Addressing Challenges of Surveying Practical Fieldwork Training During COVID-19 Restrictions

Education in Surveying combines learning theoretical concepts and fieldwork training. A major challenge during the COVID-19 restrictions is the ban of fieldwork. This presentation discusses the approaches developed in the Surveying program at Curtin University to enable Surveying students gain field...

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Main Author: El-Mowafy, Ahmed
Format: Conference Paper
Published: 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/84710
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author El-Mowafy, Ahmed
author_facet El-Mowafy, Ahmed
author_sort El-Mowafy, Ahmed
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Education in Surveying combines learning theoretical concepts and fieldwork training. A major challenge during the COVID-19 restrictions is the ban of fieldwork. This presentation discusses the approaches developed in the Surveying program at Curtin University to enable Surveying students gain fieldwork experience close to what they get from actual fieldwork to continue with their program. Blended learning methods were at the core. Video technology was used for development of practical skills by providing authentic-like recordings for demonstration of equipment usage and practical procedures. Complete fieldwork exercises were set using data collected from previous years. Interactive Simulation-based virtual e-learning tools were developed that are accessible via learning management systems, such as Blackboard, to mimic the implementation of fieldwork tasks. In a virtual environment setting, these tools were designed to allow students to engage and experiment through practicing data entry, fieldwork calculations and checking, and reflect on their practice. The feedback is immediate as it is applied within each task itself. Moreover, in live scheduled online sessions, students communicate with each other and with tutors to receive their guidance and feedback so as to successfully complete the exercises and present results in a format suitable for potential clients. The response from students about the e-learning tools, design of activities and assessments is that they found them useful in developing their understanding and ability to carry out fieldwork, leading to a high student satisfaction of 90%. The developed tools will be utilised for a more engaging education after the COVID-19 period.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-847102021-07-27T05:22:55Z Addressing Challenges of Surveying Practical Fieldwork Training During COVID-19 Restrictions El-Mowafy, Ahmed 0909 - Geomatic Engineering Education in Surveying combines learning theoretical concepts and fieldwork training. A major challenge during the COVID-19 restrictions is the ban of fieldwork. This presentation discusses the approaches developed in the Surveying program at Curtin University to enable Surveying students gain fieldwork experience close to what they get from actual fieldwork to continue with their program. Blended learning methods were at the core. Video technology was used for development of practical skills by providing authentic-like recordings for demonstration of equipment usage and practical procedures. Complete fieldwork exercises were set using data collected from previous years. Interactive Simulation-based virtual e-learning tools were developed that are accessible via learning management systems, such as Blackboard, to mimic the implementation of fieldwork tasks. In a virtual environment setting, these tools were designed to allow students to engage and experiment through practicing data entry, fieldwork calculations and checking, and reflect on their practice. The feedback is immediate as it is applied within each task itself. Moreover, in live scheduled online sessions, students communicate with each other and with tutors to receive their guidance and feedback so as to successfully complete the exercises and present results in a format suitable for potential clients. The response from students about the e-learning tools, design of activities and assessments is that they found them useful in developing their understanding and ability to carry out fieldwork, leading to a high student satisfaction of 90%. The developed tools will be utilised for a more engaging education after the COVID-19 period. 2021 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/84710 fulltext
spellingShingle 0909 - Geomatic Engineering
El-Mowafy, Ahmed
Addressing Challenges of Surveying Practical Fieldwork Training During COVID-19 Restrictions
title Addressing Challenges of Surveying Practical Fieldwork Training During COVID-19 Restrictions
title_full Addressing Challenges of Surveying Practical Fieldwork Training During COVID-19 Restrictions
title_fullStr Addressing Challenges of Surveying Practical Fieldwork Training During COVID-19 Restrictions
title_full_unstemmed Addressing Challenges of Surveying Practical Fieldwork Training During COVID-19 Restrictions
title_short Addressing Challenges of Surveying Practical Fieldwork Training During COVID-19 Restrictions
title_sort addressing challenges of surveying practical fieldwork training during covid-19 restrictions
topic 0909 - Geomatic Engineering
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/84710