Electronic project simulation in construction management education: eLearning as a means to improve simulation

Managing construction projects effectively is one of the most important engineering skills in construction management. Limitations of traditional and PBL approaches can be overcome by developing and applying an electronic project simulator based on an appropriate theoretical learning framework and construction management specific requirements.

This paper shows the development of an electronic project simulator written in the Java programming language and its results regarding student feedback in an undergraduate engineering program.

The electronic project simulator has been found to increase student motivation, initiative and learning effectiveness. However, distorted simulation of real life by students of different project parties joining forces and a more shallow learning process by requesting answers from class mates, have been identified as disadvantages. Embedding the electronic simulator in an eLearning framework may be considered an effective solution.