Hands-On Class Exercise for Efficient Planning and Execution of Modular Construction
Publication: Journal of Civil Engineering Education
Volume 146, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper presents a case study of a hands-on exercise to improve students’ project management skills on repetitive infrastructure/modular projects. The exercise was to construct a large foam-board model of the University of Waterloo campus, involving over 40 buildings. The exercise design involved training on the integrated life-cycle decisions of a project, including quantity take-off, bidding, repetitive scheduling, assigning workers to single-skill trades, site organization, coordination, progress follow-up, and quality control. Student groups bid against each other in developing least-cost and least-waste execution plans under time and resource constraints. After execution, students gained firsthand experience on reasons for deviations and areas for improvement. Overall the exercise was fun, complemented theoretical concepts, and closely simulated how trades interact. Students also gained a better understanding of the challenges in managing repetitive projects and the role of efficient planning to reduce execution problems. The paper presents the design and implementation of this exercise, discusses its contributions to student learning, and provides guidelines to make hands-on exercises a success, particularly when a large number of participants are involved.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the participating students’ tremendous effort, enthusiasm, and hard work that made this exercise a success. The support of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo is also highly appreciated.
References
Al-Jibouri, S., M. Mawdesley, D. Scott, and S. Gribble. 2005. “The use of a simulation model as a game for teaching management of projects in construction.” Int. J. Eng. Educ. 21 (6): 1195–1202.
Behzadan, A. H., A. Iqbal, and V. R. Kamat. 2011. “A collaborative augmented reality-based modeling environment for construction engineering and management education.” In Proc., 2011 Winter Simulation Conf. (WSC). New York: IEEE.
Bergstrom, J. 2007. “Teaching project management using computer-based learning.” In Proc., Umea’s 11th Student Conf. in Computing Science, 43–53. Umea, Sweden: Umea Univ.
Brown, K. 2000. “Developing project management skills: A service-learning approach.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 31 (4): 53–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/875697280003100408.
Calabor, M. S., A. Mora, and S. Moya. 2019. “The future of serious games in accounting education: A Delphi study.” J. Accounting Educ. 46 (Mar): 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccedu.2018.12.004.
Carnes, M. C. 2014. Minds on fire: How role-immersion games transform college. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Castronovo, F., R. M. Leicht, and J. I. Messner. 2017. “When is a construction educational serious game too serious? Striking a balance between engagement and learning.” In Proc., Computing in Civil Engineering 2017. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Chinowsky, P. S., H. Brown, A. Szajnman, and A. Realph. 2006. “Developing knowledge landscapes through project-based learning.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 132 (2): 118–124. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1052-3928(2006)132:2(118).
Christodoulou, S. 2004. “Educating civil engineering professionals of tomorrow.” Project Manage. J. 130 (2): 90–94. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1052-3928(2004)130:2(90).
Dancz, C. L. A., K. Parrish, M. M. Bilec, and A. E. Landis. 2017. “Assessment of students’ mastery of construction management and engineering concepts through board game design.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 143 (4): 04017009. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000340.
Da Rocha, C. G., and L. I. G. Miron. 2018. “The house factory: A simulation game for understanding mass customization in house building.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 144 (1): 05017007. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000347.
Dewoolkar, M. M., L. George, N. J. Hayden, and M. Neumann. 2009. “Hands-on undergraduate geotechnical engineering modules in the context of effective learning pedagogies, ABET outcomes, and our curricular reform.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 135 (4): 161–175. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1052-3928(2009)135:4(161).
Dzeng, R. J., and P. R. Wang. 2016. “Educational games on procurement and negotiation: Perspectives of learning effectiveness and game strategies.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 142 (3): 04016004. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000280.
Dzeng, R.-J., K.-Y. Lin, and P.-R. Wang. 2014. “Building a construction procurement negotiation training game model: Learning experiences and outcomes.” Br. J. Educ. Technol. 45 (6): 1115–1135. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12189.
