EducationFor Providers

January 30, 2013 –

IN THIS ISSUE

1. What’s New in AIA CES?

2. Marketing Strategies for CES Providers

3. Provider Training Resources

4. Course Reviewer’s Corner – Now was that for LU or LU/HSW?

5. Monthly Provider Tips and Reminders

6. Call for Speakers

7. CES Calendar of Events

8. Media Scan

Marketing Strategies for CES Providers

Content Surge: Training Developments and Resources to Anticipate

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

With a new year comes a whole host of new projects and initiatives that have led to very exciting moments here on the CES Team. Whether attempting to stay on track with course submissions and policy updates or exploring marketing strategies and curriculum development, as providers, you will begin to notice a veritable surge of new information, trends, and resources that will help in the advancement of your business. Let’s highlight what is readily available and what you should be marking down in your calendars:

• New 2013 CES Workshops
• Live Tweeting
• Workshop Videos
• CES Director Call
• YouTube Channel

So why content surge? With current technological advances and the rapidity of information sharing, we have all experienced a “media overload.” However, the CES system and the provider network are unique in that no one of our providers is alike. Whether it’s through business models or course content, all of you learn, teach, and approach architects in very different ways. We would like to account for this diversity in practice and the multiplicity of business methods that exist in our network of over 2500 providers by creating a resource feed.

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Marketing Strategies for CES Providers

Part One: Research & Database Development

By Aaron Neumann
Manager, CES Data Compliance & Reporting

This article series will cover basic marketing strategies for CES providers. Using a case study approach, new methods for generating greater connectivity with your customer base and AIA members through researching, developing a dynamic database of contacts and branding your courses using innovative curricular formats, will be underlined with the goal of providing you a foundation of marketing tactics to build upon. In part one of this series we will cover Research and Database Development while part two will focus on Social Media. Together these tactics are a powerful threesome for marketing.

Research

“Effective marketing begins with solid research.”

Case Study #1

• Kansas Educational Products researches each architecture firm in the area to compile data on current and past projects.
• They focus on reaching out to firms that have built schools in the past or are currently building schools.

By taking the time to research firms, Kansas Educational Products generates more poignant marketing campaigns, and only contacts firms that would likely demand their education. They experience greater success at developing long lasting relationships with firms. This is a more effective and strategic way to market continuing education, while building the vital relationships with firms that gets Kansas Educational Products specified.

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Updated: Course Records Retention Policy and QA Statement

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

To start out the New Year, we ask that all Providers sign the Quality Assurance Statement. We do this annually upon renewal for both new and continuing Providers. Many of you signed QA statement when renewing your annual provider subscription. If you haven’t, please do so by clicking on the link. I will also be in contact with Providers to give you a friendly reminder.

We have changed our policy on saving all course materials, whether electronically or paper from six years to three years. In case of an audit, please retain all signed Speaker Agreements, copies of Certificates of Completion, Sign-in Sheets, Course evaluations, and presentation materials such as handouts, Power Point/ visual slides. This updated records retention policy will alleviate having to save so much material for your courses.
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Facebook: Photos from the Atlanta Provider Workshop

We have just returned from our first Provider Training Workshop of 2013! The Atlanta workshop was a success and it was great to meet everyone who attended. During the workshop, we experimented with live tweeting and video testimonials and were very pleased with the results.

We are gearing up for our future workshops and webinars in 2012 and excited to meet many new Providers! We have updated our new AIA CES Facebook page with photos from the Atlanta workshop. Check them out!

Using Social Media to Engage Participant and Build Trust

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

As course providers, you may be effective in marketing your courses to first time customers but find it challenging to keep participants coming back to your presentations. Or, maybe you are looking for new possibilities to encourage participants to become more vocal about the content of your presentations. Connecting with adult learners outside of the classroom or beyond the bound of course content is a skill that is always evolving with new technology and practices. A recent article in Forbes by Brent Gleeson, “6 Ways Brands Build Trust Through Social Media” highlighted ideas that to help businesses engage their audience and strengthen relationships with customers. While these tips may be focused on social media tools, the underlying concepts can be applied almost anywhere in your marketing strategies. Here are some highlights that can help you use social media effectively to communicate your content and engage adult learners in the architectural profession.
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Monthly Provider Tips and Reminders

• When submitting courses on sustainable design, please remember to select the LU/HSW designation and not the LU/HSW/SD designation. We will be removing the SD credit from the CES Discovery System and this will help ensure accurate member transcripts.

Media Scan

AIArchitect
Sustainability Now: As Green Grows into Mainstream, a Multitude of Ways for Architects to Ensure a Sustainable Tomorrow Takes Root

In 2008 when the AIA Board of Directors decided to put an “expiration date” on the then-new Sustainable Design (SD) Continuing Education requirement, a high expectation was set for AIA members: that by 2013 sustainable design practices would be such an integral part of our design thinking that a mandatory sustainable design education requirement would become unnecessary. Looking at anecdotal evidence, that has started to happen. Indeed, the popularity of SD courses demonstrates the extent to which sustainable design has become mainstream.

Although the SD requirement accounted for just 20 percent of a member’s annual membership requirement (4 of 18 learning units LUs), in 2011 nearly 40 percent of all credits earned by members were in sustainable design. And educational demand for sustainable design is expected to grow. We know that the prevalence and impact of green building in the commercial marketplace is widespread.

Architect
Virtually Safe

The Rapid E-Learning Blog
How Your Visual Voice Helps Build Better E-Learning

Course Reviewer’s Corner

Now was that for LU or LU/HSW?

By Royce Brown, Assoc. AIA
Manager, Continuing Education Programs

Depending on what region of the world you live in winter seasons are usually colder during the month of January. It’s during this month were we witness record temperature lows. Before we step out of our homes into Mother Nature’s element we are reminded to check the weather, bundle up, and warm our cars. The right kind preparation, places us in a position to successful endure “Old Jack Frost”.

Similar to our preparation for the winter woes, as course providers, we can also prepare ourselves for submitting courses for approval. Now in no way am I’m suggesting that course submission can be horrific, but like anything we are responsible for dedicating the right amount of preparation. Some of the check items when submitting courses for approval are: Course Title, Course Description, Credit Designation and the beloved four Learning Objectives.

As new Manager of Continuing Education, a position previously held by my colleague Michael Tamara, I hope to ensure that quality education reaches our members. Within the first 30 days of getting acclimated to CES Discovery, I’ve received feedback from a number of AIA members who hadn’t received their desired learning hours or LU’s on their transcripts. Here’s how it happens, a participant who registered to attend a course for LU/HSW finds out a few days later that it actually was assigned as a LU instead. For a licensed Architect this can be a bit nerve racking, especially if they haven’t received the required number of HSW to report to their State Licensing Board at the close of that year.

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Component Call for Speakers

AIA Chapters can use this space to post conference information.

2013 AIA Ohio Valley Region Convention
(Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio)
September 19-21, 2013
Louisville Marriott Downtown
Louisville, KY
Call for Presentations to be issued early 2013.
Exhibitor/Sponsor Registration at www.aiaohio.org
Contact: Kate Brunswick at AIA Ohio kate@assnoffices.com

Architecture Exchange East
November 6-8, 2013
Greater Richmond Convention Center
Richmond, VA
www.archex.net
Virginia Society AIA
804-644-3041
wconners@aiava.org

Please email jeanferoldi@aia.org to add your 2013 events to this list and include AIA Chapter Speakers and Sponsors in the Subject line.

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.

Upcoming 2013 Workshops:

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