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Multi-Media Interactive Self-directed CAD Applications learning Modules for the Construction Management Students. Abstract

This paper discusses multi-media, online, Interactive, self-explanatory Computer Aided Design (CAD) course instructions. These instructions were designed to assist the students in utilizing CAD applications related to the construction industry. Most of these course instructions were used in the “Fundamentals to Construction” which is an introductory course for basic construction and CAD skills, as well as to prepare the students for other building construction courses. The new course instructions included video-clips, screen captures, written interactive instructions, as well as self explanatory assignments which allow each student to work independently. This course also includes list-serve for all construction management students to post questions related to CAD in construction. In order to provide up-to-date CAD related resources and continuous support, all construction management students maintained access to the CAD instructions after completing the Fundamentals to Construction course. The students’ response to this teaching method was outstanding, and the score of the Students’ Opinion of Instructors’ Survey (SOIS) for this course was the highest at the university level.

Introduction Computer Aided Design has become an integral part of any construction project. Traditional paper blueprints are quickly becoming too primitive to meet the needs of the current building industry. Architects now share CAD drawings to expedite the design development and review cycles in order to increase construction productivity. In addition, researchers suggest that using CAD increases the students’ creativity and problem solving [3]. Familiarity with the development and exchange of CAD drawings is now a necessary skill in most engineering fields in general, and particularly in the construction industry. Most high schools in the United States and Canada now offer Auto CAD and other CAD software classes for their students [7]. Many Construction Management programs in the US offer CAD training as part of their curriculum. Teaching CAD applications is especially challenging when there is a large gap in the students' backgrounds. Many attempts were made to make CAD instructions practical and enjoyable to students with different backgrounds [1], [2]. While students with previous knowledge of CAD obtained in high school expect advanced CAD instructions related to the construction management, students with no previous CAD experience expect basic CAD instructions at first, and before advanced CAD applications can be offered. In addition, some students come to the Construction Management programs with little knowledge in computer applications compared to their peers which put them in a hard position. This is especially true for students from countries where computer applications are not taught in high schools. Under these circumstances, a lecture only delivery method might not be the best teaching practice. Therefore, individual instructions were sought as a solution to bridge the gap in the students’ CAD experience.

CAD teaching Modules; The “Fundamentals of Construction” is a required course for all the Construction Management students at East Carolina University. This course is offered in three to four sections each

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Abaza, H., & Irizarry, J., & Itr, Z. (2008, June), Multi Media Interactive Self Directed Cad Applications Learning Modules For The Construction Management Students. Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--3277