Active learning and real-world problems to improve student learning and local highway education and practice
The New York State Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), hosted by the Cornell Local Roads Program (CLRP), is part of a national network that provides training, technical assistance and information to municipal agencies responsible for maintaining and managing local highways and bridges. A federal, state and local partnership, LTAP works closely with county and town highway associations to offer workshops and resources across New York state.
Program director David Orr has found that simple, well-developed demonstrations — like using a potato chip can to illustrate culvert installation — often convey complex technical concepts more effectively than slides or videos. With support from the Engaged Opportunity Grant, Orr will involve students from his CEE 3410: Geotechnical Engineering course, along with student workers, to help improve, document and provide feedback on existing and new demonstrations and exercises. Working with the county and town highway associations, students in CEE 3410 will review existing geotechnical engineering projects and provide feedback utilizing the instruction in the class.
The goals are to enhance active learning in the classroom, engage students with real-world problems and provide practical tools and solutions for highway departments statewide. These materials and lessons learned, shaped by input from local highway superintendents, will be shared through CLRP workshops and with other LTAP centers across the nation.
Active learning and real-world problems to improve student learning and local highway education and practice
The New York State Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), hosted by the Cornell Local Roads Program (CLRP), is part of a national network that provides training, technical assistance and information to municipal agencies responsible for maintaining and managing local highways and bridges. A federal, state and local partnership, LTAP works closely with county and town highway associations to offer workshops and resources across New York state.
Program director David Orr has found that simple, well-developed demonstrations — like using a potato chip can to illustrate culvert installation — often convey complex technical concepts more effectively than slides or videos. With support from the Engaged Opportunity Grant, Orr will involve students from his CEE 3410: Geotechnical Engineering course, along with student workers, to help improve, document and provide feedback on existing and new demonstrations and exercises. Working with the county and town highway associations, students in CEE 3410 will review existing geotechnical engineering projects and provide feedback utilizing the instruction in the class.
The goals are to enhance active learning in the classroom, engage students with real-world problems and provide practical tools and solutions for highway departments statewide. These materials and lessons learned, shaped by input from local highway superintendents, will be shared through CLRP workshops and with other LTAP centers across the nation.
- David Orr, Biological and Environmental Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Nick Kuzmik, Biological and Environmental Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Community Partners: New York State County Highway Superintendents Association, NYS Association of Town Superintendents of Highways
Providing seed support for a wide range of community-engaged learning projects