Document Type

Other

Rights

Available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International Licence

Disciplines

Architecture engineering, Civil engineering, Construction engineering

Abstract

The zeitgeist of Construction Studies ought to adopt digital construction and work practises. However, legacy is slow to change/adapt, and a lack of awareness persists. From the perspective of the continuing legacy (vocational training) of Construction Studies being linked with industry, this research explores how the subject could evolve to deliver new digital skill sets and to meet the demands of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector.A pilot study was undertaken with 24 Transition Year students. The method and content of the study was based on an existing model from the Design Engineering Construction in the UK and was adapted for the Irish context based on findings from an extensive literature review. Outcomes of the study were critically evaluated by key stakeholders via interview and 4th generation evaluation. The research demonstrated the potential of this pilot to effect curriculum change and enabled the development of a proposed curriculum change management plan. This detailed research resulted in 4 key findings: (1) a campaign is needed to improve teacher awareness of changes within the AEC sector; (2) leadership is required from stakeholders, Department of Education and Science, industry, third level, & teachers, to create a Road Map for the Construction Studies curriculum; (3) Current & required skills, theoretical knowledge, and pedagogical needs must be identified for the sector and aligned training and CPD must be provided; (4) the teaching of an innovative curriculum must be incentivised through collaboration, time allocation and investment. It is proposed that the implementation of the four key findings will enable curriculum development to leverage the benefits of 21st century pedagogical approaches and theoretical knowledge to prepare students for technological advancements in the AEC industry, resulting in better outcomes for society, in the short-, medium- and long-term for all stakeholders.

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