2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Assessing the Effectiveness of Educational Interventions on Digital Skills for Middle Schoolers in Underserved Communities. The TechSpark Immokalee Case Study on Digital Upskilling in the Construction Industry

Presented at Broadening Perspectives in Construction Education

The proposed article delves into the impact of educational interventions on middle school students within an underrepresented community, with the goal of enhancing their awareness and interest in developing digital skills for future careers driven by technology. Supported by the Microsoft TechSpark program, these interventions provide students with hands-on experiences involving key technologies. The primary focus is on nurturing the digital skills necessary for utilizing and managing these technologies in future professional roles. In this initial phase of the project, the educational experiences are contextualized around future careers in the construction industry. This approach is driven by the industry's need to attract talent and modernize in order to contribute to societal economic development. The study is designed to conduct a pre- and post-intervention evaluation to measure the effectiveness of these interventions in achieving three key objectives: (1) Increasing awareness of digital skills among middle school students, (2) Enhancing understanding of anticipated job transformations in the future, and (3) Stimulating interest in potential careers within the construction industry. The research methodology involves collecting student surveys, and subsequent statistical analysis will compare the students' pre- and post-intervention responses. The study's significance lies in its potential to identify the effectiveness of these interventions, which can inform future support or enhancements.

Authors

Dr. Daniel Linares http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4516-0967 Florida Gulf Coast University [biography]

Daniel Linares is Assistant Professor at the Stock Development Department of Construction Management at Florida Gulf Coast University. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning with an emphasis in Smart Construction and the Smart Built Environment, an M.Eng. in Computer Science with an emphasis in HCI, and an M.S. in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Construction Engineering and Management, from Virginia Tech. His research work focuses on investigating ways to improve workers' productivity and developing systems to implement those improvements in challenging environments such as industrial and construction applications. His research currently focuses on technologies such as voice agents and Augmented Reality systems to provide multi-modal solutions to address activity support and knowledge delivery during scenarios with significant cognitive loads. He also is working towards technology developments in the construction industry such as smart construction, cyber-physical systems, BIM Management, and Data Analysis. His teaching experiences include IT in Design and Construction, BIM, Scheduling and Project Controls, Graphical Communication, and Virtual Design and Construction. He has been awarded the Fulbright Scholarship, the AGC Faculty Fellowship, and is currently the Microsoft Fellow for the TechSpark Immokalee in Florida.
Dr. Diana Marcela Franco Duran http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8523-9309 University of Virginia [biography]

Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Director of the Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) concentration.
Dr. Kenneth Stafford Sands II http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1307-0844 Auburn University [biography]

Kenneth S. Sands II is an Assistant Professor at Auburn University in Auburn, AL.
David Gutierrez University of Virginia [biography]

David R. Gutierrez is an Assistant Professor of Engineering at the University of Virginia. Prof. Gutierrez is committed to raising the awareness of engineering students and practitioners on how their cognition, emotions, and behavior in project organizations affect engineering outcomes and their sustainability.

Before starting his academic career, he gained experience in the design and construction of plumbing, sewage, and fire protection systems for buildings, managed two major environmental planning projects, and co-founded a company that integrated multiple building-design disciplines to streamline the design process for its clients.

Before his appointment at UVA, Prof. Gutierrez taught undergraduate and graduate courses in project management, strategy and innovation, and leadership for engineers and architects, as well as several foundational engineering courses. He also served as a university-industry liaison, co-leading and helping secure international funding for award-winning sustainability initiatives at the industry-cluster level in his native and beloved Colombia.

The classroom is Prof. Gutierrez’s special place and helping students identify their purpose is what he loves the most about his job. He is a father, a husband, and the founder of the UVA Construction student team!
Deyrel Diaz Clemson University

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