Denver, Colorado architecture firm and AIA CES Provider, Fentress Architects understands the importance of designing quality education programs for its staff. To support a growing and dynamic firm of 150 employees, Fentress Architects has implemented Fentress Architects University, an in-house educational program featuring a variety of industry topics and course formats. In an interview, Ned Kirschbaum, Technical Design Director and Principal for Fentress summarized how they developed a customized educational program to identify learning styles and needs within the firm.
While Fentress Architects organizes more traditional classroom-based courses and Lunch ‘n Learns using slideshows, power points, and other presentation mediums, they also incorporate programs with a hands-on approach. Fentress Architects has scheduled three future site tours of their 12-story Judicial Center project in the coming months, providing employees an invaluable opportunity to consider the building process during progressive stages of its development. “[We have] been very fortunate to have a project which is at most two miles away” explained Kirschbaum of the Judicial Center near their Denver office. The proximity of this project is advantageous by giving staff the opportunity to regularly view a project’s sequence of construction.
In addition to site visits, Fentress engages employees in a variety of field tests and built performance mock-ups. For example, staff can experience first-hand how wind and water pressures will affect the efficiency of a curtain wall. In another approach to the learning process, Fentress organized a course in dimensioning, which proved to be both practical and effective. First dividing staff into teams of three or four, Fentress prompts employees with a set of plans to chalk out in a large parking lot. Employees must work together to resolve challenging and complex problems from different perspectives. By designing education programs which are collaborative and interactive, Fentress Architects’ benefits from a collective advancement in the skills and learning of its employees, while also creating an intellectually stimulating and creative working environment.
At Fentress, staff feedback is essential to the success of the overall education program. Representative councils such as the Associates Design Committee or Associates Technical Design Committee determine topics and design programs as well as scheduling for Fentress’ educational programs. With remote offices across the country, video-conferencing and other technology makes learning accessible to all employees. In addition, seminars are video-taped and made available in Fentress’ education library.
Combining innovative Instructional Design, course evaluations, technology, and firm support and collaboration, Fentress Architects has developed a continuing education program concentrating on staff fulfillment and competency while keeping the firm current on AIA, LEED, and Licensure education requirements.
Thank you to Fentress Architect’s Ned Kirschbaum for contributing to this piece.
]]>To check attendance, find your correct course number, making sure you have the correct date and then select the attendance button in the Completed column. A list of all attendee information will be produced for that given session.
Should you have any questions or need further assistance with verifying attendance for your course, please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-800-242-3837, option 3. Or, you can email AIA Member Care CES at aiamembercareces@aia.org.
Increasing the HSW requirement per year sets a higher standard for AIA members and will enable them to fulfill state licensing requirements for most states. Additionally, increasing the required number of HSW credits will raise the level and quality of our continuing education and professional development of architects.
Additional information and list of topics on health, safety, and welfare (HSW).
Additionally, in calendar year 2012, aligning closer with state licensing boards’ practice, AIA members will no longer be able to self-report HSW courses for credit. Members will need to complete HSW credits by taking qualifying courses from registered AIA CES Providers and Providers will need to report HSW courses for members to receive HSW credits. Members can continue to self-report learning unit (LU) credit hours for non-provider courses and programs.
In the past, AIA members were able to attend courses outside of the AIA CES Provider network and submit a self-report online to be reviewed for HSW or SD credit. AIA CES is implementing this new HSW and SD credit policy to ensure quality education and establish an educational standard for the courses that AIA members attend.
]]>While blended learning can be challenging to those intimidated by technology and time-consuming to manage, embracing blended learning in continuing education programs can encourage adult learners to commit to lifelong learning. Accessibility to learning often prevents adults from participating in and seeking out emerging industry topics and technology, yet blended learning programs are an effective way to design engaging and convenient education.
]]>Continuing Education Services at the American Institute of Architects continually strives to offer comprehensive, professional and quality support to our over 2000 providers. Verifying that your primary and secondary points of contact (POC) are up-to-date in our database, and that your delegation of POC follows our guidelines, is a simple, yet essential procedure to increase the AIA’s ability to better serve you. Some Providers currently have multiple employees designated as primary and secondary POC; this obfuscates our ability to know who to contact regarding important CES matters. Delegating only one primary and one secondary POC is mandatory because it guarantees greater efficiency and service from AIA/CES.
