B. PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION

This is a no-prerequisite first course in construction materials and one of the first regular-program courses in the Drafting Technology program at Honolulu Community College. Although it is required for HCC Drafting Technology students, it is open to anyone who might be interested. No part of the course is directed specifically at drafting technology students. Reading, research and construction projects, and collaboration with the class are major components of the course. Although the course bears the "DRAFT" alpha, it is not a drawing course.

The course is a three-credit course that on campus would require five hours of in-class work and maybe about three hours outside of class on study and other activities each week over a 16-week semester. Students taking the course online should plan on spending up to the same eight hours a week on the course. Competencies will be listed for each class.

The course follows the CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) format that arranges the material into 16 divisions -- concrete, masonry, metals, wood and plastics, furnishings, mechanical systems, etc. This works quite well because the course is about 16 weeks long. We will spend much more time on some divisions than others, but it means on average about one week per topic.

C. COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. To acquaint students with the types, properties, uses, and variety of materials important in construction.
2. To acquaint students with common building methods and practices involving those materials.
3. To acquaint students with building and general construction products and their associated quality, durability, warrantees, and availability.
4. To familiarize students with the local (and national) built environment and to promote a greater appreciation of it.
5. To provide students with hands-on, research, and collaborative activities to vary and deepen the study of construction materials.

D. COURSE TOPICS IN THE CSI FORMAT

NOTE: The topics have been rearranged to correlate with work on a required construction project (explained "in class" next time). This is why the divisions are out of order.

• CONCRETE (Division 3)
  
• SITE WORK (Division 2)
  
• MASONRY (Division 4)
  
• WOOD (Division 6, Part I)
  
• METALS (Division 5)
  
• GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (Division 1)
  
• PLASTICS (Division 6, Part II)
  
• SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION (Division 13)
• SPECIALTIES (Division 10)
  
• DOORS, WINDOWS, AND GLASS (Division 8)
  
• FURNISHINGS (Division 12)
  
• EQUIPMENT (Division 11)
  
• THERMAL AND MOISTURE PROTECTION (Division 7)
  
• CONVEYING SYSTEMS (Division 14)
  
• FINISHES (Division 9)
  
• MECHANICAL SYSTEMS (Division 15)
  
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS (Division 16)

E. TEXTBOOK AND REQUIRED SUPPLIES

1. Optional textbook: Construction Materials and Processes, latest edition, by Donald Watson.
2. Supplies (for the building construction project):

F. A NOTE ABOUT YOU AND THIS COURSE

Students learn best in quite different ways. One of the advantages of the online format of the course is that it allows students to approach the course in ways that suit their personal styles and preferences. In classrooms, instructors are inclined to teach either as they themselves were taught, or as they think "the average student" prefers. Online, all of the instructor-presented class material is laid out at once, and students can do with it whatever they prefer in order to learn in as personal and unique a fashion as possible.

To understand how you might learn best and how you might approach the course, it's suggested that you complete a learning style inventory, use the information given to figure and interpret your score, and plan your learning strategy accordingly. Another couple of online tools of this sort are the Keirsey Temperament Questionnaire and the Keirsey Character Questionnaire.

This course by design specifically accommodates different learning styles by involving a variety of components, including text, a wealth of photos and drawings, video clips, self-check quizzes, reference lists, online discussion, and a construction project. Since you are probably used to learning more or less as prescribed or required by a classroom teacher and are not used to designing your own learning strategy, it might take a little time to do that and to settle into a comfortable routine. I think you'll find that as you figure out on your own (and with the help of the online questionnaires mentioned) how to learn the material, everything will fall into place.

Online learning, you will find, is quite different than classroom learning. It requires different attitudes, responsibilities, and communication skills. To help you prepare for this different learning environment (for most students), you might want to take a FREE online preparatory course (a short online course about taking online courses -- sound a little strange?). Click the address here:

http://www.esocrates.com/cgi-bin/socrates.cgi?learn001

G. CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR

E-Mail (best way)	johndoe@hcc.hawaii.edu (school) johndoe@aol.com (weekends, holidays)
Page Buttons	There is an e-mail button in a banner at the top of each class page (activated at the very end of this class) for sending questions and comments.
Office Phone	(808) 000-0000, (leave a message after six rings; please speak loud enough and clearly)
In Person	Office Hrs: 9:30-10:30 MWF, 12:30-1:30 TT Office Loc: Building 2, Room 613 (see the campus map)
In Chat	Weekly times will be arranged. Click on the "chat" button in the banner at any class page.
Program Web Pages	http://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/instruct/div6/drafting
Instructor Web Pages	http://home.honolulu.hawaii.edu/~johndoe http://members.aol.com/johndoe

H. CONTACT CLASSMATES

In a banner at the top of each class page (after the information has been compiled) there will be a button entitled "classmates" that you can click for the names, e-mail addresses, one-line biographies, and (optional) web page addresses of everyone in the class. If you want your picture and/or additional biographical information to be available to other students, you can include that on your personal home page.

