RELEASING THE POTENTIAL OF BIM IN CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION

misbe2011 Tracking Number 130

BIM at least in the sense of 3D modelling is fast becoming a reality in the commercial world. It also has the potential to become a powerful tool in the world of construction education. At its simplest it enables construction students to see in a 3D virtual model how buildings are assembled. This in itself is a considerable advance on trying to get students to learn building construction through interpreting 2D information. Beyond this BIM has the potential to allow faculty to radically rethink the teaching and learning process for construction students. If the BIM models provide information, that is readily understood by the student, as to how buildings are assembled, faculty should be able to spend less time “telling” students about construction detailing and thereby create more time for the students to learn by interacting with BIM models in the processes of construction planning, measurement and estimating. The paper revisits education theory with a focus on how students learn by “seeing” and “doing” rather than “listening”. It then explores how that theory can be combined with the potential of BIM to give the students enhanced learning experiences. A case study of early attempts to unlock the potential of BIM in a construction education setting is presented.