zoom CEUs? no thanks

We may all have to use some online sources for our CEUs this year.

I'll have to check them out, I always enjoyed returning to where I went to college and check in with others I've known for decades.

The mailouts have been missed as I usually would have a pile of dozens of seminar locations already.

@a-harris?ÿ i don't disagree about seeing colleagues in person and what the interaction affords in terms of unscripted education, but i'm not going pay one of these cats near full price to sit in front of my laptop all day and just listen to them drone on.

i've done red vector, pdhonline, mckissock- they're all well oiled machines in terms of getting you pertinent info at the pace you're comfortable absorbing it.?ÿ and they'll get it to you for like half of what the usual in-person seminar costs.

and besides- i don't know how these guys suddenly have time to be mailing me invites non-stop.?ÿ i'm still crazy busy, and so is everyone i talk to.?ÿ i've just noticed a massive uptick in the number of emails and mail invites i'm getting to webinars ever since the quarantine started.

I have always enjoyed the programs more for the opportunity to commune with my brethren (and sistren) than for the usually commonplace primary topic.?ÿ The big challenge I see is that those in our States who dictate the "thou shalt do continuing education" really seem to care more about dollars received than content delivered.?ÿ Will they give that up to accept ZOOM sessions on an hour for an hour of programming basis knowing full well that some will merely sign into the session and promptly go about doing something else at the same time?

I used "zoom" to attend my state's virtual conference and it gave my computer a virus. How ironic is that??ÿ

As seen on Twitter

?ÿ

Posted by: @flyin-solo

and they'll get it to you for like half of what the usual in-person seminar costs

Using one of the CEU providers you listed, the quote about half cost is interesting.

A long time ago, I took a course through one of them and received the materials.?ÿ While reading through the materials, I noticed that it was seeming extremely familiar - like where have I heard that exact phrase before.?ÿ Started looking back to the beginning and it turns out the booklet provided had about 50% of the material duplicated in the middle.?ÿ Actual content for an 8 hour course - maybe 2 hours worth.

But I shouldn't complain.?ÿ I presented a seminar for KAPS for years that had a couple of slides duplicated.?ÿ Each presentation, I would think to myself - you need to remove those.?ÿ Never got around to it.

I've taken several semester long online courses through University of Kentucky which used the Zoom platform.?ÿ Just as with in person courses, they can be done either really well or very poorly.

Sometimes it is just an extension of the "lecture hall" and the person teaching starts a monologue that continues the whole time.?ÿ Other times, it can be a really good interactive learning experience by having discussion, break out rooms, and activities through collaborative tools that allow synchronous work on projects.

well, my initial post was specifically referring to the recent uptick from seminars who are now "off-shoring" their offerings via zoom or gotomeeting or whatever.?ÿ i get that it's part of their income model and that they're adjusting to current circumstances, only that it's a little greedy to still be charging at a near full rate- i mean, if i'm gonna sit through a whole day of info AND have to provide my own muffins and danishes???

but really- agreed with some or all of every response above.?ÿ these interactive online meetings are still in a nascent state.?ÿ last night i sat through, oh, about my 8th city council or P&Z meeting trying to get a plat approved.?ÿ and it was the worst one yet- the public input portion with the usual NIMBY crowd, mainly comprised of a few old timers not in any way familiar (understandably) with the format and who kept (both comically and frustratingly) interrupting the meeting by periodically "just checking" to see if there "ask a question" button still worked, or if "why am i being silenced?!?!?!?!" when their screens went to sleep after a few minutes of inactivity...

An all day Zoom would get a bit tedious, to be sure. But 8 hrs of that in my home office beats the same period in a room full of hard plastic chairs and 100 equally uncomfortable surveyors.

I've recently been watching youtubes by a Oklahoma State professor of construction materials. Concrete. Mixes, treatments, reinforcing design, etc.?ÿ Nothing to do with surveying, really, but back in college ('82-'84) I took that course and it was actually one of the better ones. What a asset these videos would have been!?ÿ

Posted by: @flyin-solo

AND have to provide my own muffins and danishes???

Now that is the real travesty of online CPD courses!

The local chapter I belong to tries to always schedule our fall seminar course at the same location each year - Kentucky Dam Village State Park.?ÿ They have a restaurant in the same building as the conference room.?ÿ So, we always have some pretty tasty snacks throughout the day and a good lunch as well.?ÿ Hate to say it, but the snacks around my office or at home would not be nearly as good if I have to do an online course this fall.

Replying to my own comment - how sad.

I've prepared an online MTS course for the Kentucky Association of Professional Surveyors.  It is an asynchronous course.  Really wish I could figure out a way to make an asynchronous course more engaging, but it seems that those courses are always the sit and listen type.

Whereas synchronous courses allow, at a minimum, back and forth discussion that might occur in a classroom setting.  In addition to the potential for several more ways to engage.

But I can drink beer at my online sessions.

@jon-payne does zoom require a webcam or can it be done on a phone?

@a-harris it can be done on a phone.  i've never tried, but one of the cousins (city councilman where 5 of the 9 members are family) was on his phone monday night.

Posted by: @dave-lindell

But I can drink beer at my online sessions.

yeah- just got be careful if you're visible to, say, everyone attending a city council meeting. (client included.?ÿ this particular client i'm sure has no problem with me knocking one or two back, but doubt he wants me doing it during a meeting.)

@flyin-solo

Coffee mug.

@norman-oklahoma

have a link by chance? I took reinforced concrete design about 9 or so years ago & I was just thinking about it/missing it the other day! interesting class for sure

@ncsudirtman

Search for "Tyler Ley" on youtube. He has dozens.

I am not positive that my internet provider will stay connected for 8hrs without a hiccup or being disrupted.