The Primary Point of Contact has exclusive rights and responsibilities to:
Primary and Secondary POC have the rights and responsibilities to:
Users/speakers have the rights and responsibilities to:
If you currently have multiple primary and/or secondary POC’s, please update your account via Manage CES Provider Subscription Users. The primary POC can add one secondary POC and add only up to 10 additional users to the account. Those additional users have the same rights and access to CES Discovery software as the POC, but they do not receive official AIA Approved Provider communications. Furthermore, we understand that primary and secondary POC’s often change. The person serving as the POC may leave your company, or another employee may assume the responsibilities of the POC. If this occurs, please update your account. It ensures that our records are up- to-date and notifies us of potential transitional procedures that may need to happen when a new POC is added, such as creating new passwords and setting up account access. (Please note that the CES Discovery Homepage is password protected, based on the email address the user has registered with AIA CES and a user created password. If you are a point of contact for your provider number (POC or user), you have access to the online CES Discovery Homepage for your organization.)
Provider point of contact is responsible for carrying out the AIA/CES administrative responsibilities within your organization. POC acts as a liaison between AIA/CES National and the Provider Organization and are the first line of communication for the Provider’s representatives and must be aware of, and address questions and concerns that arise from their organization’s representatives. The primary POC is the manager of the Provider’s account and will receive all e-mail messages related to annual Provider renewal, Provider assessments or other administrative matters. Moreover, CES support via 800-242-3837 option 3 and aiamembercareces@aia.org are resources available to Primary and Secondary POCs exclusively. We greatly value all the hard work that POC’s do, and appreciate your help in ensuring that our records are as up-to-date as possible so that AIA/CES can continue to strengthen the services we offer our Providers.
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The level of the course is determined by the person designing the course. The determination is based on the amount of information and at what pace the information will be presented. If the course will present less information and move at a slower pace, usually it is a beginner course. However, if the course is moving at a faster pace with more information it is considered to be a higher level course. The Intermediate level will be mid-level.
Providers are now encouraged to add the appropriate course level in the keywords field when registering courses in CES Discovery. In addition, you can also add the course level as the last sentence in the course description field.
By using course levels, Providers can further assist AIA members in finding courses to meet their continuing education needs. Once a course level has been determined, Providers have indirectly selected their target audience. Adding course levels also makes a course more searchable in CES Discovery increasing the advertising that a Provider receives. By offering courses in a variety of levels, Providers widen the scope of attendants and reach members from all levels of the profession. All-in-all, whether new professionals or content experts, all AIA members need high quality continuing education. Ensuring your course is a quality course will keep members coming back for more!
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Thomas J. Carlson, AIA, Coordinator of Education and Training for the firm Marshall Craft Associates, Inc. (MCA), shared with AIA Continuing Education the features and benefits of promoting and implementing an in-house education system. Winners of the AIA/CES Award for Excellence in 2007 and 2009, Marshall Craft Associates of Baltimore, MD has supported an internal education system for 15 years and works to create a synergistic knowledge resource. Staff members are an integral part of the development and strategy of the continuing education program.
Employee collaboration is at the center of MCE’s thriving continuing education program. In- house course content directly reflects the input, needs and ideas of MCE’s employees. Carlson described the overall benefits of establishing a committee, consisting of employees who meet on a monthly basis to discuss and “tailor education to topics important to the office,” as resulting in coursework that represents a cross-section of personal viewpoints throughout the office. In addition, MCA management is very involved in refining and growing continuing education programs within the firm. Without the support of the higher staff and management, the continuing education program would not be as effective or well-received. Full employee involvement helps to make sure the program continues to be strong and worthwhile resource for staff.
In addition to five firm-sponsored, off-site workshops per year, MCA schedules lunch sessions, where employees participate in continuing education programs lead by staff or outside vendors. The two-hour off-site workshops are the focus of MCA’s continuing education program and were introduced by the firm when the AIA began requiring continuing education credits for architects. Concentrating on BIM and Design-Build, MCA also holds sessions on technical topics, liability, and public speaking.
Marshall Craft Associates constantly seeks quality and applicability in course content by conducting a survey each Fall to receive feedback and request topics for upcoming classes. MCA provides an all-inclusive education program where every staff member is encouraged to attend and contribute to continuing education sessions.
While Marshall Craft Associates does not deliver continuing education to architects outside of their firm, they advertise their superior education programs as a way to market their firm’s position at the forefront of the latest building technology and design in the field of architecture. Keeping staff up-to-date on relevant information and practices in architecture through continuing education is valuable to the success of MCA. “It’s part of our culture,” explained Carlson.
Thank you to Marshall Craft Associates, Inc.’s Thomas J. Carlson, AIA for contributing to this piece.
