Construction Management Professors Weigh in on Educating the Next Generation
Date Posted: June 11, 2020
Posted In: Ideas, Workforce,
From Procore Jobsite: In response to the ongoing digital evolution on the modern jobsite, tech proficiency is fundamental for students pursuing a degree in construction. Skills that formerly differentiated job candidates are now baseline requirements to kickstart a career. That’s why educational institutions are working to get technology in the hands of the next generation and introducing students to a diverse and highly valued set of experiences.
To help bridge the gap from the classroom to the jobsite, Procore and Bluebeam have committed to an investment in academia, providing access to their respective technology and training resources to equip universities across the country with the tools they need to educate and inspire the future workforce.
Procore and Bluebeam recently joined forces to launch the Construction Educator Podcast. The series highlights the stories, initiatives and research that industry educators from around the country bring to the forefront of learning environments and the future of the industry.
Here are the key takeaways from the series:
Industry Experience Fuels Teaching Careers
When asked what inspires industry professionals to teach, a number of educators reflected on their experience working in construction prior to starting a career in education. The decision to teach was often made after realizing that one of the best parts of their jobs was educating and training others on the jobsite.
A deep appreciation for building and construction was also recognized as a source of inspiration for those who remembered entering the field at a young age. One professor spoke of his experience working as a carpenter when he was a teenager living in Chicago, IL. Although the work was challenging at times, he said he would always marvel at the fact that he had built something that did not exist before. The magnitude of that accomplishment stayed with him throughout his work on projects spanning the globe and in the classroom.
“With each one of these projects, I get the same sense of magic that I built that; I contributed to that,” said Greg Starzyk, Construction Law expert and Professor in the Department of Construction Management at California Polytechnic State University (“Cal Poly”).
Professor Starzyk and others explained how they apply the same enthusiasm that they had on the jobsite in the classroom. A passion for educating the future workforce continues to drive their careers and also acts as a recruiting tool to build interest in construction as a career.
Diverse Learning Techniques Drive Innovation and Creativity
Students are eager to learn and equip themselves with the tools needed to succeed in the industry. With that in mind, educational institutions are finding creative ways to introduce learning objectives with access to training, tools, and instruction resources designed to get students up to speed on the latest technology.