Blended pedagogical model for effective teaching of building measurement and estimating

Building Measurement and Estimating is a core unit in the Construction Management degree curriculum in many universities around the world. There is consistent evidence from many parts of the world that students enrolled in the unit are faced with numerous learning challenges. The key challenges repeatedly reported are insufficient knowledge of construction technology, inadequate resources to support learning, and style of teaching. The present study developed and tested a blended delivery model for the subject. Student feedback received after implementation of the new pedagogical approach reveals that it has helped address the learning challenges that have been traditionally encountered and improved student learning outcomes. The key improvements that led to positive outcomes are: using real-world projects to teach in context, providing interactive 3 D and video resources on construction technology and processes in advance in a flipped learning style before teaching measurement, significant incorporation of computerised measurement and estimating, providing video-recorded tutorials and worked examples to students, and switching to online exams using an advanced platform. The findings are laden with practical examples that other lecturers could use to address similar learning challenges, not only in Building Measurement and Estimating units, but similar quantity surveying/cost engineering and other construction management units.