New methodologies in teaching e‐structural mechanics using WWW

Abstract

AbstractA recently initiated phase of experimentation and research in the online Distance Learning (DL) is here described. The project has been developed by the Department of Construction and Transportation Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Padua along with the well‐established e‐learning experience of the SSIS Veneto (Institute for the Formation of Secondary School's Teachers) of Cà Foscari—University of Venice, in collaboration with the webmaster management of TCN‐EnginSoft of Padua. The work deals with teaching methodologies supported by the net, computer communication and information technologies, finalized to give both widespread access to useful resources and to create a more flexible exchange due to net communication. The experimentation of using web‐based technologies to support traditional teaching for working students is described; in fact, Internet‐based innovations offer opportunities for a curriculum improvement to those categories of students who could be considered at a disadvantage, like worker students or students with ear or motion deafness. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 189–210, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20167