Cooperative Efforts Using Theater Students for Construction Management Technology Philip Dunn PE Assistant Professor Construction Management Technology School of Engineering Technology March 18, 2006 ASEE Regional Conference WPI Worcester, MA

What is Writing Intensive Curriculum? Integration of Standard Written Protocols into Discipline Specific Course Material Written Assignments that Instructor Reviews, Critiques, and Returns to Student Student Revises and Resubmits Assignment for Grade

How Can Writing Exercises be Integrated into an Engineering Course? Engineering Students want to deal with Relevant Material. Students need Concrete Ideas to Evaluate. Students need Established Evaluation Criteria. Students need Pertinent Feedback to Their Work. Engineering Students Want a Score.

Application of Writing Intensive into the Construction Management Technology Program Adaptation into CET 356 Construction Administration. Lab period incorporated in addition to a lecture. Lab exercises developed around a common construction project. Students use AGC Docubuilder, Microsoft Word to create written exercises. How was Concept used at UMaine CMT Construction Management Technology Program? Incorporated into CET 356 Construction Administration

Development of a Meeting Minutes Exercise The Goal of this Exercise is to engage Construction Management Students in writing the minutes of the meeting Videos are available of actual meetings CMT students are reluctant to “play act” The Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Maine had minor grants for innovative teaching ideas Theater students work on projects

Creating the Video Creation of an Extemporaneous Script Creation of Characters Set up of a Filming Backdrop Coordination of a Filming Editing the Film

Meeting Content Typical Construction Meeting Format – Call to Order – Review of Past Minutes – Review of Past Week’s work – Discussion of Action Items – Review of Action Items – Establish Next meeting time

Matrix for Evaluation

Criteria for Evaluation

Results of Meeting Minutes

Review of the Results

Conclusion Writing Intensive Curriculum integrates needed communication skills into technical course work. Students need relevant exercises to develop better skills. Students need relevant feedback to assist in improving their skills. Better writing styles will develop with time.

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