Time-teaching the 4/sup th/ dimension using real-time video imaging of construction projects

In the academic world, one of our goals is to develop valued employees, while the educational challenge is how to teach our students real life lessons such as the value of time (both their own and of others) as well as the value of money. This is especially true and important in the construction industry, where a time delay in delivery and/or installation of a critical component can stop the job and cost the contractor and owner thousands of dollars. At IUPUI, as part of our Construction Technology Program we are pursuing an idea that will aid our students in learning and understanding this crucial concept of time estimating and management. We are developing an idea that gives us the advantages of "being there" without the problems of leaving the classroom-by using live video feeds from construction sites on campus, viewed in the classroom via the Internet, and discussed in conjunction with the actual construction documents and schedules. Because of the advancements in video/digital imaging and Internet technology, we the instructors, have the capability to access real time information, and the ability to manipulate the input and output to create teaching resources that are a giant leap towards true understanding of real time aspects of construction by the students.