AE Design Teaching in the USA

Assignment Change – An effect of my visits

2009-10-06T17:46:00.001-04:00

One result of visiting all the AE programs this last year was that I decided that in my own program I wasn’t doing enough to expose and enthuse students about current developments in buildings. I was particularly inspired by what I saw Greg Brooks doing at UT Austin though I didn’t try and directly copy him. My response was to revise an assignment (one of seven) in the junior-year course, AE-

What Faculty have to Share and Want to Know

2009-06-25T19:57:00.001-04:00

Two of the questions at the end of the survey asked: 1) What do you do currently that you see as most successful that other instructors or schools might adopt? 2) What things do you think you might learn from other schools that would help you? The answers to those questions are now available (58/105 answered one or the other). Themes seem to be: BIM/Revit Capstone Design Practice/

Faculty Comments about AE Design Teaching and the Survey

2009-06-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

In other blog entries and the AEEE paper I've summarized the results of the survey. The last two questions in the survey were open-ended, asking faculty for their comments about both the overall subject of the survey and the questionnaire itself. Fifty one (out of 105) faculty replied to one or the other of the questions - including the survey author. All the comments are on the following web

Defining AE Design - ASEE-2009 Paper (AC 2009-448)

2009-06-09T17:21:00.002-04:00

Next week I'll be giving a paper based on the survey that 105 faculty in the 17 schools that I visited completed. The paper in the ASEE proceedings was completed before all the survey results were collected. This version (link) provides updated results. There were some changes in both the coding methodology and the results between the two that are noted in the paper. This one is more complete

Evaluation of Issues and Need for Research on Teaching

2009-05-07T09:15:00.001-04:00

Respondents were asked to give ratings (1-5 scale using words) on the following questions: Evaluate the importance of the following issues to your school Evaluate the importance of the following issues to AE programs nationally Evaluate the importance of research related to teaching AE Design in the following areas The detailed results are available on this Google-Docs spreadsheet.

AE Schools Cooperation & ABET Issues

2009-05-06T10:12:00.001-04:00

Respondents were asked to give ratings (1-5 scale using words) on the following questions: Evaluate the importance of cooperation and coordination between the different AE Schools in the US (or abroad). Evaluate the importance of possible changes in the ABET accreditation requirements. The detailed results are available on this Google-Docs spreadsheet. Summary of Results

Teaching Approaches Used and Advocated

2009-05-05T12:14:00.001-04:00

Respondents were asked to give ratings (1-5 scale using words) on the following questions: I use the following approaches in teaching AE Design I use student teamwork in teaching AE Design. I would advocate changing the way the school teaches AED by changing the use of the following techniques The detailed results are available on this Google-Docs spreadsheet. Summary of

Definitions of Architectural Engineering Design

2009-05-04T15:37:00.001-04:00

The Google-docs spreadsheet linked here presents the first batch of data from which I'll draw conclusions, starting with the paper I'll be giving at the ASEE Conference in June (6/16 2:15-4:00 - #2506: Beneficial Case Studies in AEC Education). It should be interesting to those who want to know what are the definitions of AE Design given by the faculty, and also what are the characteristics

Survey Now Closed

2009-05-04T15:04:00.001-04:00

The survey of faculty closed this morning, having gained about twenty responses since my mid-April email to faculty who I hadn't recorded as having already completed the survey. I've begun analysis of the data and shortly will post the first piece results - of the definitions of Architectural Engineering Design (AED) and the characteristics of the respondents. There were 102 respondents, of

Excel VBA Code for Likert Analysis

2009-04-24T14:55:00.001-04:00

To test the significance of responses on a 1-5 scale ( commonly called a Likert Scale) produced as part of this sabbatical study I developed an Excel Macro to analyze the data and produce formatted output. It is explained in detail on my webpage devoted to it with a link to download the code If you find it useful you're welcome to appropriate it. Credit would be nice. If you find errors

Drexel University AE Program

2009-04-21T13:04:00.000-04:00

This last blog entry addressing specific schools is necessarily different. It seems appropriate to attempt to provide the same information about Drexel that I've provided about all the other schools. Of course I cannot take the same approach exactly because it's my own school and I did not interview faculty in the same manner. Nonetheless here's my best effort. What do I Know? About the Drexel

