broad-based, with firms of all specialties except commercial/industrial reporting higher firm billings in September.

In response to this month’s special practice question, nearly half of firms (44%) reported that they have been looking to hire employees this year. The firms that have been hiring recently (and have not had trouble finding qualified applicants) have mostly been looking to fill mid-level positions, but 40% are also looking to fill senior technical or managerial positions. Only 14% of firms report that they are hiring but are having trouble finding qualified applicants for open architecture positions, mainly because many applicants lack the technical skills necessary for the job openings.

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Series: Online Presentation Techniques

Part 2: Engagement and New Modes of Learning

By William Murillo, Assoc. AIA
Manager, CES Provider Training

So you’ve created a presentation and you plan to offer it as a course. You’ve picked your topic according to what current trends tell you architects and other industry related professionals need and you’ve developed this content to provide an immersive educational experience. As it comes time to offer your course, whether face-to-face or through a virtual platform, a new obstacle presents itself. How do you hold your learners attention and not only engage your audience but also generate interest in your educational product and brand?

Last month, we started a dialogue on online presentation techniques and content preparation to maximize the potency and relatability of your presentation. We addressed “whole brain content”, a strategy for content development that strives to engage an audience not only intellectually, but emotionally as well. We also considered new presentation styles, the power of storytelling, and the missed opportunities for productive learner interaction resulting from reliance on bullet points, detracting from our dynamism as presenters. This month, we’ll take a look at unique elements for engendering a participatory experience for your learners, captivating throughout, and continuing a fruitful dialogue post-presentation.

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AIA CES Staff Assignments

2012 has been a year of transitions for the AIA Continuing Education team and we are pleased to have many new staff join us in our pursuit for quality continuing education for architects. The Continuing Education System is equally committed to facilitating rewarding associations between the CES Registered Provider and our members. We look forward to meeting you at one of our nine Provider workshops throughout 2013 and at our National Convention in Denver.

Carolyn Snowbarger, Managing Director, Professional Development and Resources
Alla Orlova, MA, Director, Continuing Education
Michael Tamara, Assoc. AIA, Manager, Continuing Education Programs
Aaron Neumann, Manager, CES Member Services
Ramiro Solorzano, Assoc. AIA, Manager, CES Provider Audits
William Murillo, Manager, CES Provider Training
Jean Feroldi, Assoc. AIA, Specialist, Continuing Education Review
Katherine Gupman, Manager, CES Technology
Jamie Yeung, Manager, Professional Development and Resources

Learn More

Component Call for Speakers

AIA Chapters can use this space to post conference information.

Please email jeanferoldi@aia.org to add your 2012 events to this list and include AIA Chapter Speakers and Sponsors in the Subject line.

Media Scan

Architect
Growth Speeds Up

AIArchitect
An Untapped Market for Architects: Working with National Home Builders

The Rapid E-Learning Blog
Here are 3 Building Blocks for Interactive E-Learning

Course Reviewer’s Corner

By Michael F. Tamara, Assoc. AIA

Some Thoughts on Putting Together an Effective Presentation

As an AIA CES course reviewer, I spend a lot of time talking about what is necessary for a successful course submission. However, it is conceivable that one can assemble an outstanding course submission without the corresponding presentation reflecting the same level of quality. I would like to devote the next several Course Reviewer’s Corner articles to offering pointers that go more in-depth on the content side—that is, the composition of the courses and presentations themselves.

Very often, Providers will have a course presentation already complete, and then simply come up with the learning objectives to submit for approval to AIA CES. But what if a different approach were to be taken? What if the learning objectives were to be used to actually generate the content? Providers who do this may find that they are generally more successful at reaching their audience.

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Monthly Provider Tips and Reminders

•2013 Provider Renewal Deadline: December 31, 2012.

2013 Provider invoices were sent out in early September. You may pay your invoice, per the instructions found on the renewal invoice, by mail or by calling us at 1-800-242-3837, option 3. Please update your contact information when renewing your annual subscription.

•The AIA Continuing Education team will deactivate courses from the years 2008 and 2009 the second week of December. Please read the following instructions on how to run the Course Deactivation Report in Discovery.

CES Calendar of Events

Upcoming Workshops and Webinars

As a Provider, we welcome you to join us for one of our upcoming face-to-face trainings or online webinars. The workshops are an excellent one-stop shop for provider related information. These workshops will cover an overview of CES policies and procedures, CES Discovery Training, tips for developing learning objectives and effective PowerPoints. The webinars will also review resources to continue to educate yourself and your presenters on using the CES Discovery system.

2012 Workshops:

November 29 – AIA Columbus

Upcoming 2013 Workshops:

January 15 – AIA Atlanta
March 28 – AIA San Francisco
April 25 – AIA National
May 14 – AIA Chicago
June 19 – AIA National Convention: Denver
July 16 – AIA New York
September 17 – AIA Seattle
October 22 – AIA Houston
December 3 – AIA Middle Tennessee

Webinars:

November 7, 2 p.m. Eastern - What is an Audit? The Purposes and Procedures of Quality Assurance

December 4, 2 p.m. Eastern - AIA CES for New Providers: A Beginner's Tutorial