Service-learning+for+sustainable+construction

 Caroline Clevenger, Assistant Professor, Colorado State University [ caroline.clevenger@colostate.edu]  Mehmet Ozbek, Assistant Professo, Colorado State University [ mehmet.ozbek@colostate.edu]  Dan Reaves, Research Assistant, Colorado State University [ reaves.daniel@gmail.com]
 * Service-learning for sustainable construction**



** Keywords: ** Construction, service-learning sustainability, K-12

** Track: **Civic learning outcomes for students in K-12 and higher education

** Format: ** Research paper


 * Date & time: **Friday 10:50-12:00
 * Location: **Salon 8

**Summary:** In Spring 2011, Colorado State University (CSU) Department of Construction Management, Unless Design Collaborative and Centennial High School collaborated to offer a service-learning course that empowers students as leaders, stewards, and teachers through a hands-on sustainable design/build construction project. In the course, CSU graduate students worked with local, alternative high school students to construct two full-scale sustainable dog houses, donated to the Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue Mission. Using this course, we examine the role service-learning can play in construction management education as related to sustainable building.

Traditionally, Construction Management (CM) programs have not utilized service-learning as much as other engineering or engineering-related disciplines. However, the use of service-learning fits well with construction management education because most programs require some experiential education in the form of internship of co-operative service for graduation (McCrary, Peterson, & Strong, 2007). Teaching environmental sustainability and sustainable design principles is a pressing issue in construction management education today. Research has shown that engineering education is largely deficient in teaching about sustainable development (Azapagic et al, 2005). Service-learning can provide a strong educational platform to learn social sustainability, and well as the engineering principles related to sustainable design (Pritchard, 2000; Al-Kafaji & Morse, 2006; Valdes-Vasquez & Koltz, 2010).

We collected data from pre- and post-course surveys administered to both the university students and the local high school students. Results measured participants’ attitudes and knowledge level related to sustainable construction and community service. Data was also collected from graduate student writing assignments including reflections, incident reports, and field journals. Collectively the data begins to provide insight into the effectiveness of using service-learning to teach students about sustainable design. Initial findings suggest increased concern for environmental sustainability, and interest in service for both stakeholder groups.

** References: ** Al-Kafaji, K, & Morse, M. (2006). Learning sustainable design through service. //International// //Journal for Service Learning in Engineering//, //1//(1), 1-10.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Fiori, C, & Songer, A. (2009). Enhancing construction education with contextual service learning. //Proceedings of the Building a sustainable future//, ASCE Conference Proceedings 339, 141.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Jacoby, B. (1996). //Service-learning in higher education: Concepts and practices.// San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">McCrary, S, Peterson, D, & Strong, S. (2007). Service learning in an introductory course in construction management. //Journal of Industrial Technology//, //23//(2). 2-12.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Talbert, M., Farnkhopf, S., Jones, S. A., & Houghtalen, R., (2003). Combining service learning with graduate education. //Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice,// //129//(4), 211-215.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Valdes-Vasquez, R. & Klotz, L. (2010). Incorporating the social dimension of sustainability into civil engineering education. //Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice// doi:10.1061/ (ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000066.

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