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 on our blog and you could be featured in our next issue!
]]>Lord, Aeck & Sargent, based in Atlanta, has implemented a structured continuing education program to help facilitate quality ongoing education for architects, staff, and institutional clients. An effective learning system ensures clients and employees are knowledgeable about emerging industry trends.
Similarly, EYP Architecture & Engineering based in Albany, NY, has established an internal corporate university which is directly tied to the strategic plan of the firm. EYP/U offers training and education to achieve the best possible firm results, while allowing licensed architects to keep their registrations current.
Lord, Aeck & Sargent, Inc. and EYP Architecture & Engineering have shared with CES their insights and best practices for successful continuing education programs.
AIA/CES: In what ways does your firm contribute to continuing education?
Lord, Aeck & Sargent: Every year our internal Lord, Aeck & Sargent University (LASU) program and employee participation steadily grow. The curriculum consists of several categories: design courses, process-oriented programs, building technology courses, leadership classes, and hardware/software tools, taught by internal and external experts and consultants. Courses are presented in a wide variety of formats including lectures, interactive roundtable discussions, user groups, project/construction site tours, online tutorials and instructor-led interactive computer-based courses. Additional training opportunities for external continuing education, seminars and workshops are also offered to complement our internal LASU program, ensuring that a well-rounded and effective training experience is provided for our staff.
EYP Architecture & Engineering: In Fall 2000, EYP leadership embraced the concept of establishing a corporate university. Uniquely different from a traditional education and training program, a corporate university is directly tied to the strategic plan of the firm. EYP is a knowledge-based design firm whose greatest resource is human intellectual capital. Offering employees the opportunity to develop to their fullest intellectual, creative, and leadership potential is an essential characteristic of our culture and critical to the success of our strategic plan. Open to all staff members EYP/U provides training in five key areas: Project Delivery & Technical Expertise; Design Expertise; Strategic Technologies; Energy and Sustainability; Leadership & Personal Development.
AIA/CES: What are your firm’s practices with course development? How do you refine or change your courses based on new research or technology?
LAS: Fortunately for us we actually practice before we teach. The classes are informed by the current work we are doing. This helps to keep the course material current and relevant. Our work requires us to be leaders in our fields, so we are constantly improving our service and deliverables for our clients. This due diligence is automatically factored into our presentations for the courses we deliver.
AIA/CES: How does your firm approach course development and respond to different learning styles?
EYP: EYP/U courses are consistently being evaluated based on employee feedback, industry need, and changes in technology. To appeal to different styles of learning, EYP published a firm-wide survey reflecting staff preferences. This is the second time the firm has done so, in an effort to stay current with learning styles and new technology.
Furthermore, courses are evaluated by a Steering Committee led by the firm's Vice President of Intellectual Content. Based on staff feedback, adherence to the corporate strategic plan, and continuing education requirements, this committee determines which -- and which types -- of courses must be available on a yearly basis.
AIA/CES: What techniques do you employ when teaching a course to adult students?
EYP: The techniques used to teach EYP/U courses are varied, based on where the course lies in the general education to advanced training spectrum. All cases, however, involve the use of advanced communication. For instance, EYP employs advanced telecommunications technology to support effective design meetings and training across multiple locations. The firm’s “Huddle,” driven by a $750,000 investment in LifeSize high-definition video and audio systems, accelerates the ability to create, capture, and share design ideas in real time, regardless of physical location. This technology enables simple, on-demand collaboration without compromising content. By reducing interoffice travel, the Huddle also advances EYP’s goal of shrinking its carbon footprint each year.
AIA/CES: What are the techniques or tools you use to market courses to AIA members as well as other practicing architects?
LAS: Since our clients generally consist of people familiar with the construction industry, we find they are typically AIA members. By ensuring our course materials meet the requirements to receive AIA credits, there is a built-in incentive for AIA members to attend our presentation. Our first objective is to inform the participants of course materials that interest them. Second, we bring the latest ideas in the industry to the audience.
Thank you to Lord, Aeck & Sargent’s Pamela Burnette, Warren Williams, AIA, and Ken Higa, AIA and EYP’s Kelly Donahue and Leila Kamal, AIA for their contributions to this piece.
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.
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Courses submitted to the AIA CES before July 30, 2006 will be archived in CES Discovery on September 30, 2011. Providers will no longer be authorized to offer courses or submit attendance for archived courses. All providers are encouraged to archive outdated courses to improve search functionality of the course directory for AIA members.
Furthermore, any courses over 3 years old will be deactivated by January, 2012.
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