Welcome to Civil Engineering & Architecture
Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA) is a college level course appropriate for 11th and 12th grade students who are interested in pursuing engineering, architecture, or construction management. The major focus of this course is a long-term project that involves the development of a local property site. As students learn about various aspects of civil engineering and architecture, they apply what they learn to the design and development of this property. The course provides freedom to the teacher and students to develop the property as a simulation or to students to model the real-world experiences that civil engineers and architects experience when developing property. Students work in teams, exploring hands-on projects and activities to learn the characteristics of civil engineering and architecture.
In addition, students use Rivet, which is a state of the art 3D design software package from AutoDesk, to help them design solutions to solve their major course project. Students learn about documenting their project, solving problems, and communicating their solutions to their peers and members of the professional community of civil engineering and architecture.
Class Structure
Much of what is learned in this course is through personal inquiry (textbooks, public documents, internet resources). You will be provided with information as applicable, but intrinsic motivation is a must. The format of this class is unlike any you have taken before, and will go through a significant transformation as the year progresses. Here is a diagram of how this works:
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Beginning -----------------------------------------------------------------------à End
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Daily procedure
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Traditional Class
Lecture – Vocab/Math
Learn Software
Quizzes/Fast-fives
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Student centered research
Minor Project
Explore software
Practice Exams/Self-assessment
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Office Atmosphere
Major Project
Presentations
Final Exam
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Teacher Role
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Instructor
Lecture
Assign
Test
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Control moves to students
Provide support
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Project Facilitator
Push teams
Help with resources
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Student Role
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Student
Memorize
Practice
Evaluate
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Take control
Help others
Provide resources
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Team Member
Do your part
Push teammates
Work together
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In very simple terms:
§ You will spend the first half of the course learning the basic skills necessary to perform many of the tasks involved in turning an empty property into a usable residential and/or commercial property.
§ The second half of the course, you and your team (of 3 or 4) will fully develop a commercial proposal for an assigned piece of property.
§ The culmination of your team project will be a presentation to a team of professional Architects and Civil Engineers.
§ Also, there will be a PLTW/RIT final exam the last week of school.