Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
action. This process can be included of periodically updating codes and standards,
renewing design processes, designing better software and solutions, and producing
new guidelines. Of course contributing to construction and advancement of proper
categorized knowledge resources also belongs to this level of learning process. Such
steps can be taken at least when the experience of a young architect or engineer
increases enough that he begins to have a relatively strong grasp of the required
knowledge to perform his duties. At this point he can ask questions that are not just
for the purpose of fi nding the available answers and current processes, but are
targeted to criticize, change and improve the current processes and methods being
performed in the work place, or even industry-wide. Criticizing how the process of
a specifi c design calculation or energy modeling is done, and trying to offer better
replacing approaches fall in the same category of learning process. As the new gen-
eration of engineers with higher understanding of the programming languages enter
the professional work force, and along with the practical experience that they are
absorbing and of course supervision of the more experienced engineers they are set
to improve the older, and more traditional ways of engineering data collection,
calculations, design, and production.
The next step is becoming more educated by belonging to and participating in
recognizable organizations. The participation in relevant organizations not only can
increases the knowledge of the participants, but also can shape up and renew the
whole building construction community's knowledge as well, simply by introduc-
ing and exchanging the latest fi ndings, knowledge and techniques in the industry.
Participation of the architects and engineers in architectural and engineering com-
munities and seminars participating in and even presenting scientifi c papers and
presentations and recognizing noble professionals responsible for advancement in
industry are a few samples of this process.
As the person's knowledge and experience accumulate, the fi nal step would be
completing the process of learning by becoming a new highly educated person
which is capable of advancing the knowledge of the community meaningfully. The
ultimate learning stage therefore is to become a highly educated and experienced
professional that stands above the average crowds and acts as a tool for new genera-
tions to respect and look up to. These are the people who write topics, bring new
concepts, and invent exciting methods of design and construction that can change
the shape and advance the whole industry. The ultimate target of the learning cycle
is to generate such individuals.
Therefore the overall learning realm of all the involved entities in design and
construction community of practice can be summarized as follows. For engineers
and architects, their learning engagement is an issue of participating in and contrib-
uting to the practices of design and construction community. For design and con-
struction community, it means that learning is an issue of advancing their practice
and ensuring new generations of well educated members. And for design and
construction companies, it means that learning is an issue of becoming effective and
valuable as an organization in what they do.