Elrod, C., S. Murray, K. Burgher, and D. Foth. 2010. “Utilizing multimedia case studies to teach the professional side of project management.” J. STEM Educ. Innovations Res. 7–17.
Fernández-Sánchez, G., and M. Á. Millán. 2013. “Structural analysis education: Learning by hands-on projects and calculating structures.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 139 (3): 244–247. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000155.
Forcael, E., C. R. Glagola, and V. González. 2012. “Incorporation of computer simulations into teaching linear scheduling techniques.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 138 (1): 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000071.
Freeman, S., S. L. Eddy, M. Mcdonough, M. K. Smith, N. Okoroafor, H. Jordt, and M. P. Wenderoth. 2014. “Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 111 (23): 8410–8415. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1319030111.
García-Macías, E., R. Castro-Triguero, E. I. S. Flores, S. J. Yanez, and K. Hinrechsen. 2019. “An interactive computational strategy for teaching the analysis of silo structures in civil engineering.” Comput. Appl. Eng. Educ. 27 (4): 821–835. https://doi.org/10.1002/cae.22112.
González, V. A., F. Orozco, B. Senior, J. Ingle, E. Forcael, and L. F. Alarcón. 2015. “LEBSCO: Lean-based simulation game for construction management classrooms.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 141 (4): 04015002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000243.
Górecki, J. 2018. “Modern learning strategy for teaching about construction management in Poland.” In Proc., Int. Conf. on Civil Engineering Education. Paris: World Academy of Science, Engineering, and Technology.
Gorton, W., and J. Havercroft. 2012. “Using historical simulations to teach political theory.” J. Political Sci. Educ. 8 (1): 50–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/15512169.2012.641399.
Guo, H., H. Li, G. Chan, and M. Skitmore. 2012. “Using game technologies to improve the safety of construction plant operations.” Accid. Anal. Prev. 48 (Sep): 204–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2011.06.002.
Hains, D., M. Intindola, D. Lepisto, and B. Wagner. 2019. “Scrimmage! Teaching quantitative literacy through a multidimensional simulation.” Int. J. Manage. Educ. 17 (1): 119–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2019.01.002.
Hamzeh, F., C. Theokaris, C. Rouhana, and Y. Abbas. 2016. “Application of hands-on simulation games to improve classroom experience.” Eur. J. Eng. Educ. 42 (5): 471–481. https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2016.1190688.
Hartmann, T. 2016. “Serious gaming in construction management research and education.” In Proc., Construction Research Congress 2016. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Hegazy, T. 2006. “Computer game for simplified project management training.” In Vol. 2 of Proc., 1st Int. Construction Specialty Conf., 1025. Montreal: Canadian Society for Civil Engineering.
Hegazy, T., M. Abdel-Monem, D. A. Saad, and R. Rashedi. 2013. “Hands-on exercise for enhancing students’ construction management skills.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 139 (9): 1135–1143. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000705.
Karshenas, S., and D. Haber. 2012. “Developing a serious game for construction planning and scheduling education.” In Proc., Construction Research Congress 2012. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Klopfer, E., S. Osterweil, and K. Salen. 2010. “Moving learning games forward: Obstacles, opportunities, and openness.” Accessed May 30, 2019. http://education.mit.edu/papers/MovingLearningGamesForward_EdArcade.pdf.
Korman, T. M., and H. Johnston. 2011. “Enhancing construction engineering and management education using a construction industry simulation (COINS).” In Proc., Computing in Civil Engineering, 899–906. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Liegel, K. M. 2004. “Project-based learning and the future of project management.” In Proc., PMI Global Conf. 2004–North America. Newton Square, PA: Project Management Institute.
Long, G., M. J. Mawdesley, and D. Scott. 2009. “Teaching construction management through games alone: A detailed investigation.” On the Horizon 17 (4): 330–344.
Markham, T., J. Larmer, and J. Ravitz. 2003. Project based learning handbook. 2nd ed. Novato, CA: Buck Institute for Education.
