Web-based interactive courseware for structural steel design using Java']Java

The recent resurgence of the World Wide Web and Internet technologies has provided fresh opportunities to enhance the educational environment. Issues in developing courseware for Web-based education and potential solutions are discussed. Building on the synergistic human-machine approach of interactive computer-aided design developed by Adeli in 1987, a new Web-based approach and courseware are presented to complement teaching of structural steel design. The courseware has been developed in Java, an object-oriented, platform-independent computer language. Example applets for interactive design of beams and different types of connections are presented. The user mn modify or limit any design parameter and request a new design without the need to start all over again. This is an effective tutorial feature considering the open-ended nature of the design problems. The student can find the answers to a lot of what-if scenarios in a very short period of time. Not only does this boost the learning experience in the design course significantly, but it also makes it more interesting.