CDIO APPROACH FOR REAL−TIME EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OF LARGE STRUCTURES

The traditional approach of teaching structural analysis and design modules has several shortcomings. This paper describes and illustrates how real world structural engineering can be brought into campus. A large structure was conceived, designed, and implemented in the existing workshop space. Strain gauges are installed to show how the parts of the large structure behave under different loading conditions. In the context of Conceiving, Designing, Implementing, and Operating (CDIO) framework, a capstone project was designed for students to do active and real time experiential learning of large structures. In addition, other student-centred real-time prototype experimental activities have been developed and planned for implementation in the “Structural Learning Space.” The space now allows not only for normal use by students to optimize the utilization of the workshop space but also for staff to conduct lectures, tutorials, and experiments of structural engineering modules in an integrated manner.