scholarly journals Open Ended Projects For Graduate School Bound Undergraduate Students In Civil Engineering

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Sun ◽  
Ralph A. Dusseau ◽  
Douglas Gabauer ◽  
Beena Sukumaran ◽  
Douglas Cleary
Author(s):  
Normah Abdullah ◽  
Laura Christ Dass ◽  
Siti Akmar Abu Samah

This paper is taken from a bigger study aimed at trialing a Western learning model in a Malaysian context where it is yet to be tested by previous research. The Visible Thinking (VT) Project of Project Zero research is used as benchmark for this study. A summary of selected PZ research projects presented in this paper highlights the learning benefits of establishing patterns of thinking within the classroom as projected by PZ studies of Harvard Graduate School of Education, the hallmark institution. Many aspects of classroom teaching have been shown by PZ research to enhance learning, this paper will focus on a Malaysian undergraduate classroom that has decided to trial this highly recommended model using a framework derived from PZ school settings. Part of the focus of the study was to check if the ideas and paradigms are transferable to a Higher Education ESL context of a culturally different setting in terms of the manifestations of classroom interactions, students’ and teacher’s perception of it as well as from the researcher’s observation of this classroom in session. The literature on the findings of VT project, mainly the thinking routines employed, the importance of establishing thinking routines in the classroom and examples of instances where these routines were visible in the classroom contexts are the summarized in this paper. Most of PZ research was conducted in school classrooms in a Western setting. This study prides itself in taking PZ research to a whole new level to study undergraduate students in a Malaysian classroom setting.


2010 ◽  
Vol 43 (03) ◽  
pp. 557-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward M. Burmila

AbstractDespite being responsible for a large percentage of undergraduate instruction, graduate students often receive little preparation for their first solo teaching assignments (J. D. Nyquist et al.,Change31 (3): 18, 1999). Furthermore, the existing literature on pedagogy fails to address the unique challenges faced by graduate students who are asked to serve as course instructors rather than teaching assistants. This article presents seven pieces of advice intended to better prepare the predoctoral graduate student to assume the role of the professor before assuming the title. By understanding the attitudes of undergraduate students toward graduate instructors, preparing in advance to handle the mistakes that novice teachers often make, and recognizing the correlation between outward confidence and student perceptions of instructor quality, graduate students can derive the most benefit from a stressful and time-consuming assignment. Most important, graduate instructors can learn to effectively manage the time spent on teaching duties to ensure that other responsibilities such as coursework, qualifying exams, and dissertation research do not suffer.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.12) ◽  
pp. 425
Author(s):  
M Balasubramanian ◽  
Senthil Selvan.S ◽  
V R.Prasath Kumar ◽  
Mahadevan S

In this study, the development of professionalism of undergraduate students of civil engineering is essential to face the challenges in the modern world and this study describes professional internship program for each semester in the civil engineering department at SRM Institute of Science and Technology. Based upon literature reviews of the professional internship program for each semester questionnaires are prepared and given to faculties, undergraduates of SRM Institute of Science and Technology and also get from the construction contractors, to predict issues in the traditional professional internship program. For undergraduates questionnaires consider weighted percentage of before and after professional internship program are Wb and Wa. The expert groups were utilized to planning, implementation, evaluation, and execution of the professional internship program at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology. An implementation of the professional internship program for each semester of undergraduate students of the civil engineering department at SRM Institute of Science and Technology. The outcomes obtained for civil engineering undergraduates are getting from valuable resources, that professional internship program for each semester is needed undergraduates to develop the carrier and gain knowledge and should create best civil engineers.   


2013 ◽  
Vol 677 ◽  
pp. 549-553
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Ying Li

Civil Engineering Material is one of the main special courses offered to undergraduate students whose major is Civil Engineering. It aims to let students know major civil engineering materials, their physical properties, mechanical properties, how they are used in construction, how they are tested in the lab, and their strength characteristics-information, so that they can solve problems arising from civil construction. Rapid development in civil engineering material requires construction of this course, which could keep the teaching content up-to-date with current situations. This paper analyzed the current conditions of this course and aims for construction and then describes a construction plan, including revision of the teaching content, improvement of teaching methods and class mode, compiling of test database and exercise database.


2013 ◽  
Vol 677 ◽  
pp. 544-548
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Ying Li

Civil engineering deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings. As one course in professional engineering discipline, Civil Engineering is offered to undergraduate students. It aims to let students know environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, geophysics, geodesy, control engineering, structural engineering, biomechanics, nanotechnology, transportation engineering, earth science, atmospheric sciences, forensic engineering, municipal or urban engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, coastal engineering, surveying, and construction engineering. It requires to be constructed to keep it up-to-date with current development of civil engineering. Based on analysis of the current conditions of this course and aims for construction, it describes a construction plan, including revision of the teaching content, compiling of the textbook, improvement of teaching methods and class modes, preparation of test database and exercise database.


2001 ◽  
Vol 684 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Schemmel ◽  
Frances Griffith ◽  
Earl Glover

ABSTRACTAs part of their required curriculum, undergraduate students in the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas take a course that studies the materials commonly used in the construction of buildings, bridges, highways, and the like. This course is titled CVEG 2113 - Structural Materials. A focal point for this course is the examination of concrete, its production, engineering properties, and uses in structures.Since concrete can be delivered to a job site while still in a workable form, it is often necessary to perform a series of tests on the “fresh” material prior to its placement in a structure. Prior to the mid-1980's results from the field testing of concrete were often dubious. In an effort to improve the quality of testing, and thus the reliability and accuracy of the test data, organizations such as the American Concrete Institute (ACI) initiated programs to certify field testing technicians. With the students in CVEG 2113 already receiving instruction relative to testing, as well as having the opportunity to perform the applicable tests in the laboratory, it quickly became evident that ACI certification could, and should, be incorporated into the course syllabus. Being certified adds a tangible skill to a student's resume thus making the student more marketable for summer and long-term employment. The concrete industry benefits from an increased pool of highly qualified engineers. The Department of Civil Engineering benefits from an enhanced reputation from the perspective of both the students and industry.


Eos ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alanna Lecher

Ten factors that help liberal arts undergraduate students succeed could also increase the odds for student success in geoscience graduate programs.


Author(s):  
Monica Mathis ◽  
Maryvi Gonzalez-Sola ◽  
Martin Rosario

Undergraduate students often have difficulty relating the Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) course to their future careers, which may lead to difficulties in graduate school. Thus, the purpose of the Anatomy Observational Outreach (AOO) was to help students make the connection and application between the information presented in A&P labs and real human cadaver, which could encourage students to pursue graduate degrees. The outreach consisted of 99 undergraduate A&P students from Texas Woman’s University in the biology, nursing, kinesiology, health studies, physical therapy, and occupational therapy departments. The methodology consisted of a 30-minute orientation, a graduate student panel, a Q&A session, a 60-minute cadaver observation, and Anatomage table demonstration, amongst others. The impact of AOO was measured by 10-question pre-tests and identical post-tests (1 point each) along with a survey at the end. The tests result demonstrated a significant increase [t(62)=-9.3, p=0.001] in anatomical knowledge. The survey results showed that out of 99 participants, 84% of the students interested in applying to graduate school, 32% of students felt that all of the teaching tools were useful, while 68% concluded the cadaver prosections were the most potent sole educational aid. 65% of the students were ethnic minorities, and 97% were gender minorities. We conclude that AOO yielded distinguished results in retention, and application of A&P knowledge, along with increased interest and excitement for pursuing a STEM and Allied Health degrees.


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