Ferramentas computacionais para o ensino e aprendizagem à distância de estruturas de aço

Abstract

The objective of this work is to develop an educational project in the modality of Distance Education - the course Tension Members - with focus on the design of structural steel elements submitted to simple tension action, using a theoretical methodological conception that might assure the access, the permanence and the formation of Engineers, students of Engineering or other professionals. Some Internet application development tools were studied to identify which would better achieve the needs of this public. The pages with contents for the course were created using Hypertext Markup Language HTML, a predominant resource for generating and distributing data for Web applications. A database has been created in Access to support virtual management and pedagogical follow up, which can be accessed through web pages constructed using ASP technology. Video clips, evaluation instruments and the application for the teaching of analyses and dimensioning of steel components under tensile stress were implemented using Action Script integrated with shockwave technology, which enables the creation of very interactive computer programs. A database of steel profiles, used by the program TracBAR, was developed using XML and the graphical objects were generated using vector entities. This course - Tension Members - is a pilot project for the implementation of a complete environment for the study, research and technological development of Steel Structures.