University of Miami Visit - 13 April 2009

2009-04-15T11:42:00.000-04:00

On April 13th I spent the day at the Univerisity of Miami, my 16th and last sabbatical visit. Thanks to the efforts of Rodrigo Mora I met five faculty currently teaching design aspects of the AE program. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and enjoyable. What did I learn? About the University of Miami programThe Architectural Engineering

University of Texas at Austin Visit - 9-10 April 2009

2009-04-12T22:11:00.004-04:00

On April 9th and 10th the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) welcomed me on my fifteenth sabbatical visit. Thanks to the efforts of Rich Klinger I met 11 faculty currently teaching the design aspects of the AE program and others as well. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and enjoyable. What did I learn? About the UT Austin

University of Oklahoma Visit - 7 April 2009

2009-04-12T22:04:00.007-04:00

On 4/7/2009 I spent the day at the University of Oklahoma, my fourteenth sabbatical visit. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Kyran (Kim) Mish I met six faculty currently teaching aspects of the AE program and others as well. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and enjoyable. What did I learn? About the University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma State University Visit - April 6th,2009

2009-04-12T22:02:00.000-04:00

On 4/6/2009 I spent the day Oklahoma State University (OSU), my thirteenth sabbatical visit. Thanks to the efforts of John Phillips I met seven faculty currently teaching the design aspects of the AE program. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and enjoyable. What did I learn? About the OSU AE Program OSU faculty are very proud of

Kansas State University (KSU) Visit - 9-10 February 2009

2009-02-12T10:39:00.018-05:00

On February 9th & 10th I visited Kansas State University (KSU), for my 12th sabbatical interviews. Thanks to the efforts of Dave Fritchen (Department head) and Ray Yunk (ArchE program coordinator) I met nine faculty currently teaching the design aspects of the AE program and others as well. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and

Tennesse State University (TSU) Vist - 6 February 2009

2009-02-07T18:27:00.003-05:00

On February 6th I spent the day at Tennessee State University, my twelfth sabbatical visit. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Hinton Jones I met five faculty currently teaching the design aspects of the AE program. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and enjoyable. (A balmy, almost-spring day after a week of 5-10 degree weather was most

Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Visit - February 4, 2009

2009-02-05T07:32:00.009-05:00

On February 4th I visited Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), my tenth sabbatical trip. Thanks to the efforts of Jamshid Mohammadi (Department Head) and Ralph Muehleisen I met four faculty currently teaching the design aspects of the AE program and others as well. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and enjoyable. Thanks to IIT's

Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Visit - February 2-3, 2009

2009-02-03T20:30:00.009-05:00

On Feburary 1st and 2nd I visited Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) for my 9th set of interviews. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Deborah Jackman (Dept. Head) and Dr. John Zachar I met a large precentage of the faculty critical to the design aspects of AE program and quite a few others as well. As on my prior visits everyone was welcoming and helpful making my visit both productive and

Issues Important to Faculty - Status Report

2009-01-17T15:08:00.003-05:00

Evaluate the importance of the following issues to your school: None Low Average High Critical ResponseCount BIM 7.9% (3) 31.6% (12) 26.3% (10) 26.3% (10) 7.9% (3) 38 Integration of all ABET components of AE - Structure; HVAC; Electrical/Power/Lighting; Construction Management 2.4% (1) 17.1% (7) 14.6% (6) 41.5% (17) 24.4% (10) 41

Survey Response So far

2009-01-17T15:03:00.003-05:00

Here's a brief status report on how the data collection from the surveys is going so far. A separate blog entry gives the faculty opinion on issues important to the schools and also nationally. I've now visited one half the schools and am about to visit the second half in the next three months Responses by University as of Noon 1/17/2009 University Visited already Responses Cal

University of Kansas (KU) Visit - December 8th & 9th 2008

2008-12-10T17:18:00.006-05:00

On December 8th &9th I spent two informative days at the University of Kansas (KU), my eighth sabbatical visit. Thanks to the efforts of Tom Mulinazzi and Craig Adams (Department Head) I met eight faculty currently teaching the design aspects of the AE program and others as well. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and enjoyable. What did I

Missouri University of Science and Technology - 12/4-5 Visit

2008-12-06T13:12:00.007-05:00

On December 4-5 I spent two worthwhile days at Missouri University of Science and Technology (MS and T), my seventh sabbatical visit. Thanks to the efforts of Stuart Baur I met seven faculty currently teaching the design aspects of the AE program and others as well. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and enjoyable. What did I learn? About

University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Omaha - Peter Kiewit Institute - 12/2/2008

