News Detail

Learn Online at ACI University

8/1/2016

In my 40+ years in the construction industry, I have come to understand the value and importance of lifelong learning. At the 2015 World of Concrete, I attended the press conference where ACI University was officially launched. ACI University is a training resource that provides online access to a wide range of concrete topics and the opportunity to earn CEU/PDH credits. The content of ACI University has greatly increased since its launch.

You should familiarize yourself with the ACI website, where you will find ACI University. The ACI University app can be downloaded to iOS tablets or smartphones and enables you to view a list of courses, read a course description, and purchase access on mobile devices. With tablets or smartphones that are not iOS devices, you can find a list of courses by accessing the ACI Store through a browser. Courses can be accessed through a browser on any mobile device. All webinars and ACI University courses are available for purchase through the ACI Store. ACI University provides webinars, online/on-demand classes, Certificate Programs, and free online education presentations.

On the first Tuesday of each month, ACI offers a 1-hour webinar, along with longer, in-depth webinars that are scheduled throughout the month. Webinars are offered as an individual registration or a discounted 10-pack registration for groups. I know of companies that take advantage of these webinars each month to allow their professional staff the opportunity to meet their annual professional development requirements. Webinars are recorded so that they can be accessed later. One of the advantages of the live webinar is the opportunity to ask questions of the instructor. The webinars are available going back to March 2015, when the program was launched. Both live and recorded versions provide continuing education credit. For the live webinar, the PDHs are given as part of the log-in process. If you view a recorded session, you must score 80% on a quiz at the end of the webinar to earn the PDHs.

The online/on-demand courses feature a broad range of topics and formats. Some are based on chapters from ACI publications or articles. Others are based on sessions recorded at ACI conventions. Some are highly interactive certification training courses. ACI staff is currently working on a Spanish translation of the three-part Concrete Fundamentals course and additional classes are now being developed.

Some of the 1-hour on-demand courses can be purchased using a member credit. People who have an Individual Membership receive 11 member credits per year. One of the most underused member benefits is the member credits. These credits can be used to download from a large selection of ACI committee documents, Symposium papers, or ACI University online learning courses and earn PDHs (or CEUs) each year. Typically, one credit can be redeemed for a committee document or for a 1-hour online/on-demand course. Unused credits do not accumulate from year to year.

The Certificate Programs consist of all online classes. Certificates can currently be earned in:

• Anchorage Design, which covers the basic design principles for anchorage to concrete; the background of ACI 318, Appendix D (currently ACI 318, Chapter 17); example design problems for single-anchor applications; and an understanding of post-installed anchor qualifications;
• Concrete Fundamentals, which covers the basic knowledge of the materials used to produce concrete, the importance of proper curing and protection of concrete, batching and mixing, and much more; and
• Concrete Repair Application Procedures, which covers basic concrete repair techniques, including the purpose of the repair, applications for which each method is appropriate, surface preparation, safety considerations, and the repair procedure.

The Educational Activities Committee is now evaluating additional certificate programs.

There are also free online education presentations. Members can browse a list of recorded presentations from ACI conventions and other concrete industry events for viewing online. Currently, the ACI website has more than 376 presentations available. Each week, a new presentation is featured, complete with a soundtrack and the presenter's slides. These then are added to the archives. If you missed the last ACI convention, you can still watch many of the presentations.

Are you maximizing your individual or organization's benefits from your ACI membership? Have you used any of your 11 member credits this year? Have you participated in any of the ACI webinars? If the answer to any of these questions is "no," I encourage you to take advantage of the products provided by ACI University. If you have not already downloaded the ACI University app, you should do so today.

Michael J. Schneider