Enhancing Student Engagement and Skills in Building Structures Course through AI/ML Integration

10 pages•Published: July 23, 2025

Busra Yucel, Salman Azhar and Amna Salman

Abstract

Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have emerged as crucial elements in teaching pedagogy, offering significant improvements in learning, enhancing student skills, promoting collaborative education, and increasing accessibility in both teaching and research environments. This study assessed the effectiveness of an ML image-classification model for evaluating concrete workability in a Building Structures course. Sixty-two (62) students developed and tested the ML model to predict the adequacy of the water/cement ratio using slump test results from various concrete mixtures, including low, adequate, and high-water content. A paired t-test with a 95% confidence interval was conducted to compare pre-and post-assignment survey results. The findings indicate that integrating AI/ML tools into construction education increases students' familiarity with these technologies, positively influencing their perceptions of AI/ML's role in formal construction management education and improving their ability to apply AI/ML in coursework. Additionally, this experience fosters critical thinking about AI/ML applications and enables students to propose model improvements. This study contributes to construction education by demonstrating that AI/ML-based assignments enhance students' understanding of emerging technologies and provide educators with evidence-based strategies to improve construction management programs for future professionals.

Keyphrases: artificial intelligence, construction education, image classification, machine learning, slump test

In: Wesley Collins, Anthony J. Perrenoud and John Posillico (editors). Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 61st Annual International Conference, vol 6, pages 332-341.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/kRss
	https://doi.org/10.29007/npw3

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{ASC2025:Enhancing_Student_Engagement_Skills,
  author    = {Busra Yucel and Salman Azhar and Amna Salman},
  title     = {Enhancing Student Engagement and Skills in Building Structures Course through AI/ML Integration},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of Associated Schools of Construction 61st Annual International Conference},
  editor    = {Wesley Collins and Anthony J. Perrenoud and John Posillico},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Built Environment},
  volume    = {6},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2632-881X},
  url       = {/publications/paper/kRss},
  doi       = {10.29007/npw3},
  pages     = {332-341},
  year      = {2025}}

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