News Detail

The 2023 Professors’ Workshop

8/21/2023

The 2023 Professors’ Workshop was held in two parts in July; the first was a two-day synchronous online event and the second was face-to-face at ACI Headquarters in Farmington Hills, MI. After three years of covid travel restrictions, there was plenty of interest in this year’s event, so much that the workshop reached capacity and registration was closed early.

Prominent, nationally known faculty and industry representatives presented information and resources during the virtual session. At Headquarters, the participants were divided into groups and were assigned class activities such as the “mini-slump test for workability,” “calculation worksheets in the classroom,” and “full-scale detailing in the classroom.” The focus was on inexpensive, yet accessible, activities that demonstrate basic principles and yet go beyond demonstration by requiring the students to actively engage in problem solving, data analysis, and reporting during the activities.

The class was treated to a surprise visit by ACI President Tony Nanni and the ACI Executive Committee, who were meeting at the same time as the workshop.

When asked what was most beneficial about the workshop, participants stated: "lab module and the spreadsheet for concrete design module,” “models for teaching structural concrete,” “mini slump tests,” “using calculation worksheets in the classroom," and “this can be implemented in my class quickly.”

The 2024 Professors’ Workshop will be structured similarly to the 2023 workshop and will be held in late July of next year. Registration for the 2024 Professors’ Workshop will open in early 2024.