Use of Collaborative Project Management Software in the University Classroom
G. Edward Gibson,
Jr., Professor, Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental
Engineering
- March 3, 2005
OVERVIEW: Managing and communicating information regarding construction projects has long been a challenge for owners, engineers, and contractors. As a result, Internet-based collaboration platforms are gaining acceptance as a way to increase efficiencies, curtail cost overruns, and improve communications between projects participants. A growing body of evidence shows that collaborative tools are providing significant returns on investment, and other engineering disciplines are beginning to explore such methods as a better way to manage complex research, design, and fabrication projects that involve multi-locations and participants.
To integrate this Web-based technology into the classroom, an academic license to use Constructware™ was obtained for the graduate-level project management class (Civil Engineering 395S.4 – Project Management) in Fall 2004. Constructware™ is an Internet-based design and project-management software package for facilitating document workflows, communication, and collaboration among project participants. Project teams were created within the class early in the semester, and each team was given project management assignments focused on real capital projects to demonstrate project management knowledge and skills being taught in class. Constructware was used throughout the semester as the primary method to organize the project team, facilitate collaboration, and disseminate information. A key teaching innovation was the involvement of industry professionals associated with each of these construction projects, who remotely reviewed the student’s work and provided their feedback using Constructware™ interface.
This presentation provides an overview of using an internet-based collaborative platform as a teaching tool and its value as a skill-set in demand from industry. The specific educational goals of using this innovation will be addressed including the successes and challenges that were encountered. Student entry and exit survey results and a survey of outside participants will be discussed as well as the value of this method to other engineering disciplines. Finally lessons-learned will be provided.
If you plan on attending please contact Terri Lavorgna or call the Academic Affairs Office at 471-7995 at least one day before the seminar.