E-LEARNING IN CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE GLOBE - An Experience in Water Engineering

J. Izquierdo, P. A. López, V. S. Fuertes, F. J. Izquierdo

2007

Abstract

Based on our wide experience in continuous professional development (CPD) through traditional activities and hands-on experience on several commonly used Learning Management Systems, we have integrated both concepts and developed a simple, yet effective e-learning approach to help professionals in the water field to fill the gap between their sometimes not updated background and the new features that characterize the water field in the present days. We argue that this task can make use of the same approach that is essential to the knowledge discovery process, to which the e-learning process boils down to. In this contribution we present the work performed at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, within the Multidisciplinary Team of Fluid Modelling, on web systems to support technology enhanced learning specifically addressed to professionals in the Water field. Our approach hinges on the joint use of the online as well as the offline characteristics of the e-learning process and puts to work together in a synergic way both traditional and technology-based learning know-how. As a result, a number of distance courses have been produced that are used for Engineering CPD across the globe, since many professionals worldwide, mainly from Spanish speaking countries, have followed our courses. We present the evolution of our system and the results obtained from testing and evaluating the prototype during the last three years. We have identified issues significant to users in order to better manage the system and changes required to adapt our system to organizational processes and context. Feedback received from trainees indicates both the validity of our approach and the feasibility of implementing e-learning materials to contribute to CPD in the water field in particular and in any field in general, since the methodology herein presented can be exported in a straightforward manner.