At the top of each class page (activated at the very end of this class) there will also be a button entitled "collaborate" that will enable you to communicate with the entire class and with scheduled outside experts and guests. Part of your grade will be based on your using this regularly (see "collaboration" under the heading "Course Activities" below).

I. COURSE ACTIVITIES

1. READING

Most of the required reading will be reading of material posted on the web (like this) for each class. Reading in the textbook is recommended for every topic studied. The material I present will seldom duplicate what's presented in the textbook, so the textbook should be used as a reinforcement or complement to in-class material. The suggested textbook readings are listed in the schedule that follows. It is best if you do the reading in the textbook before the dates shown.

INTERESTING FACT: In almost every class there is one or more "interesting fact" (short, red text, etc. something like this) that is included for fun and interest only. You will never be tested on "interesting facts," and you can simply bypass them if you want. They are often surprising, weird, or obscure facts, but they are all true.

Video clips are incorporated into online material that you will need to read. To view the clips, you will need to download a free video player. The download is very simple, however. Go to Vivo Player by clicking the Vivo image below. Enter (1) your computer operating system (probably Windows 95, but check the drop-down list for other possibilities), (2) your browser type (Internet Explorer or Netscape), and (3) your first name, last name, and e-mail address. Scroll down that page and click "submit." At the next screen that comes up, answer "yes." If you see a message indicating that you will not be able to hear any audio because you do not have an audio device in your computer, that's OK -- the video clips to view will not have audio anyway. So if that message comes up, answer "no." That's all there is to it.

CLICK THIS IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD THE VIDEO PLAYER REQUIRED TO VIEW THE VIDEO CLIPS

The video clips are best viewed on Netscape. On Internet Explorer they will likely stop playing before the end (i.e., they will be cut short at the end). For more information, click here.

2. DAILY SELF-CHECK QUIZZES

Ungraded quizzes for testing yourself on class explanations and other activities will be available at all classes except those following a construction project activity and after exam classes. Answers and explanations will be shown on a linked page, so you can check your answers immediately after taking the quizzes. Exactly how you use the quizzes, as well as simply choosing whether or not to use them at all, will be up to you. For them to have the greatest effect, however, you should take them just like in-class quizzes, then check your answers. The quizzes should give you a good idea about how well you are learning the material -- and the explanations of the answers will often contain new material that will help you learn. The self-check quizzes are almost entirely multiple choice, but about half of each major exam will be short essay (discuss, compare, explain, etc.). The multiple choice items will simply enable you to check your answers immediately. For possible subjects of essay questions, you should look more at the class objectives (the "objectives" button in the banner at the top of each page).

3. ON-CAMPUS INTERIM EXAMS

There will be two interim exams -- one on Saturday, February 20 at 8:00am, the other on Saturday, April 10 at 8:00am. They will be given in Room 615 in Building 2. For the building location on campus, you can check the campus map. Students will be admitted to the exams up to 8:30am. Bring a picture ID (nobody admitted without proper identification). More about the exams closer to the test dates.

If you are an off-island or out-of-state student, you may take any or all of the exams at a school in your area provided that (1) a school instructor, administrator, counselor, or regularly-employed testing lab official administers the exam, (2) the participation of that person is arranged by you, (3) the name, phone number, position, etc. of that person is e-mailed to me no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled exam date(s), and (4) any such exam is taken one day prior to the exam date(s) shown on the schedule that follows if the testing place is not open on Saturdays. Any project that is due must be mailed or delivered to me by the due date (post marked by that date in the case of mailing).

4. CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

There is a construction project that will run approximately two-thirds of the semester. We'll devote on average every fourth class period to working on it. Each day (whenever it's scheduled), I'll give you instructions for completing a part of the project. It will be a small model of a building section similar to these:

Model by Kesha Lee (left) features unique door and window designs and a realistic foundation. Model by Nathan Jucutan (middle) has a real concrete foundation. Model by Derrick Lee (right) has mostly Koa wood parts and a number of added features -- right down to a mouse in the crawl space below the floor.

These models are 9" x 12" and stand about 18" high. The bases are plywood, most of the foundations are "Styrofoam," the framing is out of "Foamcor" board, and the flooring, siding, door, and roof sheathing are out of illustration board.

The purposes of the project are to (1) learn basic building construction and how building components go together, (2) involve you in work with a few of the materials studied, (3) get you into a store where the materials are sold, (4) provide experiences in working precisely, to scale, and according to specific directions on a three-dimensional project (which will aid you in later drafting courses), and (5) provide a change of pace from reading and quiet hands-off participation. Along with simple instructions on how to construct the model, there will be information and photos on actual building construction. The project will be due on the morning of the second interim exam as shown in the schedule that follows -- and as you'll be reminded prior to the due date.

5. KITCHEN DESIGN EXERCISE

There will be one kitchen design project assigned in the course. You will need to print a web page that shows the plan, design a kitchen for it, and mail or deliver the completed plan to me.

6. ELECTRICAL PLAN

At the second test on Saturday, April 10th, you'll receive a large floor plan to save until later in the course when we cover electrical systems (Division 16). You'll need to complete the plan with electrical wiring symbols, an electrical schedule, and a load computation. Since you will not draft the plan itself, no special drafting equipment will be required. The completed plan will be due on the morning of the final exam.

7. RESEARCH PROJECT

There will be a required research project. Each student will research a different topic. More about this in a week or two.

8. E-MAIL AND COLLABORATION

Part of your grade will be based on your collaborating with the class online at least once each week. There will be a "collaboration" button in the banner at the top of each class page. Use it like you would to send an e-mail message to an individual. I will follow your discussions, but I may not actively participate. As much as possible, I want it to be your forum. I would prefer not to influence its direction or make my presence too obvious. I will, however, follow up on discussion topics as needed or desired at the beginning of the next class sessions. A feature of this discussion forum is that outside experts and guests will be able to participate from time to time. So do not be surprised if you receive a response or other message from someone who is an expert or otherwise has first hand knowledge of a particular topic. I'll try to keep you informed about who the outsiders are.

9. FINAL EXAM

The final exam will be given on Saturday, May 8, at 8:30am in Room 615, Building 2 on the main campus. The format will be similar to that of the interim tests -- about half multiple choice, about half short essay. The exam will be comprehensive, but a slight emphasis will be on material covered since the last interim exam. Your grade will be posted on the web along with your final grade in the course. More information about the final exam closer to the exam date.

The self-check quizzes are simply provided for practice, but advantage is taken of adding a little material or presenting it a little differently on the page where answers are given. The online format makes it very convenient for discussion at almost every correct and incorrect answer. Students do not read every explanation, but it is there for students who might wonder why a certain answer is correct or who need a little additional discussion of the topic. In a classroom there would simply not be the time to address almost every right and wrong answer.

The interim and final exams are proctored. At the present time there is simply no respectable alternative. Unproctored exams may be legitimate activities and be legitimately graded, but they are not "tests" in the truest sense of the term. It has also been learned that proctored exams work very well (even for distant students), and they are readily accepted by students -- especially by the better students who appreciate grades truly reflective of their achievement and whose grades are not "corrupted" by inflated grades received by those who take advantage of no supervision.

K. NAVIGATIONAL AIDS

These are the navigational aids you'll need to use to maneuver your way around class. This is what they are and what they do. You can click on the name of the item to see what it looks like.

ANSWERS	Find answers to self-check quiz items.
BACK ONE PAGE	Go back one page.
CHAT	Online chat with other students. Instructor present at scheduled hours.
CLASSMATES	List of student names, e-mail addresses, home page links, etc.
COLLABORATE	Post questions and comments, respond to others, etc. for the entire class to view.
COMMENTS	Send comments to instructor (similar to "Instructor").
CONTINUE	Continue to the next page (NOT the end of the class).
HOME PAGE	Return to the DRAFT 26 home page.
HOTLINKS	Quick links to all classes.
INSTRUCTOR MAIL	Send a question, comment, etc. to the instructor.
INSTRUCTOR PAGE	Go to the instructor's web page.
NEXT CLASS	Go on to the next class.
OBJECTIVES	View the objectives (or "competencies") for the class.
REFERENCES	Go to a list of references.
SCHEDULE	Go to the daily schedule for the course at Class 1.
STATUS	A record of grade points earned to date.
VIDEO	View a video clip related to the text.

