As we head to the close of the year, I thought it might be useful to drop a quick update on the blog, about the work currently under development.
The next release is split into two parts. Part one goes live next month and introduces some fairly big changes to the core KS system. These updates involve introducing a hierarchical tree structure into the user accounts, sharing tests/modules between child accounts, moving users/results data between accounts, and including a new 'draft' phase when creating new test content.
Part two focuses on improving the 'Invites' area of the dashboard, with a number of great ideas from the KS user group being added to the system. We'll also introduce personal dashboard pages, so individuals can track their own progress, over time.
A key theme for KS in 2012 is to continue the concept of 'links to learning'. We are in discussion with a number of training providers, discussing how to make the journey from assessment to learning even smoother.
Exporting user and results data is another common theme, which will be addressed further in 2012. Tighter integration of skills assessment data, into wider HR systems and company Intranets, has been a popular discussion topic this year.
We'll be adding some new question types to the dashboard in a future release, including survey tools and the ability to gather and present user feedback and opinion, as well as test results. The KS 'community' area will also continue to grow in the months ahead, offering KS firms more opportunities to exchange test questions and material.
More benchmark stats and reporting options will be appearing in the next release, with more detailed geographical and industry breakdowns for AEC businesses to compare performance. We'll also be adding some new content management tools, which will be particularly helpful to KS firms with large test libraries.
Speaking of which, the KS 'off the shelf' library continues to roll on, with new modules appearing each month. Next up, we'll be adding more Civil 3D questions, more Revit Structure and Revit MEP questions, a Navisworks Manage module, an Ecotect module, plus some new material based on Oracle's Primavera PCM application.
So that's a quick overview of what's coming over the next 3, 6 and 12 months. As always, we welcome your feedback, constructive comments and new ideas. It looks like 2012 is shaping up to be a busy one.
May we (continue to) live in interesting times!
R
Friday, 25 November 2011
AU 2011
OK, it's that time of year again. KS is exhibiting at this year's Autodesk University. We’re also co-hosting the AUGI Top DAUG skills contest this year: http://www.augi.com/autodesk/AU/augi-top-daug.
In spite of the ongoing financial woes around the world, this year's show promises to be one of the busiest yet. No doubt there will be much talk of BIM, VDC, IPD, Cloud computing and, if rumours prove to be true, announcements about an Autodesk move into the PLM space. We'll see!
For now, if you're heading out to Las Vegas next week, do please drop by the KS booth, or come and see us at the AUGI Top DAUG area.
We look forward to meeting you.
R
In spite of the ongoing financial woes around the world, this year's show promises to be one of the busiest yet. No doubt there will be much talk of BIM, VDC, IPD, Cloud computing and, if rumours prove to be true, announcements about an Autodesk move into the PLM space. We'll see!
For now, if you're heading out to Las Vegas next week, do please drop by the KS booth, or come and see us at the AUGI Top DAUG area.
We look forward to meeting you.
R
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
BIMshow Live
Amongst a host of upcoming Conferences, Roundtables and Webinars, all on the ubiquitous topic of BIM, one in particular stands out from the crowd.
In November, the inaugural BIMshow Live takes place at the Business Design Centre, in London.
HOK's prolific blogger and tweeter, David Light, provides a handy summary on his popular BIM & Revit blog.
Here's the link: http://autodesk-revit.blogspot.com/2011/09/bimshow-live.html.
R
In November, the inaugural BIMshow Live takes place at the Business Design Centre, in London.
HOK's prolific blogger and tweeter, David Light, provides a handy summary on his popular BIM & Revit blog.
Here's the link: http://autodesk-revit.blogspot.com/2011/09/bimshow-live.html.
R
KS Community - BIM Fundamentals
There is a wide range of quality assessment content, currently appearing in KS dashboards, written by AEC firms from all over the world. Topics vary from in-house CAD & BIM processes, to 'how to use the company Intranet', to BIM workflows and standards, to Project Management skills, and more.
An interesting trend is that firms are actively engaging KS to facilitate a 'community' pool of content, whereby firms, using the law of reciprocity, are volunteering to share their own, self-authored, non-proprietary test content, with other KS firms, in exchange for the option to access material from the wider KS community.