References

  1. ASCE Task Committee on Hydraulic Engineering Research Advocacy, 1996, Environmental hydraulics: new research directions for the 21st century, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, April1996, pp. 180-183.
  2. Cabrera, E., Izquierdo, J., van der Beken, A., 1998. On the convenience of creating a European Network of CPD Promoters within the Water Field. In IX H2Ojecttivo 2000 International Conference. Venice, Italy.
  3. Cabrera, E., Izquierdo, J., Espert, V., García-Serra, J., Pérez, R., 1999. Continuous professional development (CPD) from the demand side. A prospective. In The Learning Society and the Water-Environment. European Commission, Paris, France.
  4. Derry, S. J., 1999, A Fish called peer learning: Searching for common themes. In A. M. O'Donnell & A. King (Eds.), Cognitive perspectives on peer learning (pp. 197-211). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
  5. Díaz, J. L., Izquierdo, J., López, P. A., Pérez, R., 2004a. Métodos de análisis inteligente de datos. Aplicaciones hidráulicas y ambientales. GMMF, Valencia, Spain.
  6. Díaz, J. L., Pérez, R., Izquierdo, J., López, P. A., 2004b. Utilización del aprendizaje automático como ayuda a la gestión de sistemas de abastecimiento de agua. In III SEREA, Seminario hispano-brasileño: Planificación, proyecto y operación de redes de abastecimiento de agua. Valencia, Spain.
  7. Fuertes, V. S., Iglesias, P. L., García, F., López, P. A., Pérez, R., Izquierdo, J., Martínez, F. J., López, G., Díaz, J. L. (Eds.), 2003. Ingeniería Hidráulica en los abastecimientos de agua. GMMF, Valencia, Spain.
  8. Fuertes, V. S., Izquierdo, J., López, P. A., Pérea, R. (Eds.), 2004. Técnicas de diseño de redes de distribución de agua. GMMF, Valencia, Spain.
  9. Hot Potatoes, 2006. Home Page. Retrieved on September 30, 2006 from http://hotpot.uvic.ca/.
  10. Iglesias, P. L., Izquierdo, J., López, P. A., Martínez, F. J., 1999. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) applied to Water Supply Systems (WSS). In Drought Management Planning in Water Supply Systems, Kluwer Ac. Pub.
  11. Izquierdo, J., Arregui, F., Balmaseda, C., Cabrera, E., Cobacho, R., Ribelles, J., 1997. Desarrollo de un sistema de enseñanza audiovisual interactiva en el campo de la hidráulica a presión. In EDUTEC'97. Málaga, Spain.
  12. Izquierdo, J., López, P. A., López, G., Martínez, F. J., Fuertes, V. S., 2003. AQUA'Lingua: A Multilingual Learning Environment in the Water Field. In Advances in Technology-Based Education: Toward a Knowledge-Based Society (2nd Intrnl Conference on Multimedia and ICTs in Education m-ICTE2003). Badajoz, Spain.
  13. Izquierdo, J., Pérez, R., Iglesias, P. L., 2004. Mathematical Models and Methods in the Water Industry. Mathematical and Computer Modeling, 39:1353-1374.
  14. Izquierdo, J., Herrera, M., Pérez, R., López, P. A., 2006a. Análisis inteligente de datos como herramienta de integración en la gestión integrada del agua. In BOOK TITLE, Joao Pessoa, Brasil.
  15. Izquierdo, J., Díaz, J. L., Pérez, R., López, P. A., Mora, J. J., 2006b. Knowledge discovery in environmental data. In BOOK TITLE. Springer.
  16. Khan, B., 1997, Web-based instruction (WBI). What is it and why is it?. In Khan, B. (Ed.), Web-based Instruction. New Jersey, Englewood Cliffs, pp. 5-18.
  17. Khan, B., 1997, Web-based training: An introduction. In: Khan, B. (Ed.), Web-based Training. New Jersey, Educational Technology Publications, pp. 5-12.
  18. Khan, B., 1997, A framework for Web-based learning. In: Khan, B. (Ed.), Web-based Training. New Jersey, Educational Technology Publications, pp. 5-98.
  19. López, P. A., López, G., Martínez, F. J., Izquierdo, J., 2005. Las bombas en hidráulica urbana y sistemas de riego. Libro interactivo. GMMF. Valencia, Spain.
  20. McMahon, M., 1997. Social Constructivism and the World Wide Web - A Paradigm for Learning. Paper presented at the ASCILITE conference. Perth, Australia.
  21. Moodle, 2006. Philosophy. Retrieved on September 30, 2006 from http://docs.moodle.org/en/Philosophy.
  22. Papert, S., 1991, Preface, In: I. Harel & S. Papert (Eds), Constructionism, Research reports and essays, 1985- 1990 (p. 1), Norwood NJ.
  23. Piaget, J., 1977, The Development of Thought: Equilibration of Cognitive Structures. New York: Viking.
  24. Redbird Software Corp, 2006. Scorm Overview. Retrieved on September 30, 2006 from http://www.scormsoft.com/scorm/overview.
  25. Rogoff, B., 1990. Apprenticeship in thinking: cognitive development in social context. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  26. Shunk, D. H. (2000). Learning theories: An educational perspective (3rd ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Download


Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Izquierdo J., A. López P., S. Fuertes V. and J. Izquierdo F. (2007). E-LEARNING IN CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE GLOBE - An Experience in Water Engineering . In Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies - Volume 3: WEBIST, ISBN 978-972-8865-79-5, pages 383-390. DOI: 10.5220/0001269803830390


in Bibtex Style

@conference{webist07,
author={J. Izquierdo and P. A. López and V. S. Fuertes and F. J. Izquierdo},
title={E-LEARNING IN CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE GLOBE - An Experience in Water Engineering},
booktitle={Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies - Volume 3: WEBIST,},
year={2007},
pages={383-390},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0001269803830390},
isbn={978-972-8865-79-5},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies - Volume 3: WEBIST,
TI - E-LEARNING IN CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE GLOBE - An Experience in Water Engineering
SN - 978-972-8865-79-5
AU - Izquierdo J.
AU - A. López P.
AU - S. Fuertes V.
AU - J. Izquierdo F.
PY - 2007
SP - 383
EP - 390
DO - 10.5220/0001269803830390