Project Based Construction Education with Simulations in a Gaming Environment
ABSTRACT Virtual Interactive Construction Education, (VICE) Bridge, is a project based pedagogical approach delivered in a simulated environment. The long term goal of VICE is to develop a series of project oriented simulations as serious games that deliver construction education in a situated context. VICE improves understanding at a level that parallels real world experiences. The project orientation allows the introduction of subjects for the context in which it is needed. Socio demographic information is collected and matched to performance measures that include items like number of consultant hits, time to complete exercises, number of attempts, project cost and duration. Twenty six college level construction students from a methods and equipment course completed the game. Performance was measured with pre and post construction content knowledge exercises consistent with the course content, performance measures built into the game, self assessment surveys, and an exit survey. This project is unique in that it uses simulation in an educational game environment to introduce construction subject matter as needed within a project orientation. The project was shown to be both effective and engaging using evaluation techniques based on best practices for educational gaming research.