Encouraging Attendence in Tutorials for Quantity Surveying Studies Through Assessment

Construction Economics and Management in Technological University of Dublin (DIT) educates and prepares students to become Quantity Surveyors (Construction Economists) in the Construction Industry. Arguably the most important subject on the course and the cornerstone of the profession is the ability of the students and graduates to carry out a technical function called ‘measurement’ or ‘take off’ from construction plans and drawings. Graduates of Construction Economics and Management may spend up to two years carrying out measurement for their employers before they progress to the more professional practices of Quantity Surveying. The importance of measurement and take off inthe profession cannot be overstated and thus the subject is included in all four years of the Construction Economics and Management Degree in The School of Real Estate and Construction Economics in DIT. The functions outlined above are delivered in the second year of the course inQuantity Surveying Studies 2A in semester one and Quantity Surveying Studies 2B in semester two. Both modules are five ECTS credits delivered in two hours of lectures and two hours of tutorials. Students do appreciate the importance of the module and interest and attendance on the module is high. However, teaching the module in second year the author observed that attendance at the two hour tutorials was significantly lower than the lecturers. The subject matter is practical in nature and really only can be learned and understood through continuous practice. The tutorials provide an environment for the students to carry out measurement in a small group under the tutors supervision and direction thus simulating the working environment. Attendance on these tutorials is paramount to the successful completion of the learning outcomes of the module. The paper investigates an assessment strategy implemented in Quantity Surveying Studies 2B to encourage attendance and participation in the tutorials. This paper outlines how part of the modules continuous assessment into the tutorials, giving formative feedback on a weekly basis to the students and at the same time increasing attendance on the tutorials and understanding of the subject matter