2008-12-03T10:16:00.003-05:00

On 12/2/2008 I visited the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Architectural Engineering program, my sixth sabbatical trip. Thanks to the efforts of Clarence Waters I interviewed six faculty currently teaching in the AE program, the executive director of the Peter Kiewit Institute Winnie Callahan, and others as well. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both

Penn State Visit - November 17-18 2008

2008-11-19T11:14:00.005-05:00

On November 17th & 18th I visited Penn State, my fifth sabbatical trip. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Chimay Anumba (department head) and Kevin Parfitt I interviewed 11 faculty and discussed this sabbatical topic with about five others at lunch on the 18th. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and enjoyable. What did I learn? About the

Learning about Qualitative Research

2008-11-16T08:01:00.001-05:00

If you're an engineer who thinks of undertaking a similar "qualitative research" project this post may be of interest to you. My intent is to reflect on the self-education process I've undertaken and recommend a book that I found helpful. As a person who thinks of himself as an engineer first, with other interests riding well behind, I undertook this sabbatical project in what now seems a

North Carolina A&T State University

2008-11-12T20:42:00.001-05:00

On November 12th I visited visited North Carolina A&T State University (NCAT), my fourth sabbatical trip. Thanks to the efforts of Sameer Hamoush (Dept. Head) I met all faculty currently teaching the design aspects of the AE program and others as well. As on my previous trips everyone was welcoming and helpful, making my visit both productive and enjoyable. What did I learn? About the NCAT

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Visit

2008-10-04T00:43:00.005-04:00

On October 1st and 2nd I visited visited Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for my third visit, the end of my first sabbatical trip. Thanks to the efforts of Al Estes (Dept. Head) I met all faculty currently teaching the design aspects of AE program and others as well. As at Wyoming and Boulder everyone was welcoming and helpful making my visit both productive and enjoyable. I could well understand

University of Colorado at Boulder - Second Visit

2008-10-01T16:01:00.008-04:00

On September 29th and 30th I visited visited Boulder (after a lovely weekend in the mountains) for my second visit. Thanks to the efforts of Joann Silverstein (Dept. Head) and Moncef Krarti I met many if not all of the faculty critical to the design aspects of AE program and quite a few others as well. As at Wyoming everyone was welcoming and helpful - exactly what I would have hoped for.

AEI Denver Conference Reflections

2008-10-01T15:59:00.001-04:00

State of AEII'm highly sympathetic to the organizers of the conference. They depend on what's submitted for their technical content and clearly have made great efforts to increase the breadth and depth of the conference topics. Nonetheless, AEI exists, as the founder of the Institute reminded us at the awards luncheon, to bring together all those

University of Wyoming - First Visit

2008-09-24T11:47:00.002-04:00

On September 22nd and 23rd I visited mile-and-a-half (almost) high Laramie, Wyoming for my first visit. Thanks to the efforts of David Bagley (Dept. Head) and Tony Denzer I met many if not all of the faculty critical to the design aspects of AE program and quite a few others as well. Everyone was welcoming and helpful - exactly what I would have hoped for. Several faculty had completed my

Visit Goals + Survey Link

2008-09-05T09:47:00.001-04:00

I'm now in the final phases of preparing for my first visits at the end of September and the beginning of October (see the calendar). I just sent an email to my contacts at the first three institutions. Below is the body of the majority of that email. It addresses:What I'm trying to learn The survey I've prepared - anyone reading this with the responsibility of Teaching AE Design is welcome to

Human Subjects Research Review

2008-09-01T08:04:00.001-04:00

In preparing for my interviews I've read several social sciences texts, including "The Handbook of Interview Research" (Sage 2002; Gubrium & Holstein Editors). One of the articles mentioned in passing the necessity of getting approval for Human Subjects research from an Institutional Review Board (IRB). I'd blithely planned the visits thinking that I was just asking questions of other faculty

Compact Academic Calendar - Excel Template

2008-08-28T09:49:00.016-04:00

As part of my planning for the coming year I realized that it would be helpful to have the year at a glance. David Seah produced a very nice Excel template that does exactly that, allowing one to print out a year's worth of calendar on a single piece of paper that will fold to fit with 3x5 cards. It's great for planning because it's continuous, not starting a new line for each month.To make it

Approaches to Teaching AE Design

2008-08-24T10:45:00.002-04:00

One of the questions I've asked on the survey/questionnaire that I'm developing is which approaches to teaching AE Design do the faculty use. I've included links to most of them below to help anyone who's uncertain of the meaning I intend. Lecture Architectural Studio Modified Studio - Architectural Studio modified, especially by emphasizing team-based projects Case Study Problem-Based

