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Article
Educational prediction markets: Construction project management case study
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
  • Ivan Damnjanovic, Texas A&M University
  • Vahid Faghihi, Texas A&M University
  • Chyllis Scott, Texas A&M University
  • Erin McTigue, Texas A&M University
  • Kenneth Reinschmidt
Document Type
Article
Abstract

Effective teaching of engineering concepts relies both on carefully designed lesson plans that meet specific learning outcomes and on classroom activities that students find engaging. Without student engagement, even the best designed plans will fail to meet their outcomes. In other words, students need to be actively involved in the learning process. The objective of this paper is to present a case study of applying a novel active learning method, specifically educational prediction markets (EPM), for teaching project management classes at a major research university. This method was investigated for its effectiveness in engaging students and promoting learning of probabilistic reasoning without explicit teaching. Student surveys, following the EPM implementation, revealed both advantages and disadvantages. The two key benefits reported by the students were: (1) providing better connections between the materials taught in the class and realities of construction projects; and (2) increasing overall interest and enthusiasm in learning about project risk management as a result of the gamelike nature of the process. The primary disadvantage was disengagement by a subset of students because of perceptions that fellow students were manipulating the market results. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.

DOI
10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000127
Publication Date
4-1-2013
Citation Information
Ivan Damnjanovic, Vahid Faghihi, Chyllis Scott, Erin McTigue, et al.. "Educational prediction markets: Construction project management case study" Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice Vol. 139 Iss. 2 (2013) p. 134 - 138 ISSN: 10523928
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/vahid-faghihi/7/