Re-engineering Bowling Green State University's Construction Management Capstone

Abstract

Dr. Austin has over 30 years of construction, engineering and facility experience in industrial, transportation and building projects across the full range of project delivery systems. His industry experience is multi-faceted with a strong background in civil engineering and construction management on both domestic and international projects. Having served in responsible charge of projects nationwide, he possesses professional engineering licenses in several states. During his professional tenure he has received awards for construction innovation, superior project performances and one of the projects received industry recognition a project of the year. Dr. Austin recently earned his Doctorate in Construction Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology where his research focus was on accelerated project deliveries (i.e., faster, more predictable fast-track construction). His teaching and research interests cross the spectrum of the construction management subjects, with a current focus on project management, construction equipment, planning and scheduling and research and teaching methodologies.

Board 5: Construction Engineering Division: Tailoring Construction Management Instruction to the Emerging Adult Learner

“…The first class with a re-engineered format [3] had fourteen students and incorporated the following adult education learning techniques:…”

“…Overall, student performance on two small PBL assignments was commendable -but there was one group that was a low-performing outlier in both cases. One of the important developments in this class was a high level of interactive class discussions that 1) facilitated learning of threshold and synthesis concepts and 2) led to a number of adjustments to the curriculum related to the Construction Estimating, Planning, & Scheduling and Construction Methods and Practices courses [3].…”