Project Based Teaching A Steel Design Course

This paper presents an alternative method to teach an undergraduate course in steel design. This method has been experimented for two quarters at the University Of Cincinnati College Of Applied Science. The idea is centered on a project where the structural elements are designed following the flow of gravity forces from the deck to the ground, while paying close attention to the way loads transfer from one member to another. The focus is on the interaction of the elements as well as the role of each element in the entire structural system. This is a three credit undergraduate course in a quarter system. The role of the professor has been more like consulting as opposed to lecturing. Design of the projects required about the same amount of time that would be spent for designing example problems for individual members in a traditional lecture. Adoption of this method did not increase the workload of the professor. The course evaluations by the students confirm that this method has been effective in facilitating and enhancing their learning process, as well as creating interest and participation.