CIVL3016 Building Superstructure L3 Assignment Brief - UWS

1. CIVL3016 About Building Superstructure

1.1 An Introduction to this Subject

The aim of this subject is to provide students with an understanding of the factors that contribute to the design and construction of a building superstructure. Students will be introduced to relevant Australian Standards for common construction materials and practices. The subject content will also develop the ability of construction students to communicate professionally with other building professionals including structural engineers. Emphasis will be given to the strength, behaviour and failure of structural members, connections and frames.

1.2 What is Expected of You

Study Load: A student is expected to study an hour per credit point a week. For example a 10 credit point subject would require 10 hours of study per week. This time includes the time spent within classes during lectures, tutorials or practicals.

Note for Summer Terms: As Summer subjects deliver the same content and classes over a shorter period of time, the subjects are run in a more intensive mode. Regardless of the delivery mode, the study hours for each subject in Summer will be around 30 hours.

Attendance: Tutorial attendance is highly encouraged. Tutorial discussions and activities are crucial to the successful completion of the assessments.

CIVL3016 Approach to Learning:

Learning materials are asynchronous - i.e. there is no scheduled lecture. Students should review the specified learning module each week. Each weekly module in vUWS contains a combination of an online learning module, specified additional readings, short videos, and other activities.

An optional weekly online workshop will be offered to provide a brief summary of the weekly content, provide relevant subject updates, plus provide the ability for students to ask questions related to the subject overall. The initial part of the workshop relevant to all students will be recorded and posted after the session for those unable to attend.

The tutorials will focus on active learning, primarily containing activities to increase knowledge of structures using site examples, ability to read structural drawings, and to aid interpretation of relevant codes and standards. Attendance at tutorials is crucial to understanding the subject content, adequately discussing structural elements in the report, and to successfully completing the subject. Tutorials will not be recorded.

There will be 2 face-to-face practicals throughout the semester to give students a hands-on appreciation of the 2 most common building materials: concrete and steel. Prac content will be incorporated into the quizzes.

Online Learning Requirements of CIVL3016:

Subject materials will be made available on the subjects vUWS (E-Learning) site. You are expected to consult vUWS at least twice a week, as all subject announcements will be made via vUWS. Teaching and learning materials will be regularly updated and posted online by the teaching team.

CIVL3016 Special Requirements:

Essential Equipment: Not Applicable

Legislative Pre-Requisites: This subject involves extensive practical exercises. In order to undertake the practicals, each student must have the appropriate PPE (Personal Protection Equipment):

• Laboratory coat
• Safety glasses
• Safety shoes (steel capped)

1.3 Changes to Subject as a Result of Past Student Feedback

The University values student feedback in order to improve the quality of its educational programs. The feedback provided helps us improve teaching methods and subjects of study. The survey subjects results inform subject content and design, Subject Outlines, teaching methods, assessment processes and teaching materials.

You are welcome to provide feedback that is related to the teaching of this subject. At the end of the semester you will be given the opportunity to complete a Student Feedback on Subject questionnaire to assess the subject. If requested by your subject coordinator, you may also have the opportunity to complete a Student Feedback on Teaching (SFT) questionnaire to provide feedback for individual teaching staff.

As a result of student feedback, the following changes and improvements to this Subject have recently been made:

• Modified assessment weightings - including removal of final exam
• Modified report requirements
• More case studies added
• Structure of the practicals changed to reduce the number of sessions from 3 to 2