It is an environment of cooperation and collaboration, which is refreshing in its simplicity and effectiveness. And we're just getting started! Already, we are seeing a stream of fresh, new, current material coming online, every month. Oh, and the best modules are being added to existing KS libraries FREE of charge.
Under the umbrella of the free community content, something very interesting happened just last week. A handful of firms contributed their in-house questions on 'BIM Fundamentals', to the community pool.
Now, whilst this module is a work in progress, I thought it would be interesting to send some invites out to the BIM community, to take a look at what has been authored so far. To say that this has caused quite a lot of conflicting opinion, would be quite the understatement! I knew that attempting to create a general BIM test was going to be tricky, as ‘good’ BIM practice is still subjective, across the regions.
The fact is, this set, is really meant to be ‘raw material’, i.e. not to be used by any firm un-edited. For example, there is a slight Revit bias in one or two of the technical questions, but that is principally because all these questions were written by AEC firms, many of whom are primarily Autodesk users. (One could also argue that this is reflective of industry, I suppose). A Bentley or Graphisoft firm, will almost certainly have an opposing view and that's as it should be.
From my perspective, I think this set could be used by a firm (appropriately edited) to stimulate a more intelligent discussion in-house about BIM, BIM process, BIM strategy, what BIM is (and is not), and so on. The coaching notes are quite helpful to fill in the blanks in people’s general level of understanding.
We’ve had some interesting suggestions on additional topics to cover. These include; IFC, IPD, IDM, information exchange protocols, clash detection and coordination procedures, BIM implementation plans, level of development standards, managing model merge from other consultants/sub-contractors, BIM workflows (who starts first, who has priority), 4D, 5D, COBie, field BIM, model validation, BuildingSMART, sustainability and the McLeamy curve.
The simple fact is that, globally, the industry is still at a comparatively early stage of BIM adoption and the questions in the set so far – all donated by firms in the field, using BIM every day on projects – reflect where they are currently up to, with their BIM thinking.
I think we’ll see some new BIM questions rolling in, over the coming weeks, as the discussion continues. We’ve had such a wide range of comments already (in just a few days) so it is very clear that opinion remains divided, even amongst BIM ‘experts’! :)
On a related note, I was reading a thought-provoking article by Martyn Day, at AEC Magazine, entitled, 'The Trouble with BIM'. (See link: http://aecmag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=450).
As the KS community pool gathers momentum, I think we'll see a host of new test material coming online. My view is that it’s easier for firms to start from an existing set of material, than to re-write the whole thing from scratch. That's why having full editorial control over the content is vital.
As far as a universally accepted BIM standard goes, I think we're some way off realising this goal. I'll leave the final word to one of the beta testers, who displayed an admirable sense of self-deprecation, and who clearly grasped the intent with which the beta invites were sent out; 'Does this mean I'm too DIM for BIM?' :)
R
An interesting trend is that firms are actively engaging KS to facilitate a 'community' pool of content, whereby firms, using the law of reciprocity, are volunteering to share their own, self-authored, non-proprietary test content, with other KS firms, in exchange for the option to access material from the wider KS community.
It is an environment of cooperation and collaboration, which is refreshing in its simplicity and effectiveness. And we're just getting started! Already, we are seeing a stream of fresh, new, current material coming online, every month. Oh, and the best modules are being added to existing KS libraries FREE of charge.
Under the umbrella of the free community content, something very interesting happened just last week. A handful of firms contributed their in-house questions on 'BIM Fundamentals', to the community pool.
Now, whilst this module is a work in progress, I thought it would be interesting to send some invites out to the BIM community, to take a look at what has been authored so far. To say that this has caused quite a lot of conflicting opinion, would be quite the understatement! I knew that attempting to create a general BIM test was going to be tricky, as ‘good’ BIM practice is still subjective, across the regions.
The fact is, this set, is really meant to be ‘raw material’, i.e. not to be used by any firm un-edited. For example, there is a slight Revit bias in one or two of the technical questions, but that is principally because all these questions were written by AEC firms, many of whom are primarily Autodesk users. (One could also argue that this is reflective of industry, I suppose). A Bentley or Graphisoft firm, will almost certainly have an opposing view and that's as it should be.
