Teaching structural analysis and design: Evaluation and student feedback on various techniques and interventions

Abstract eng:
This paper presents, discusses and evaluates the use of a number of different teaching methods used to assist final year engineering students in their capstone structural design project and a steel design module. Teaching interventions such as physical models, plastic beams, YouTube videos, site visits, engineering videos, tutorials, marshmallow & spaghetti models (possibly the most successful of the interventions), oral presentations and design assignments were used in the course. Surveys were conducted to receive feedback from students as to how methods assisted learning and understanding. Feedback varied and it was shown that it is best to use a variety of methods in a course to assist with learning, although physical demonstration models were the most beneficial. Generally once students could visualise structural behaviour their designs improved. Of all the concepts students must grasp during a design project it was observed that bracing, modelling of structures, three-dimensional behaviour and effective lengths are the topics most struggled with by students.

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