Mohamed El-Gafy, Technology
Teaching Design of Building Structures Using Visualization and Animation Techniques (El-Gafy, PowerPoint)
Understanding structures design lies at the core of the construction management education. The engineering-based approaches, which are the dominant models for teaching structures design to construction management students, are highly quantitative. Faculty and students historically struggle with the traditional engineering-based approach to structures design instruction, which is increasingly proving to be ineffective in the classroom. Building upon previous pedagogical research and the recent advancements in digital technology, a CTLT Teaching and Learning Development Grant assisted me to develop digital animation short movies to use as an instructional tool in TEC 327 (Design of Building Structure) classroom. Recognizing that students learn in a variety of ways, the animations I developed, accompanied by symbolic teaching and oral explanation, will help to increase student interest, thereby generating greater attentiveness during lecture, improving attendance, and enhancing motivation. These tools will also help students overcome difficulties in working with forces, moments, displacements, and stresses. Finally, developing hands-on visualization tools will aid students in problem formulation and enhance learning opportunities by improving their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