Thanks for Taking The Survey

2008-08-24T08:54:00.005-04:00

Thank you!I know that the survey was longer than ideal, but hopefully the results will inform all of us about our commonalities and unique perspectives.I'm setting it up so that you can return to add to or modify what you've already entered. I'd note that to get back you'll need to have enabled cookies for the survey site and therefore you'll have to be on the same computer each time.I'll post

AE Programs - Overview and Emphases

2008-08-17T07:48:00.003-04:00

I've been looking at all the papers I can find related to AE Design. An excellent starting point for an overview of the AE programs are the papers by Al Estes and Hector Estrada in which they looked at the information available for all the AE programs. All the information comes from my interpretation of Estes [1] unless otherwise noted. I've taken the liberty

Questions for Individual Interviews - Initial thoughts

2008-08-15T11:10:00.006-04:00

I've formulated the following questions as the basis for my interviews during the visits. Time with each individual is certainly going to vary so I'll probably not be able to address all of them. We may also find as a result of the initial interviews that these should be altered. I welcome suggestions for improving them. Questions I hope to ask everyoneWhat is AE Design (AED)? As embodied in

Computers as Tools - An Initial Reflection

2008-08-13T10:37:00.006-04:00

The computer is the essential tool for most design work today. Programs are analogous to the computation methods that were the critical components that I learned when I was in school. What a good education these days should do (in part) is Teach engineering critical thinking which involves Learning the limits of computation tools Identifying when each is appropriate learning

Who Would I like to Meet During a Visit?

2008-08-13T10:15:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking about how best to make use of the two days I hope to have at each AE school. Earlier I posted a general schedule for the two days. Since then I've been considering how I'm most likely to get a clear picture of the way AE Design is taught and what are its goals and results. In the process I've been through several school websites in detail and built a list of the kinds of

Typical Visit - Initial Plan

2008-08-11T08:04:00.009-04:00

I'll shortly be sending out Emails to the schools I hope to visit on either side of the AEI convention at the end of September. That's forced me to consider what I want to accomplish during each visit and therefore how I should structure it - recognizing that individual schedules are likely to make this ideal seldom achieved.I've allocated two days for each visit in the hope that will allow

July's Escape - AE Examples in the UK

2008-08-11T07:33:00.011-04:00

I spent July in the UK, mostly enjoying myself in the countryside and in London. Several AE related visits particularly impressed me:The Eden Project in Cornwall (images) - What a splendid marriage of structure, landscape and MEP.Peterborough Cathedral (among others - images) - Like so many gothic cathedrals the structure that has endured 800 years exalts the spirit as good architecture

ASEE Conference in Pittsburgh 6/22-25

2008-06-27T09:38:00.001-04:00

I'm freshly back from the 2008 ASEE conference in Pittsburgh. Several things were reinforced for me: As I'd hoped, I met several of the AE program faculty that I expect to visit during the year, specifically John Phillips and Al Estes. Both were helpful and cordial. I was disappointed that ASEE didn't draw as many other AE folk as I'd imagined but I certainly understand the pressures of

Ideal Travel Plans

2008-06-21T10:59:00.005-04:00

To visit the 17 AE programs in the US I've put together an Ideal Travel Plan that spaces out my visits and allows two days per visit (with some heavy driving I'm sure). I'd appreciate reactions from possible hosts at the various schools on whether this makes sense to you. I'd be amazed if it works out as tidily as this envisions, but one has to have a starting point. My calendar where I'll put

Map of Accredited AE Programs

2008-06-20T23:31:00.013-04:00

As part of my travel planning for this sabbatical I realized that I needed a map to show where the AE programs are. I thought it would be useful to others as well, so here it is. It uses data from the ABET list as of 6/20/2008.Note that when you click on the "pin" for each school you'll get a box. Clicking in that will open the site for the AE program or department at that school. Clicking on

Sabbatical, Blog and Wiki Purposes

2008-06-20T19:37:00.005-04:00

Starting in June 2008 and extending throughout Academic Year 2008-9 until September 2009 I've been granted a sabbatical by Drexel University. My goal is to visit as many of the Architectural Engineering (AE) programs in the USA as possible to discuss with the faculty and students how AE design is defined and taught.My plan is to chronicle the year in this blog and to develop my/our cumulative