EducationFor Providers

November 27, 2012 –

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Online Presentation Techniques

2. A Few Thoughts on Audits

3. Social Media and the Continuing Education Market - Take Our Survey!

4. AIA CES Congratulates Michael Tamara on His New Position

5. Linking Social Learning and Social Media to Facilitate and Strengthen Continuing Education

6. Monthly Provider Tips and Reminders

7. Call for Speakers

8. CES Calendar of Events

9. Media Scan

Online Presentation Techniques

Part 3: Soft Skills and Technical Skills

By William Murillo
Manager, CES Provider Training

Over the past couple of months, I’ve set out to identify the variety of presentation techniques and opportunities available for online platforms. By now, I hope I have imparted the knowledge and consideration necessary to take your educational product/brand to the next level. Let’s revisit what we know:

In the first installment of this series, we began with the theory behind the “push for digital” and why online education is becoming crucial in efforts to reach a wider audience as well as architect learners who are unable to sacrifice billable hours in the office for face to face instruction. We initially addressed online presentation formats through the scope of preparation and content and the importance of generating vibrant, dynamic “whole brain content.” We also covered the importance of turning a standard presentation into relatable content through the use of anecdote and analogy.

Last month in part 2, I asked you all to consider the notion of “quality education” and the discrepancy between how content is presented and the results we expect from that content. We elaborated on this by looking at techniques to facilitate engagement and how new modes of learning and social technologies are helping to expand learner capabilities as well as quality in education. We also examined the presence and possibilities of social media on education through Peter Norvig’s 100,000 Student Classroom and similar phenomena through programs like Coursera, Udacity, and Khan Academy.

So what’s left? Well, while an online method of presentation or the use of social media provides many advantages for networking possibilities, these new developments [though powerful] are simply tools. Believe it or not there is still a wide variety of skills learned through face to face instruction and traditional presentation that will always be valuable.

Learn More

A Few Thoughts on Audits

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

This month I would like to take the time to answer a few frequently asked questions from our Providers. Some questions are best answered one on one and I’m always more than happy to oblige, however I have a general overview of some issues that would be best covered here for the larger audience. Here are some examples of best practices.

For each speaker you have in your organization, they must sign a Speaker Agreement for quality assurance and to adhere to AIA CES policies and procedures. Speaker Agreements must be kept for six years just like any other record regarding your continuing education course.

You are required to distribute course evaluations to members every time you teach a course for course development purposes. To pass audit, providers are required to submit at least 20% of course evaluations per every course session to AIA CES. From Provider experience it is best to distribute them at the beginning of the face-to-face session so that attendees are more likely to fill them out before they leave. Another best practice is to offer them electronically on your company website.

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Social Media and the Continuing Education Market

By Aaron Neumann
Manager, CES Data Reporting and Compliance

Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have become powerful resources to connect with your targeted audience, to generate interest in your product and to sustain contact with your consumer. As a CES Provider your ability to connect with architects beyond the “classroom” about the quality education that you offer is becomingly increasingly simplified through the use of social media. When used effectively, social media could prove an incredibly valuable marketing and research tool.

At the very least, getting architects to “like” you on Facebook or to follow you on twitter generates an interaction that could lead to future interest and collaboration.

Furthermore, blogs can be a highly effective platform for CES Providers to connect not only with architects, but with each other on a diverse spectrum of topics, such as effective marketing techniques and quality course development. Blogs can be a catalyst for generating highly relevant discussions and information derived from direct experience and practice.

Please take a brief moment to complete the following survey, which asks questions related to this brief article. This survey will enable the CES team to better gauge CES Provider social media usage. The information collected will help the CES team better serve you.

Thank you for your time and for completing the survey!

Survey Here

Series: Continuing Education Instructional Formats

Linking Social Learning and Social Media to Facilitate and Strengthen Continuing Education

By Jean Feroldi, Assoc. AIA
Manager, CES Communications and Review

Today’s society is constantly transforming – ideas are abundant and the process of how we learn and share information is growing and evolving. Every day, we turn to the online world to gain knowledge, build connections with others, and expand our creativity. In the first two parts of this series, the merits of formal and informal learning were discussed as they apply to the AIA CES Provider Program. While formal learning or classroom-based learning is the most common and widely recognized framework for education, informal learning is any sort of learning or education that takes place outside of the traditional, formal learning setting. Informal learning can be anything from experimentation, observation, or research and can include discussions with other learners or solitary investigation. Segmenting education into these two categories seems like a straightforward and complete structure for classifying learning, yet we need to consider how learning has transformed with greater access to the internet and constant communication.

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

AIArchitect
Public Interest Design Institute Asks, ‘Who do Architects Work For?’

The Rapid E-Learning Blog
3 Things to Consider When Building Interactive E-Learning

Blackboard
Debunking 4 Myths of Social Learning

AIA CES Congratulates Michael Tamara on His New Position!

For the last two years, Michael Tamara has been instrumental in creating and furthering relationships with Providers, reviewing courses, and promoting the AIA CES Provider program. This month, Michael received a promotion as a Director on the AIA Strategic Alliances team. Many of you met Michael as a participant in his Course Reviewer’s webinars and during AIA CES Provider workshops held throughout the country. His dedication to CES team and the Provider Network is an inspiration and we look forward to his contributions in his new capacity.

During this time of transition for the AIA CES team, several Continuing Education staff members will be reviewing courses. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the course review process, please direct your inquiries to the staff member who reviewed your course submission or for general requests please email aiamembercareces@aia.org

Thank You!

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 registered in 2008 during the second week of December. Please read the following instructions on how to run the Course Deactivation Report in Discovery.

•Have you read your Provider Manual and AIA/CES Provider Policies?

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