FIU Ready to Pivot to Online When Needed
Series of educational videos helps professor flip the classroom and changes students style of learning
Dr. David Garber has a vision for how technology can enhance learning and had already started putting lectures and other work online for asynchronous learning (the videos and lectures students can watch on their own time) when he received a grant from the PCI Foundation. So he was in a unique position of being prepared when the call came to pivot to remote learning at Florida International University (FIU). He launched his PCI Studio in January 2020, so 2020/2021 was the first full year for the Precast Studio.
For his new course “Precast Concrete Design” (CGN 4930/5930) he created 576 pages of types notes and 817 slides with the help several different people from industry and academia. He also developed weekly assignments, two projects, and a unique final exam structure was used to assess student learning. The course was offered for the first time as a cross-listed (both undergraduate and graduate students) course in Fall 2020. Students completed a fully precast building design and precast bridge design for two class projects.
He modified and refined the notes of “Prestressed Concrete Design” (CES 4711/5715) to be better suited for a hybrid course setting and created 46 videos were created for this course and uploaded to YouTube® with a total of over 23 hours of content. These videos have more than 50,000 views. Additionally, six industry speakers came in to speak on a variety of precast topics.
The PCI Big Beam Competition was used as the final project in CES 4711/5715. The student teams (consisting of both undergraduate and graduate students) presented their designs to a panel of industry judges during a three-hour virtual design competition who selected two groups to have their beams built at Coreslab Structures (Miami) Inc. The two groups successfully completed the Big Beam testing in June 2021 and sent in their report and video to PCI for judging.
Unique Program Aspects
Dr. Garber developed a new, unique course “Precast Concrete Design” under this studio, which is available to both undergraduate and graduate students.
Typically, “Prestressed Concrete Design” is a graduate-level course. “Prestressed Concrete Design” under this studio at FIU is offered to both undergraduate and graduate students each year.
The hybrid learning environment developed for “Prestressed Concrete Design” as part of this studio is another unique component. The format gives more time for student interaction with industry through class presentations and the final design competition.
The large international audience that is being exposed to prestressed concrete design through the PI’s YouTube® channel. Dr. Garber receives many comments and emails from his audience thanking him for these explanatory videos.
The final exam structure used in his courses is unique and has received praise from instructional designers at FIU.
The large number of people from industry involved in class presentations, review and advising on class notes and assessments, and the design competition.
The student participation in the PCI Big Beam competition. Only a limited number of schools are able to participate in the competition each year.
The studio has a website (https://concrete.fiu.edu/teaching/pci-design-studio/) and other activities by Dr. Garber. This website has been maintained during the last year and updated with new activities and materials.
Faculty
David Garber, PhD, PE
Associate Professor
Industry Partners
CHA Consulting, Inc.
Mike Culmo
Coreslab Structures (Miami), Inc.:
Luis Compres
Matthew E. Huslig
Corven Engineering (a Hardesty & Hanover company)
John Corven
Durastress
Glen Switzer
Eriksson Software
Jeremy Castello
Roy Eriksson
FDOT State Materials Office
Thomas Frank
FHWA
Ben Graybeal
Finfrock
Lloyd Kennedy
Angela Kruth
FPCA
Diep Tu
Gate Precast Company
Brian Griffis
Rob Pavel
Michael Trosset
Mo Wright
JVI
Chuck Magnesio
Heidi Ziemann
Kimley-Horn
Noel Ramirez
Pfeil Design
Chris Pfeil
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
David Anians
Ralls Newman, LLC
Mary Lou Ralls Newman
Sarens
Carter El-Fityani
Standard Concrete
Ryan Cartwright
Sumiden Wire
Jon Cornelius
Steve Koch
Student Statistics
16 graduate students and 4 undergraduate students (Precast Concrete Design, Fall 2020)
13 graduate students and 26 undergraduate students (Prestressed Concrete Design, Spring 2021)
8,450 subscribers following his YouTube Channel
The PCI Big Beam Competition was used as the final project in CES 4711/5715. The student teams (consisting of both undergraduate and graduate students) presented their designs to a panel of industry judges during a three-hour virtual design competition. Two student teams with undergraduate and graduate students constructed and tested their beams and submitted reports and videos to PCI.