The use of student response systems for teaching construction materials

Resumen

University architecture studies are organized in different areas of knowledge: urban planning and land planning, architectural projects, architectural composition, architectural graphic expression and architectural constructions. Within the latter are the subjects of construction materials, which are aimed at providing the student with the competence for the selection of construction materials and products in the stages of drafting the architectural project and construction management.To achieve these objectives, in the Degree in Fundamentals of Architecture taught at the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (Spain), a teaching methodology has been chosen consisting of guiding the student along a cognitive path towards the knowledge of construction materials through the use of three teacher strategies. Thus, on the one hand, aspects such as historical background, characteristics, manufacturing process, commercial types, applications, regulations and environmental impact are addressed through exhibition classes. On the other hand, through laboratory tests various materials are analyzed following the corresponding technical specifications. The third approach corresponds to direct contact with the materials by visiting the materials library so that the student can interact with the construction materials and products, identifying their shapes, dimensions, etc. and perceiving their color, brightness, roughness, etc.