The road to creating, evaluating and changing a BIM learning environment

Abstract

Architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) undergraduate programs continue to grapple with the task of developing meaningful learning environments that allow students to explore building information technologies in undergraduate course work. There are significantly differing approaches by universities and departments in the United States on how best to introduce and reinforce building information modeling (BIM) concepts and tools. This paper will review one university's continuing efforts to address the requests of industry advisory council members to produce high functioning AEC graduates with BIM knowledge and skill sets. By reflecting on the "Lessons Learned" of the iterative process of creating, evaluating and modifying an undergraduate elective, "Introduction to Revit®", over seven semesters, this paper will document and reflect on the experiential knowledge of faculty, administrators and students. Additionally it will capture the process and progress made to develop and improve BIM learning environments. © 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.