Construction
continued at Walter Henry school this year as ISD
poured two second-story classroom floors. Additional
work included laying brick walkways and walls. The
worksite processes allowed students to learn Bolivian,
as well as offer their own, construction techniques.
Learning opportunities arose especially while constructing
the classroom floors, so the methods are important
to note. First, the floor was formed by placing beams
and analyzing their support capabilities, fitting
plastiform, and cutting/tying rebar. The next step
entailed mixing, transporting, and shoveling concrete.
Finally, in order to pour the floor, workers passed
buckets of concrete to the second story while standing
on scaffolding.
Four
design groups formed within the class to analyze
problematic sites in Santa Cruz: one school septic
system, and three storm drainage projects.
Two
pairs of ISD alumni returned as mentors: Heidi Steudle
and Susie Jarosch (2003); Matt Van Slembrouck and
Corrie Craft (2005). Corrie conducted graduate research
in sustainable concrete. Susie was sponsored by
her employer, R.W. Beck.
Giancarlo,
a civil engineering student from Cochabamba, “sacrificed”
two weeks of his schooling to participate in the
design and construction projects and to aid ISD’s
translation.
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