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Construct First, Design Later – Evolution over the past 25 years

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Conference

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Publication Date

August 23, 2022

Start Date

June 26, 2022

End Date

June 29, 2022

Conference Session

Civil Engineering Division Poster Session

Page Count

11

DOI

10.18260/1-2--41158

Permanent URL

https://strategy.asee.org/41158

Download Count

220

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Paper Authors

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Brad Wambeke United States Air Force Academy

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Abstract

The Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the United States Air Force Academy has been providing a comprehensive "hands on" introduction to its civil and environmental engineering curricula for over 25 years. This introductory course is required for rising juniors within the program, and involves an immersive three-week summertime opportunity for students to learn applied civil engineering skills in a field environment while working under the guidance of industry experts. The course covers multiple sub-disciplines of civil and environmental engineering, and concludes with students constructing homes for a nearby community. The hands-on learning experience in the course provides a practical framework for the analysis and design courses that are taken later in the program. This purpose of this paper is to discuss the assessment-based changes that have occurred throughout the course’s history and describe how the “construct first, design later” philosophy has been successfully integrated throughout the program. It also serves as a potential model for other programs interested in developing a similar type experience.

Wambeke, B. (2022, August), Construct First, Design Later – Evolution over the past 25 years Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41158

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