This is the e-learning week. E-learning is a new concept to me and I need to find out more about various methods, techniques and approaches to e-learning such as on-line quizzes on Blackboard, Respondus, Softchalk etc. I also found it strange to have asynchronous communication with my students as I sit in my office waiting for any emails or smses.

 

My e-learning task was simple, perhaps that was why I did not get any calls. I gave a summary list of all the materials available for landscape design from concrete to metals to timber. I then gave them a landscape plan of a residential project that my colleague has done in the form of a Microsoft Powerpoint slide. I annotated the various surfaces on the plan using text-boxes with just the heading eg. PAVING, DECKING. I told them to fill in the material, dimensions, colour and finish in each text box. I then asked them to draw up a materials schedule based on the plan. I provided an example using another project which helped them a lot.

Today was a lecture on Site Furniture. I gave lots of examples in the form of photographs and typical construction details. I reused many of the slides of the previous lecturer. I think there were too many examples without an organising principle. This is something which I need to look into if I were to teach this again next year.

Today I covered basic pavement profiles and techniques in construction detailing. In the past, students have shown a lack of understanding of contruction detailing and details have been poorly drawn. Thus, this is a problem area which needs to be addressed.

 

My father teaches Design and Technology at secondary school level and since young, I learnt the proper techniques of contruction drawings and I enjoy doing them. Of course with the advent of CAD, these are much easier to draw. However, for first year students, we emphasise hand drawn details in orer for them to acquire basic knowledge in construction and drafting techniques.

 

Lecture: I used diagrams to explain the different profiles for pavements. These profiles are the basic concepts that they have to understand and from there, they can apply to many types of pavements. I then gave examples using real details from my past projects and explain how these details relate back to basic concepts/profiles. I also used pictures from past projects to relate the details back to reality.

 

Active Learning: I then gave them an In Class Exercise (ICE) for them to draw a detail given the following requirements: 500 x 300 x 50mm THK granite paving on a rigid paving profile (ie. 30mm mortar on reinforced concrete slab on fine crushed rock on subgrade). This exercise helps to reinforce the concepts in their minds by drawing an actual detail (visual + kinaesthetic areas triggered). They would also learn about the use of proper lineweights and hatching standards for different materials.

 

The best thing about my studio class is that there are 40 students and two co-lecturers. Therefore, there is plenty of time for 1 on 1 contact with each student. This helps tremendously as we are able to coach each student according to their level of multiple intelligence, skills, talent and motivation. With this contruction detailing exercise, I was able to quickly correct mistakes, improve graphic technics and provide encouragement as I go around the class.

 

Feedback: I learnt from my father how to write comments on each student’s drawing as a form of positive feedback. I write on how they can improve on their drawing techniques, their lettering and dimensions, scale and layout of detail. I also gave Good, Very Good and Excellent for the better students as a form of encouragement.

 

Reflections: One student wrote at the end of the year for the lecturer’s appraisal that he/she appreciates the comments I wrote about her detail which told him/her exactly which areas need improving.

I also noticed that there was a marked improvement in their details when I gave them a second exercise later that semester. This showed that I was doing something right. The students were also able to come up with sensible details for their design project, unlike previuos students.

Today is my first lecture and lesson. I was nervous before I stepped in. After saying a prayer, I felt better and met up with the students. It is a class of 40 post secondary school teenage students. They are in their first year so they are well-behaved and follow instructions. My colleague introduced me to them and they welcomed me with an applause. I introduced myself and the projects that I have worked in from my previous employment. By doing this I hope to break the ice and strike a preliminary rapport with the class.

I then began my very first lecture, that is on materials and finishes for paving. It is a very simple lecture which serves as an introduction to landscape materials, landscape elements, materials plan and schedule which forms the syllabus for the semester. I used lots of pictures of paving materials and the projects that I have been involved in. There was minimal text. I relied on verbal explanation in communicating knowledge.

Later in the afternoon, there was a ‘landscape walk’ whereby me and my colleague brought the students around campus to look at various landscape materials and finishes.