Re-Classification of Roofs in Multi Storey Design Education and Application: A Pedagogic Approach

Abstract

Pedagogy comprises of all the actions one takes to incite learning in others. They are the instructional techniques and strategies that would allow learning to take place. It is the interactional communication between a learner and a teacher that is influenced by the social, cultural and to an extent the political views of both the teacher (educator) and the child or (the learner) (Lynn,2017). The Ghanaian construction industry has over the years aimed at improving the knowledge base of students and workers alike. Towards this a system of teaching and learning has been adopted and has been maintained as the traditional method. However, in as much as teaching has evolved all around the world, our system of teaching, training and development has not gone through so drastic a change as to meet international standards of education. There is the need to inculcate a paradigm shift in the system of teaching. In the construction of Multi-storey buildings, there are varying types of roofs that are used and each of them are associated with their very own functions, structural compositions and their interaction with the storey building itself. Roofs and their construction has evolved over time with the change in technology and the need for more functionality and the complexity in designs however their classification for teaching purposes has not evolved to suit these changes. The purpose of this paper is to propose an ideal method of teaching roofing types and classification that can be adopted for use within the universal, tertiary teaching and learning setting. In doing this we re-classify roofs of multi-storey structures based on their varying functions, construction components, technology and complexity of design to improve the learning experience of students within the construction industry. They are Aesthetic roofs, Utility roofs, Service roofs, Drainage functional roofs and Structure stabilization roofs. In view of this, case studies of various internationally acknowledged multi-storey structures were analyzed to obtain the varying proposed classes of roofs. As early on stated, there is the need for a paradigm shift in the educational system and for that to hold, there is the need for educators to improve the pedagogic approach.