Technology In The Civil Engineering Classroom: Introduction And Assessment

The introduction of innovative technologies into the civil engineering classroom is providing unprecedented opportunities to examine traditional educational methodologies. The development of video, multimedia, and advanced computer modelling technologies provides educators with the tools to diverge from the static arena of textbooks and enter the arena of interactive, hands-on education. However, the rapid evolution of these tools presents a potentially damaging impact to a civil engineering student's education. The rapid adoption of technology by educators as teaching aids is preempting a systematic assessment of the educational validity of these technologies within the civil engineering curriculum. In response to this trend toward rapid technology integration, this paper describes efforts currently underway at Georgia Tech to introduce and assess the impact of technology within a civil engineering classroom environment.