Title: The 'hands on' approach in continuing education of the construction industries

Authors: Prof. Jose D. Mitrani, Prof. Zohar H. Herbsman, Jennifer Jorge

Addresses: Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA. ' University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. ' University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

Abstract: Although the use of microcomputers in the engineering construction industry in the USA has greatly increased in the last decade, the introduction of microcomputer applications into the curricula of continuing education programs is still a relatively new concept. The recent upsurge (and success) in the implementation of microcomputers in formal degree-granting educational programs is a direct result of the demand for this training imposed by the construction industry. The same demand exists for teaching microcomputer applications in continuing education programs. However, due to the misdirected efforts of current programs to fit the teaching of the subject into traditional educational techniques, these programs have proved largely unsuccessful. This paper describes a modern educational approach used by the authors for teaching microcomputer applications in construction to practising professionals with diverse backgrounds and varying levels of education. The techniques described have proved successful in training people with little or no computer experience.

Keywords: microcomputers; continuing education; professional development; construction industry; traditional education; hands-on education; educational techniques; construction software; construction applications; continuing engineering education; construction education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.1991.030405

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 1991 Vol.1 No.4, pp.399 - 405

Published online: 15 Dec 2009 *

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