학술논문

Build It and They Will Come: Maintaining Students Access to Fabrication and Testing During a Pandemic.
Document Type
Article
Source
Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice; 2021, Vol. 21 Issue 16, p47-50, 4p
Subject
University of Sheffield
Teaching methods
Educational outcomes
Students
Pandemics
Assembly line methods
Language
ISSN
21583595
Abstract
The Civil Engineering curriculum at Sheffield University offers students the opportunity to work in groups to design, build and test models. This fulfils vital learning outcomes for accreditation requirements. The onset of the pandemic restricted the amount of face-to-face teaching. Presented here are methodologies to reconfigure teaching with restricted access to allow learning outcomes to be achieved while keeping students motivated. Traditional hands-on manufacturing and testing were replaced by "service" build and test schemes that hinged around the typical relationship between a designer (students) and a contractor. With the use of screens, PPE and careful communication, fabrication activities simulated an "assembly line" relay rather than the traditional "fixed-position assembly" allowing the activity to safely run face-to-face. Students were able to engage individually and in groups on these teaching methods to execute exciting and real projects, in a way that is scalable to large class sizes (Garrard and Beck, 2018). We explore the advantages and drawbacks of these approaches and suggest elements to be retained when restrictions are lifted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]