Distance learning is a viable option for architects looking to broaden their education while continuing to work.

The Internet is a now a standard tool of architectural practice. Cyber-space can also be utilized for continuing education--though most architects aren't fully aware of the opportunities. RECORD asked Paul Saltman of Kennedy-Western University to offer a primer for those interested in taking part in ``distance learning.''

A recent survey of architects by the AIA determined that 90 percent of firms with 10 or more employees are connected to the Internet. Practitioners are setting up project Web sites and using E-mail to transmit drawings. And, increasingly, architects are looking to the Internet to fulfill their continuing education needs.

Typically, those architects exploring the World Wide Web have quite specific course interests, such as construction contract administration or project administration, or are seeking updates on new and sensitive issues, such as sustainability. Many of these courses are readily accessible through the AIA Online Network.

But beyond that, the growing phenomenon of distance learning offers an educational venue--one that entails full course loads, not just specific-issue updates--that many architects haven't latched onto. Distance learning...