Active learning: Increasing Construction management Students' Technical Competencies through Concrete formwork Exercises

Several researchers have noted the difficulty classroom teachers face when trying to impart engineering concepts. The crux of the issue is how to help students "see" these important but elusive concepts. No amount of oratory, hand waving, or scribble can impart information like simply showing the student. Therefore, it is evident that traditional classroom lectures are best supplemented with components of experiential or active learning. Enriching the learning experience for construction management (CM) students is in the technical educator's best interest by including active learning exercises that emulate industiy, practices. Researchers at Central Washington University integrated an active learning activity into a concrete construction course. The active learning exercise was designed to help students visualize the means, methods, and materials of concrete formwork for vertical applications. To impart fundamental concepts and to imprint the knowledge obtained, traditional lecture, pre- and post-lab quizzes, and plan reading were employed. This pilot project developed a set of forms for a typical spread footing and square column. Groups of three to four students were then tasked with the job of erecting these forms, which enhanced the quality of learning and depth of understanding of the principle components used in vertical concrete formwork. Although the exercise was initially designed to enhance students' understanding of concrete formwork, the active learning component aided in providing students with the opportunity to plan, organize, and work as a team as well, thus helping them to also become better team members.