From my perspective, I think this set could be used by a firm (appropriately edited) to stimulate a more intelligent discussion in-house about BIM, BIM process, BIM strategy, what BIM is (and is not), and so on. The coaching notes are quite helpful to fill in the blanks in people’s general level of understanding.
We’ve had some interesting suggestions on additional topics to cover. These include; IFC, IPD, IDM, information exchange protocols, clash detection and coordination procedures, BIM implementation plans, level of development standards, managing model merge from other consultants/sub-contractors, BIM workflows (who starts first, who has priority), 4D, 5D, COBie, field BIM, model validation, BuildingSMART, sustainability and the McLeamy curve.
The simple fact is that, globally, the industry is still at a comparatively early stage of BIM adoption and the questions in the set so far – all donated by firms in the field, using BIM every day on projects – reflect where they are currently up to, with their BIM thinking.
I think we’ll see some new BIM questions rolling in, over the coming weeks, as the discussion continues. We’ve had such a wide range of comments already (in just a few days) so it is very clear that opinion remains divided, even amongst BIM ‘experts’! :)
On a related note, I was reading a thought-provoking article by Martyn Day, at AEC Magazine, entitled, 'The Trouble with BIM'. (See link: http://aecmag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=450).
As the KS community pool gathers momentum, I think we'll see a host of new test material coming online. My view is that it’s easier for firms to start from an existing set of material, than to re-write the whole thing from scratch. That's why having full editorial control over the content is vital.
As far as a universally accepted BIM standard goes, I think we're some way off realising this goal. I'll leave the final word to one of the beta testers, who displayed an admirable sense of self-deprecation, and who clearly grasped the intent with which the beta invites were sent out; 'Does this mean I'm too DIM for BIM?' :)
R
Monday, 12 September 2011
BIM and Integrated Design - a new book by Randy Deutsch
Friend of KnowledgeSmart, Randy Deutsch, has written a fantastic new book, called, 'BIM and Integrated Design: Strategies for Architectural Practice'.
Unlike many of the recent books and manuals on BIM, this book is devoted to the subject of how BIM affects individuals and organizations working within the construction industry.
As one of the most popular speakers and presenters on the AEC circuit, Randy is well placed to comment on the journey that many firms are currently making towards BIM adoption. In his book, Randy discusses the implementation of building information modeling software as a cultural process with a focus on the technology’s impact and transformative effect—both potentially disruptive and liberating—on the social, psychological, and practical aspects of the workplace.
BIM and Integrated Design answers the questions that BIM poses to the firm that adopts it. Through thorough research and a series of case study interviews with industry leaders, this book helps us learn:
• Effective learning strategies for fully understanding BIM software and its use
• Key points about integrated design to help you promote the process to owners and your team
• How BIM changes not only the technology, process, and delivery but also the leadership playing field
• How to become a more effective leader no matter where you find yourself in the organization or on the project team
• How the introduction of BIM into the workforce has significant education, recruitment, and training implications
Covering all of the human issues brought about by the advent of BIM into the architecture workplace, profession, and industry, BIM and Integrated Design shows how to overcome real and perceived barriers to its use.
Click here for a link to Wiley's website, for more information and to order a copy of Randy's book.
R
Unlike many of the recent books and manuals on BIM, this book is devoted to the subject of how BIM affects individuals and organizations working within the construction industry.
As one of the most popular speakers and presenters on the AEC circuit, Randy is well placed to comment on the journey that many firms are currently making towards BIM adoption. In his book, Randy discusses the implementation of building information modeling software as a cultural process with a focus on the technology’s impact and transformative effect—both potentially disruptive and liberating—on the social, psychological, and practical aspects of the workplace.
BIM and Integrated Design answers the questions that BIM poses to the firm that adopts it. Through thorough research and a series of case study interviews with industry leaders, this book helps us learn:
• Effective learning strategies for fully understanding BIM software and its use
• Key points about integrated design to help you promote the process to owners and your team
• How BIM changes not only the technology, process, and delivery but also the leadership playing field
• How to become a more effective leader no matter where you find yourself in the organization or on the project team
• How the introduction of BIM into the workforce has significant education, recruitment, and training implications
Covering all of the human issues brought about by the advent of BIM into the architecture workplace, profession, and industry, BIM and Integrated Design shows how to overcome real and perceived barriers to its use.
