Asee peer logo

WIP: Using Real Materials Scale-Modeled for Learning about Construction

Download Paper |

Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

July 12, 2024

Conference Session

Project/Problem Based Learning (PBL) in Construction Education

Tagged Division

Construction Engineering Division (CONST)

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/48328

Request a correction

Paper Authors

biography

Miguel Andres Guerra Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-7496-3753

visit author page

MiguelAndres is an Assistant Professor in the Polytechnic College of Science and Engineering at Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering from USFQ, a M.Sc. in Civil Engineering in Construction Engineering and Project Management from Iowa State University, a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with emphasis in Sustainable Construction from Virginia Tech, and two Graduate Certificates from Virginia Tech in Engineering Education and Future Professoriate and from USFQ in Structures for Construction Professionals. MiguelAndres’s research includes Architectural and Civil Engineering Project Management, Sustainable and Resilient Urban Infrastructure, and the development of engineers who not only have strong technical and practical knowledge but the social awareness and agency to address global humanitarian, environmental, and social justice challenges. For him, social justice is a concept that should always be involved in discussions on infrastructure. Related to STEM education, Miguel Andres develops disruptive pedagogies for STEM courses as a tool for innovation, and assessing engineering students’ agency to address climate change. Currently, MiguelAndres is working on a framework to support and conduct undergraduate research.

visit author page

Download Paper |

Abstract

Civil engineering education is pivotal in preparing the future workforce to tackle the intricate challenges of contemporary infrastructure development. To enhance practical learning and bridge the gap between theory and real-world applications, this research project has innovatively introduced real material scale models into the curriculum. This abstract offers an insight into the integration, advantages, and the impact on students resulting from this pioneering educational approach. The inclusion of real material scaled models in civil engineering courses significantly enriched the learning journey of undergraduate students. These models, fashioned from actual materials like concrete, steel, and wood, offered students a tangible interface with structural concepts, granting them hands-on experience and practical insights into engineering principles. This pilot study aims to advance the knowledge in construction engineering by proposing a hands-on pedagogy that brings the student closer to a real-life project that incorporates previous knowledge and also new knowledge. The paper shows a case study of the application of this methodology in a Construction Costs course in Spring-22 (n=23 students) and Fall-23 (n=26 students). The professor guided the students throughout the different steps of the scaled construction. The development of these scale models was a collaborative effort involving faculty members and industry experts. This unique approach brings real-world materials and scenarios into the classroom, fostering a deeper understanding of material behavior in practical conditions. Implications for research and practice are provided.

Abril, D. E., & Guerra, M. A. (2024, June), WIP: Using Real Materials Scale-Modeled for Learning about Construction Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/48328

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2024 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015