L. GETTING TO CLASS

I've set up a start page for you to go to every time you come to class. It's http://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/accesspg.htm To go to class, go directly to that page where there's a quick link to every class, click the class you want to attend, and, voila, you'll immediately be taken there. Try it now -- go to http://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/accesspg.htm, click "Cl. 1," and you'll be right back here.

Remember that you'll be able to go only to classes that met during the last couple of weeks and not classes either earlier than that, or later than the current date. The principal purpose of this is to keep the class roughly together so that everyone will be approximately together in newsgroup and chat discussions. So there is something of a two-week "window of opportunity" for attending each class. You might want to bookmark the class access page so you do not have to remember the address and type it in each time you go to a class.

If you lose track of the class numbers, you can always go back to the schedule that shows dates and topics as well as class numbers. That's here in the syllabus, and there's a link button entitled "schedule" under the banner at the top of each class page to make that super-easy.

M. TODAY'S ACTIVITY

I need some profile information from you. The past couple of semesters I've had students e-mail that to me. But I've decided to have you post it to HyperNews (via the "collaboration" button that I mentioned a while ago) to get you into using that. Also, it'll serve as something of an introduction of yourself to the class. This use of HyperNews will count as your required participation in HyperNews this week. If there is something else you'd like to ask or comment on in HyperNews this week, you can do that too. Remember that the once-a-week participation in collaboration is only a minimum.

Before you go to HyperNews (collaboration), however, you need to print or hand copy the questions that follow. When you go to HyperNews, this screen will disappear, so unless you have a photographic memory, you'll need to copy the questions here to refer to after you quit this screen. Anyway, these are the questions:

1. What is your name?
2. What is your major?
3. What is your career objective?
4. How many credits of coursework (not including this semester) do you have beyond high school?
5. How many credits of coursework are you taking this semester?
6. How many hours a week (if any) do you work at paid employment?
7. What is the highest numbered English course you have taken and passed?
8. Have you taken a course on the internet before this one?
9. What is the most important reason why you are taking this course?
10. At this point in time, what is your preference -- web courses, classroom courses, or no preference?
11. What is the address of your personal home page?
12. Is there anything else you'd like to comment on? If so, what?

N. BEFORE THE NEXT CLASS

1. There is no required reading, but pages 50-76 are suggested. The discussion next time will make a little more sense if you have some background in the topics I address.

2. Start rounding up materials for the construction project. You will need items 1, 3, 4, and 5 (or some other sharp thin knife to cut the 1" thick Styrofoam™) by the first construction project class (check the schedule).

3. There will be a self-check quiz next time. If right now you took the quiz on Class 1 (this syllabus) that you're finishing now, how do you think you'd do? Do you remember the attendance policy? What are the requirements for collaborating online?

O. RELATED NATIONAL WEB SITES

Check these out for information related to a number of topics in the course and for links to other sites. Sites related to specific topics of the course are shown on class pages.

Architectural Resources and Communications (ARC)

Links to major product manufacturers, service providers, schools of architecture, etc.

Builder Online

Electronic cousin of Builder magazine.

Building Industry Exchange (BIX)

Links to construction-related companies, schools, etc.

Building Online.

Links to more than 104,000 building-related sites. Information, free samples, and more.

Building Product Library

AEC InfoCenter. Search for products and information in any of several ways, including the CSI format in which topics are arranged in this course.

First Source Online

Bills itself as "the most comprehensive product resource on the internet." 950 products, 3000 images.

Home Center News

News and analysis for the home improvement building material industry.

National Association of Home Builders

National Association of Women in Construction

National Building Museum

Permanent and temporary exhibitions, design and construction artifacts, tours of landmark buildings, publications, etc. Created by an act of Congress.

This Old House Magazine

Encyclopedia of projects, tools, and products, FAQ's, news, and links.

Sweets Group Online

Comprehensive construction resource guide. Easy-to-use table of contents.

Related Hawaii Web Sites:

Build-Net®

Hawaii Design, Repair and Construction Network. Links to Hawaii materials and construction companies.