Extra Credit: Value of Online Approach and Materials Survey

Hi Everyone,

This course attempts to enhance your learning with respect to engineering economics as well as prepare you to take and pass the engineering economics portion of the FE.

The approach to this course emphasizes online learning materials and delivery rather than a traditional face to face approach. The course also attempts to enhance your learning with presentations from the Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection that connects engineering economics with civil, construction, and environmental projects in Central Florida.

The online approach claims students enjoy the flexibility to plan their own schedule as well as proceed through the book and problems largely at their own pace.  Further, the online approach claims e-text, videos, online help, intelligent tutors, large problem libraries, worked examples and problems, more extensive coverage, greater attention to detail, multiple problem attempts, and homework and exam late submissions provide more opportunities to help students learn than traditional learning techniques provide. 

The traditional face to face approach claims the online approach comes at the cost of student responsibility for their own motivation, self-discipline, conduct, and depth of study. 

As the senior Florida government leader in Transportation, the Secretary is typically a Civil or Construction Engineer who oversees transportation design and construction throughout the state.  In terms of Central Florida, the Secretary oversees the two largest construction efforts currently underway - the Wekiva Parkway and the I4 Ultimate projects.  In terms of the State of the whole, the Secretary is responsible for the smooth functioning of our Supply Chain and our preparing our transportation system for the future. 

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship, protecting our air, water and land. DEP is divided into three primary areas:

Land and Recreation programs acquire and protect lands for preservation and recreation. DEP oversees 175 state parks and trails and more than 12 million acres of public lands and 4 million acres of coastal uplands and submerged lands.

Regulatory programs safeguard natural resources by overseeing permitting and compliance activities that protect air and water quality, and manage waste cleanups.

Ecosystems Restoration programs protect and improve water quality and aquatic resources including America’s Everglades, Florida’s iconic springs and Florida’s world-renowned coastal resources. DEP works with communities, local governments and other agencies to protect and restore water quality and supply and to provide funding assistance for water restoration and infrastructure projects, as well as coordinates the protection of Florida’s submerged lands and coastal areas.

As part of these missions, the Secretary and a Chief Scientist from DEP have kindly agreed to reach out to civil, construction, and environmental engineers so as to provide a channel for your learning about these activities and the influence of engineering economics on them.

We are interested in your opinion on the two instructional approaches, online delivery techniques, course content, and the presentations by the Secretary and a Chief Scientist from DEP.

Please complete the extra credit survey below.