Mengel, T. 2008. “Outcome-based project management education for emerging leaders: A case study of teaching and learning project management.” Int. J. Project Manage. 26 (3): 275–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2007.12.004.
Nikolic, D., S. Jaruhar, and J. I. Messner. 2011. “Educational simulation in construction: Virtual construction simulator.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 25 (6): 421–429. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000098.
Ojiako, U., M. Ashleigh, M. Chipulu, and S. Maguire. 2011. “Learning and teaching challenges in project management.” Int. J. Project Manage. 29 (3): 268–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2010.03.008.
Oo, B. L., and B. T.-H. Lim. 2016. “Game-based learning in construction management courses: A case of bidding game.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 23 (1): 4–19. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-02-2015-0029.
Park, B., and R. Meier. 2007. “Teaching ethics using simulations: Active learning exercises in political theory.” J. Ind. Technol. 23 (1): 2–11.
Perry, T. J., and C. Robichaud. 2019. “Teaching ethics using simulations: Active learning exercises in political theory.” J. Political Sci. Educ. 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/15512169.2019.1568879.
Prince, M. 2004. “Does active learning work? A review of the research.” J. Eng. Educ. 93 (3): 223–231. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2004.tb00809.x.
Ramazani, J., and G. Jergeas. 2015. “Project managers and the journey from good to great: The benefits of investment in project management training and education.” Int. J. Project Manage. 33 (1): 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2014.03.012.
Rodrigues, P., M. Souza, and E. Figueiredo. 2018. “Games and gamification in software engineering education: A survey with educators.” In Proc., 2018 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conf. (FIE). Piscataway, NJ: IEEE.
Rumeser, D., and M. Emsley. 2018. “Project management serious games: Identifying gaps, trends, and directions for future research.” J. Mod. Project Manage. 6 (1): 48–59. https://doi.org/10.19255/JMPM01605.
Santos, L. C., C. F. Gohr, and M. V. Junior. 2012. “Simulation of assembly operations using interchangeable parts for OM education.” Int. J. Oper. Prod. Manage. 32 (12): 1427–1440. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443571211284179.
Sawhney, A., J. Marble, A. Mund, and A. Vamadevan. 2000. “Internet-based interactive construction management learning system.” In Proc., Construction Congress VI. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Shanbari, H., and R. R. A. Issa. 2019. “Use of video games to enhance construction management education.” Int. J. Constr. Manage. 19 (3): 206–221. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2017.1423166.
Sherif, A., and H. Mekkawi. 2010. “Excavation GAME: Computer-aided-learning tool for teaching construction engineering decision making.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 136 (4): 188–196. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000022.
Smith, K. A. 2000. “Strategies for developing engineering student’s teamwork and project management skills.” In Proc., ASEE Annual Conf. Proc., 5277–5288. Washington, DC: American Society for Engineering Education.
Susi, T., M. Johannesson, and P. Backlund. 2007. Serious games: An overview. Skövde, Sweden: Univ. of Skövde.
Tatnall, A., and G. Reyes. 2005. “Teaching IT project management to postgraduate business students: A practical approach.” J. Inf. Technol. Educ. 4 (1): 153–166. https://doi.org/10.28945/270.
Tinnon, E. A. 2014. “Scavenger hunt: A creative teaching strategy to introduce pharmacological concepts and ethical concerns.” Teach. Learn. Nurs. 9 (3): 104–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2014.03.004.
Van Den Berg, M., H. Voordijk, A. Adriaanse, and T. Hartmann. 2017. “Experiencing supply chain optimizations: A serious gaming approach.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 143 (11): 04017082. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001388.
Verkuyl, M., D. Romaniuk, L. Atack, and P. Mastrilli. 2017. “Virtual gaming simulation for nursing education: An experiment.” Clin. Simul. Nurs. 13 (5): 238–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2017.02.004.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Civil Engineering Education
Volume 146 • Issue 3 • July 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 11, 2019
Accepted: Nov 15, 2019
Published online: Mar 9, 2020
Published in print: Jul 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Aug 9, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.