Implementing Active Learning Strategies in Teaching Building Systems, Safety, and Services: A Case Study in Civil Engineering Education

Authors

  • Husain Rangwala Marwadi University, Department of Civil Engineering, Marwadi University, Rajkot
  • Jay Kalaria Department of Civil Engineering, Marwadi University, Rajkot
  • Amit Thoriya Department of Civil Engineering, Marwadi University, Rajkot

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.16920/jeet/2026/v39is2/26007

Keywords:

Active Learning; Project-Based Learning; Building Systems Safety and Services; SDG.

Abstract

Active learning has proven to be a successful strategy to enhance engagement and applied competence amongst learners of engineering. Traditional lecture-based courses included in civil engineering education tend to lack the linkage between theoretical and field-based applications. This paper provides a case study of the implementation of project-based and experiential learning environments and the course Building Systems, Safety, and Services (BSSS) in order to increase student engagement and applied learning. Activities that are incorporated in the methodology include plumbing and electrical layout drafting, poster and PowerPoint presentation, and fire-safety demonstration that is facilitated by instructors and professional expert sessions. The descriptive statistics and qualitative reflections were used to analyze the student feedback of 28 participants. The findings have shown that there is a great deal of improvement in visualization, design, and safety awareness with more than 90 percent of students stating that they have increased confidence and practical learning outcomes. The results are also consistent with other literature that identifies the usefulness of interactive pedagogies in engineering education. The study concludes that active-learning frameworks not only fill the gap between theory and practice but also resonate with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4 and SDG 11), which make civil engineers employable and prepare them to meet industry challenges.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2026-02-18

How to Cite

Rangwala, H., Kalaria, J., & Thoriya, A. (2026). Implementing Active Learning Strategies in Teaching Building Systems, Safety, and Services: A Case Study in Civil Engineering Education. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 39(Special Issue 2), 54–61. https://doi.org/10.16920/jeet/2026/v39is2/26007

Issue

Volume 39, Special Issue 2, January 2026

Section

Articles
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

References

Ahn, Y , Kwak, Y , & Suk, S J 2016 Contractors’ transformation strategies for adopting building information modeling. Journal of Management in Engineering, 32(1), 5015005.

Álvarez-Marín, A., & Velazquez-Iturbide, J. A. (2022). Augmented reality and engineering education: A systematic review. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies, 14(6), 817–831.

Babu, B. V. S., Babu, K. S., & Bharadwaja, D. (2024). Effectual Use and Implementation of Micro-Lesson Plan Activities Through apping of Bloom’s Ta onomy and ICT Technologies. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 100–108.

Bhogayata, A. C., Jadeja, R. B., Parakhiya, D., Vora, T. P., Ved, A. D., & Rachchh, N. V. (2025). Harnessing the Technology-Enhanced Learning for Cognitive Progress: A Meta-Analysis of Learners’ and Teachers’ eflections on Working with Virtual Reality Tools in Engineering Education. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 156–166.

Deslauriers, L., McCarty, L. S., Miller, K., Callaghan, K., & Kestin, G. (2019). Measuring actual learning versus feeling of learning in response to being actively engaged in the classroom. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(39), 19251–19257.

Ebekozien, A., Aigbavboa, C. O., Aigbedion, M., Ogbaini, I. F., & Aginah, I. L. (2023). Integrated project delivery in the Nigerian construction sector: an unexplored approach from the stakeholders’ perspective Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(4), 1519–1535.

Freeman, S., Eddy, S. L., McDonough, M., Smith, M. K., Okoroafor, N., Jordt, H., & Wenderoth, M. P. (2014). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(23), 8410–8415.

Jadhav, T., & Deshpande, R. (2025). Pedagogy of Teaching MEP to Quantity Surveying Students. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 136–143.

Kalyani, R., Nirmala, S. R., Gireesha, H. M., Shet, R., Iyer, N., Chikkamath, S., Kulkarni, A., & Budihal, S. V. (2024). Problem Based Learning–An Effective way of teaching DSP course. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 76–81.

Katona, J., & Gyonyoru, K. I. K. (2025). Integrating AI-based adaptive learning into the flipped classroom model to enhance engagement and learning outcomes. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 8, 100392.

Meti, V. K. V, Soori, C., Talli, A., Giriyapur, A. C., Revankar, P., & IG, S. (2024). A Project-Based Learning Approach to Measurement Systems Laboratory for Undergraduate Students. Journal of Transformations, 36–45. Engineering Education

National Building Code of India 2016. (n.d.). 1.

Novaes, A. L. (2025). Enhancing sustainability education in higher education through simulation-based learning: integrating sustainable development goals. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Otieno, E., Chipangio, S., Modi, R., & Rangwala, H. (2025). Optimization of an integrated hybrid commercial building with building information modelling. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 10(4), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-025-01986-z

Patil, M. S., & Kamerikar, U. A. (2020). Learning by doing through project based active learning technique. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 125–129.

Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223-231.

Ragadhita, R., Nandiyanto, A. B. D., Riandi, R., Wahyuni, D., Prajayanti, A. O., & Fiandini, M. (2025). Experiment Design and Laboratory Activities on Heat Transfer to Teaching Black Principle Topic in Science to Vocational Student for Supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Journal Transformations of Engineering Education, 1–12.

Tohe, H. A., Munawaroh, H. S. H., Riandi, R., Nandiyanto, A. B. D., Prajayanti, A. O., & Fiandini, M. (2025). Enhancing ocational Students’ Understanding of Macromolecules Properties: A Practical Approach through Laboratory Activities to Support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 30–38.

Zhang, J., Xie, H., & Li, H. (2019). Improvement of students problem-solving skills through project execution planning in civil engineering and construction management education. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(7), 1437–1454.