Trial applications of multimedia instructional aids in a building construction curriculum

Recent developments in multimedia authoring tools, digital image photography, and CD ROM technology have the potential to make a broad impact on effective teaching methods. Many educators are beginning to experiment with advanced instructional aids. This paper describes an effort in progress to employ multimedia instructional aids as a vertical integrating mechanism in core classes of a building construction curriculum. A development concept is presented for a department-level initiation to advance the use of technology in the classrooms in a building construction curriculum. Phase One of this effort includes the identification of necessary resources for and trial applications of multimedia instructional aids in the classroom environment. In Phase Two, the development concept is refined and a strategy is defined for continued development of multimedia course material. The result of this effort is a core multimedia shell which provides an organizational structure for material properties, construction techniques, and project management features of a generic building construction material or trade. The organizational structure of the shell module is presented as an outline criteria for a multimedia support system for a building construction curriculum.