CE3CLP1: Construction Live Project

Module code: CE3CLP1

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Summer / Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Timothy Lees, email: t.j.lees@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have taken part in the Construction Live Fieldwork the preceding summer. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 9 July 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Through a live construction project, this module provides students will the opportunity to experience the challenge of managing and building a real construction project. The module is a two-week intensive project in which students work, supported by a team of academics and staff industry, to plan, schedule, cost, manage the health and safety, and finally build a scaled version of an iconic build or building. The first week is an on-campus project-planning week. The second week is an on-site project build week. The experience provides an exciting, dynamic project to link knowledge gained elsewhere in the curriculum with onsite experience. 

The module aims to provide students with an opportunity to:  

• Have a ‘hands on’ authentic experience of the construction process and plan a real construction project.  
• Create a point of reference for reflection that draws on a wide body of technical, practical and academic knowledge. 
• Share in a unique activity that will enrich their student experience.  
• Undertake teamwork which breaks the traditional silos created by academic years. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Effectively plan, monitor and control a small-scale construction project in a team environment.
2. Demonstrate they can maintain accurate, appropriate documentation for a construction project including managing a health and safety system.
3. Produce a completed building within the parameters set out by the client at the start of the project.
4. Prioritise tasks, and allocate limited resources, against a project goal.
5. Evaluate the project team’s performance and approach to problem solving.
6. Identify and synthesis opportunities for improvement and make corresponding recommendations.

Module content

The construction live fieldwork course runs for ten days. Five days spent on campus planning the project (the ‘project planning week) and five days on site, on a full-time residential basis building the project (the project build week). Over the two weeks student teams, supervised by academics and professionals, undertake a real construction project to produce a scaled version of a well know build or building for example a 9m tall steel and concrete replica of the Barcelona Communication Tower. 

In the project-planning week students are introduced to the complexity generated by the scale and scope of even a modest construction build. The range of roles needed to successfully execute the build mirror those on a commercial build. Students are challenged with the question “How will this work on site?” with the knowledge that on the Monday morning of the build week they will find out! 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students will experience a ‘live project’ environment with a problem-based learning pedagogy. They will be given a goal and have the freedom to create an approach to meet this goal.  

Throughout students will be supported closely by academic and industry staff. 

Please note that the fieldwork course, which forms a significant proportion of the in person delivery, takes place in the summer preceding Semester 1.  It is not possible to study this module without fully taking part in this fieldwork course.

Study hours

At least 80 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

During both the project planning and construction week students will have access to guidance by both academic and industry staff to inform their decision-making and project output. 

Whilst writing up the individual reflective element of the portfolio, students will be able to book a 20 minute feedback session to discuss their drafts prior to submission. 

Reassessment

Additional costs