Click here for a link to Wiley's website, for more information and to order a copy of Randy's book.
R
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Links to Learning
An important theme for KnowledgeSmart this year, is 'Links to Learning'. That is, making the connection between highlighted skills gaps and corresponding training content, as simple a journey as possible for KS customers.
The latest KS release takes an important step along the path to achieving closer links to relevant, targeted, training material.
Here is a summary of how AEC firms can now display focused, modular training content, as part of their skills assessment results analysis.
We have added a new stage to the question create/edit process, called 'Learning material'.
From here, KS admins can link modular training material to their KS question library. The key is to map the training content to the training tags (meta data) for each question. The training content can be a variety of formats. For example in-house training notes, PDF help-sheets, Intranet pages, etc. Or, alternatively, training material from a 3rd party, such as video tutorials or web based training. KS admins can use the text box to add notes or web links and the file upload tool to assign files or video links. (NB to ensure that any web links open in a new browser, please use the 'Insert/Edit URL link' icon, enter the relevant web address(es) and select 'New window' in the dropdown).
Next, there is a new option in Settings > Test Feedback, called 'Feedback, Coaching & Learning on Report'.
Checking this option, will prompt a new section to display in the user test report, at the end of their test session. From here, users can access the wider training content, relating to questions where they dropped marks. So the idea is that, KS Coaching notes provide feedback on each specific task. Whilst Learning notes provide broader feedback on the topic being covered by each question.
We are in discussion with a number of 3rd party training providers, to map their learning material, to the topics being covered by KS skills assessments, across a range of software titles. In the Results > Training Requirements page, we have listed a number of training providers, who are developing modular content, which can map to the KS training tags. (KS is not a reseller for any of these companies, but we are working together to provide closer links to their respective courseware solutions).
This development is another important step along the road to achieving a continuously improving journey, between assessment and learning.
R
The latest KS release takes an important step along the path to achieving closer links to relevant, targeted, training material.
Here is a summary of how AEC firms can now display focused, modular training content, as part of their skills assessment results analysis.
We have added a new stage to the question create/edit process, called 'Learning material'.
From here, KS admins can link modular training material to their KS question library. The key is to map the training content to the training tags (meta data) for each question. The training content can be a variety of formats. For example in-house training notes, PDF help-sheets, Intranet pages, etc. Or, alternatively, training material from a 3rd party, such as video tutorials or web based training. KS admins can use the text box to add notes or web links and the file upload tool to assign files or video links. (NB to ensure that any web links open in a new browser, please use the 'Insert/Edit URL link' icon, enter the relevant web address(es) and select 'New window' in the dropdown).
Next, there is a new option in Settings > Test Feedback, called 'Feedback, Coaching & Learning on Report'.
Checking this option, will prompt a new section to display in the user test report, at the end of their test session. From here, users can access the wider training content, relating to questions where they dropped marks. So the idea is that, KS Coaching notes provide feedback on each specific task. Whilst Learning notes provide broader feedback on the topic being covered by each question.
We are in discussion with a number of 3rd party training providers, to map their learning material, to the topics being covered by KS skills assessments, across a range of software titles. In the Results > Training Requirements page, we have listed a number of training providers, who are developing modular content, which can map to the KS training tags. (KS is not a reseller for any of these companies, but we are working together to provide closer links to their respective courseware solutions).
This development is another important step along the road to achieving a continuously improving journey, between assessment and learning.
R
Managing your Users
We recently updated the Users section of the KS dashboard. Here is a guide to the new features.
When you log into your KS dashboard, you'll see some new sections in your menu sub-navigation:
It is worth pointing out that changes made to the user data in your dashboard, do not affect your results data. This is simply an area where you can manage your user information.
Adding Users
There are a number of ways to add user records to your dashboard. First, when you send assessment invites, the user record is automatically added to your user list (unless it is already present, in which case it will not be duplicated).
