Loading...
Please wait, while we are loading the content...
Similar Documents
Lessons Learned from the implementation of Integrated Project Based Construction Management Curriculum: A Faculty Perspective
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Korman, P. E. Thomas Michael Simonian, Lonny |
| Copyright Year | 2012 |
| Abstract | Beginning in the autumn quarter of 2008, the Construction Management Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) launched an integrated project based construction management curriculum. The basis behind the integrated curriculum was to create a series of practice courses, similar to an architecture studio model; however, each course would focus on a specific sector of the construction industry Heavy Civil, Residential, Commercial, and Specialty Construction. The concept behind the seminars was to integrate project controls, construction estimating and construction contracts and law into each of these courses and combine them with the construction methods topics pertinent to each industry sector. This paper covers several issues regarding the implementation of the new curriculum, including Pedagogy, Student Throughput, Faculty Workload and Teaching Assignments, and Accreditation. Introduction and Background Since 1990, the Construction Management Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) had been soliciting donations for the construction of the Construction Innovations Center (CIC) on the Cal Poly campus. As part of the fund raising effort for the new 30,000 square foot building which was to be include seven (7) dedicated labs, twelve (12) classrooms and lecture halls, and faculty offices a new curriculum was proposed to inspire interest among potential donors. The proposed curriculum was similar to that discussed by Hauck and Jackson in 2005, were project controls, construction estimating, and construction contracts and law was integrated into project based courses that focused around a specific industry of the construction market Heavy Civil, Residential, Commercial, and Specialty Contracting. Their proposal eliminated traditional stand-alone courses and integrated their content with construction methods topics pertinent to each industry sector. Their concept was to create a series of active, applied learning experiential courses. The result was a creation of the following seven (7) projectbased construction management courses: • Fundamentals of Construction Management • Heavy Civil Construction Management • Residential Construction Management • Commercial Building Construction Management • Specialty Contracting Construction Management • Construction Jobsite Management • Interdisciplinary Project Management Students receive six (6) quarter-hours of lab credit for a total of sixteen (16) scheduled contact hours per week and an additional two (2) hours per week to be arranged by the instructor. Based on a ten (10) week quarter system, students would receive a total of one-hundred (180) hours of instruction. Similar to a studio in an architecture studio, the concept was teach each course in a dedicated space equipped with models, samples, contracts, marketing documents, specifications, estimating guides, computer references, and other tools appropriate to that construction industry sector. In addition, the laboratory would be furnished with work stations for twentysix (26) students who would have twenty-four (24) hour/seven (7) days of week access to the space. Creation of the integrated project based construction management curriculum Prior to the implementation of the new integration of the integrated curriculum students were required to complete individual courses in project controls, construction estimating, construction contracts and law, construction jobsite management, concrete formwork, and temporary structures (Table 1). The original curriculum also required students to complete a standalone course in building mechanical systems and in building electrical systems. Students were required to take an individual construction methods course in the following subject areas: residential construction, heavy civil construction, and commercial construction. The course title, delivery mode, and quarter unit values for the courses referred to above are found in the Table 1. Table 1 – Required Courses prior to the Implementation of the Integrated Curriculum Course Title Course Delivery Mode Quarter Units CM 211 – Construction Drawings and Specifications Laboratory 3 CM 212 – Fundamentals of Construction Management Laboratory 3 CM 333 Construction Contracts and Law Lecture 1 CM 341 Residential Construction Practices Laboratory 3 CM 342 Commercial Construction Practices Laboratory 3 CM 343 Heavy Civil Construction Practices Laboratory 3 CM 352 Electrical Systems for Buildings Laboratory 3 CM 353 Mechanical Systems for Buildings Laboratory 3 CM 364 Construction Jobsite Management Laboratory 3 CM 444 Concrete Formwork and Other Temporary Structures Activity 3 CM 452 Project Controls Laboratory 3 CM 454 Construction Estimating Laboratory 3 When the integrated courses were created, the stand alone courses Construction Contracts and Law Project Controls, and Construction Estimating (CM 333, CM 452, and CM 454, respectively) were eliminated and integrated with the Heavy Civil, Residential, and Commercial Construction methods courses (CM 343, CM 341, and CM 342, respectively). The content of those courses was divided and combined with the original standalone construction methods course. The specialty contracting construction management course was created by eliminated the Mechanical and Electrical Systems for Building courses and combining their courses content. The new integrated curriculum courses which were created, the courses with which they were created, and the percentage of course content are shown in the Table 2. Figure 1 graphically displays how the integrated studio courses were created. Table 2 – Creation of the Integrated Curriculum Courses from prior courses Course Title Course Delivery Mode Quarter Units CM 115 – Fundamentals of Construction Management CM 211 – Construction Drawings and Specifications (50%) CM 212 – Fundamentals of Construction Management (50%) Laboratory 6 CM 213 Heavy Civil Construction Management CM 343 Heavy Civil Construction Practices (100%) CM 333 Construction Contracts and Law (33%) CM 452 Project Controls (33%) CM 454 Construction Estimating (33%) Laboratory 6 CM 311 Residential Construction Management CM 341 Residential Construction Practices (100%) CM 333 Construction Contracts and Law (33%) CM 452 Project Controls (33%) CM 454 Construction Estimating (33%) Laboratory 6 CM 313 Commercial Construction Management CM 342 Commercial Construction Practices (100%) CM 333 Construction Contracts and Law (33%) CM 452 Project Controls (33%) CM 454 Construction Estimating (33%) Laboratory 6 CM 413 Jobsite Construction Management CM 364 Construction Jobsite Management (100%) CM 444 Concrete Formwork and Other Temporary Structures (100%) Laboratory 6 CM 411 Specialty Contracting Construction Management CM 352 Electrical Systems for Buildings (100%) CM 353 Mechanical Systems for Buildings (100%) Laboratory 6 Figure 1 – Creation of Integrated Courses from Original Courses Following the implementation of new integrated curriculum a number of concerns and discussions have surfaced through the Construction Management Curriculum Committee and through general discussions items as topics brought forth by individual faculty at department faculty meetings. These include the following: Pedagogy, Student Throughput, Faculty workload and Teaching Assignments, and Accreditation. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.asee.org/file_server/papers/attachment/file/0002/2345/ASEE_Conference_Paper_2012.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
