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Microcomputers in Teaching: Steel Design with Spreadsheets
Author(s) -
STIEMER S. F.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
computer‐aided civil and infrastructure engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.773
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1467-8667
pISSN - 1093-9687
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8667.1986.tb00123.x
Subject(s) - clarity , computer science , set (abstract data type) , programming language , engineering drawing , state (computer science) , software engineering , engineering , biochemistry , chemistry
This article presents a method and the results of an innovative self‐paced introduction to steel design (according to the Canadian standard CAN3‐576. 1M84) for students by describing the use of state‐of‐the‐art spreadsheets (or calcpads) with microcomputers. Spreadsheets are flexible, high‐level programming languages with which it is possible not only to program the display and calculation of formulas on a screen, but also to add explanatory text to the programs. A textbook has been developed, consisting of a set of templates, which can be modified, reduced, expanded, and refined according to the requirements of the user. A good academic background in structural analysis and a basic understanding of the particular spreadsheets are necessary. Using a spreadsheet as the basis for a design text has many advantages, the most obvious being the direct hands‐on experience the user will receive. Formulas should exist as tools to be applied directly instead of being only read and memorized. Text lines can be deleted or added to satisfy the needs of the user. Self‐paced involvement of the reader and clarity of the material are the foundations of the book's approach. When used correctly this text should become a working design tool rather than a dust collector on a bookshelf.