Next, you can go to the 'New User' page and add individual records from here.
Third, we have improved the way that user records can be uploaded via csv file. You can also export your user data as well. Go to 'Import/Export User Data'. In the Help notes box, you will find a link to a formatted sample csv template.
Save the template and copy across your user list from MS Excel, using the same 10 columns that you see in the template. They are: Email, First name, Last name, Status, Datafields 1-5 and Additional Information.
Browse for your csv file and use the 'Import User Data' tool to upload your new user list.
Please not that if you don't use the correct format on your csv file, then the KS system will not accept the imported file.
You can also export your user list to csv, using the 'Export User Data' tool.
Additional Datafields
You can capture 5 additional fields of information for each user, by selecting the magnifying glass icon, next to the user record.
When you click the magnifying glass tool, you will see a dropdown display, where you can edit a number of fields, including changing the status of a user (i.e. from Interviewee to Employee, or Employee to Ex-Employee).
You can use the information captured in the 5 datafields to filter your assessment results, in the Results page of your dasboard.
You can add custom labels to the 5 datafields, by going to Settings > User Datafields. Input your new labels and hit 'Save'. When you go back to the Users page and view individual records (by selecting the magnifying glass tool), the new labels will display against each user.
Filtering User Records
We have added searching and grouping functionality to the Users page, to make it easier for KS admins to filter their user data and create sub groups of user records. This is especially useful, when inviting different teams to take a skills assessment.
Select the 'Show search' and 'Show groups' tools, on the orange bar located at the top of the user page.
This opens up two new fields, where you can search against a number of user parameters, including, name, username, email, user status and the 5 additional datafields.
When you log into your KS dashboard, you'll see some new sections in your menu sub-navigation:
It is worth pointing out that changes made to the user data in your dashboard, do not affect your results data. This is simply an area where you can manage your user information.
Adding Users
There are a number of ways to add user records to your dashboard. First, when you send assessment invites, the user record is automatically added to your user list (unless it is already present, in which case it will not be duplicated).
Next, you can go to the 'New User' page and add individual records from here.
Third, we have improved the way that user records can be uploaded via csv file. You can also export your user data as well. Go to 'Import/Export User Data'. In the Help notes box, you will find a link to a formatted sample csv template.
Save the template and copy across your user list from MS Excel, using the same 10 columns that you see in the template. They are: Email, First name, Last name, Status, Datafields 1-5 and Additional Information.
Browse for your csv file and use the 'Import User Data' tool to upload your new user list.
Additional Datafields
You can capture 5 additional fields of information for each user, by selecting the magnifying glass icon, next to the user record.
When you click the magnifying glass tool, you will see a dropdown display, where you can edit a number of fields, including changing the status of a user (i.e. from Interviewee to Employee, or Employee to Ex-Employee).
You can use the information captured in the 5 datafields to filter your assessment results, in the Results page of your dasboard.
You can add custom labels to the 5 datafields, by going to Settings > User Datafields. Input your new labels and hit 'Save'. When you go back to the Users page and view individual records (by selecting the magnifying glass tool), the new labels will display against each user.
Filtering User Records
We have added searching and grouping functionality to the Users page, to make it easier for KS admins to filter their user data and create sub groups of user records. This is especially useful, when inviting different teams to take a skills assessment.
Select the 'Show search' and 'Show groups' tools, on the orange bar located at the top of the user page.
This opens up two new fields, where you can search against a number of user parameters, including, name, username, email, user status and the 5 additional datafields.
When you have run your search, select the user records by checking the box next to the user name (the top box is a 'select all' option). Then enter your group name in the 'Create New Group' field and select 'Create'.
You can view your new groups by selecting the dropdown field, in the Groups table. You can also add/remove new users to/from existing groups.
Inviting Groups
To invite a sub-group of users to take a KS skills assessment, go to the Groups table, select the group in the dropdown, check the box(es) next to the names of your invitees and hit the 'Invite selected users' button.
This will pre-populate your user list on the assessment Invites page. Just edit your invite text and email header and hit 'Send Email'.
So managing KS user data is now even easier. Remember, changes made to your user records have no direct impact on your live results data.
R
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