A real-life situation approach to teaching structural engineering: a pedagogy model

This paper presents an implementation of real-life condition approach to teach structural engineering modules in Abertay University. The real life condition approach provides students an opportunity to apply their theoretical structural design knowledge into to designs of existing structures or structures under construction. The current structural engineering modules at Abertay allow students to gain knowledge of design of various structural members. However, the knowledge is limited to theoretical based designs and it is lack of any practical based design approach. This may lead to student to struggle in designing the real structures when they join engineering consultancies after graduation. Therefore, the author is introducing an approach in which student will learn the designing of actual structures in conjunction with engineering consultancies. This will lead students to develop confidence in design of real structures and also increase the opportunities of employability.