Exceptional Early Career Award: Jessica Cabral

Jessica Cabral, assistant clinical professor of construction management. (Photo provided) Download Photo

In recognition of outstanding undergraduate teaching, two professors recently received the 2016 Exceptional Early Career Award. This Q&A focuses on award recipient Jessica Cabral, assistant clinical professor of construction management.

Years at Purdue: 4.

Teaching interests: Residential construction, concrete construction and construction materials and methods.

Goals for teaching: I have one goal for teaching and that is to ensure I am providing the best education I can to the students. I have yet to teach the same course the exact same way from one semester to the next, and I do not believe I ever will. I do this by changing how the topics are delivered in class or spending the summer working with construction companies to stay current on the industry. Even if it is a minor change, I still want to continuously improve the instruction I am giving to my students.

What Cabral enjoys most about teaching: Interacting with the students and learning from the students is what I enjoy most about teaching. I believe the most important task faculty are responsible for is to help students become positive contributing members of society. Education goes beyond facts and figures. When we are able to connect with students, we expand our network of industry contacts. Many of my past students have sent me pictures and projects they have been working on, which I have incorporated into my courses. Watching past students succeed in their careers encourages me to continue providing the best education experience I can. 

On the importance of student motivation: I believe motivation is the foundation for education. I cannot force a student to learn; it needs to be driven by the student. Teachers can influence a student's motivation by showing passion and enthusiasm. Students are motivated by the enthusiasm of the teacher, and this excitement can spread to the students. Effective teachers should be approachable, while still maintaining discipline within the classroom. Structured environments promote an atmosphere of mutual respect. Rapport can be built with the students, which allows the teacher to understand the different learning styles of their students. When a teacher is willing to adapt to a student's needs, the student believes the teacher sincerely cares about their learning.

On the student benefits from incorporating new material into the curriculum: I believe a precursor to motivation is establishing relevance. Students are interested in the material, which will help them in their future careers. The construction industry is always changing, and therefore the material and the delivery of said material needs to change as well in order to stay current with industry.

What her students say: Professor Cabral is very knowledgeable in the course material and is an excellent teacher of the material. I felt not only more informed and aware of the material, but also encouraged in my ability to utilize the course material in the future. The course was very well structured, and it maintained a logical flow of material presentation. Professor Cabral was very prompt in communication, making her very accessible for any concerns or questions. Her quality of instruction should be the model for all other Building Construction Management instructors. This class was truly on a higher tier of quality than other courses I have taken. … Overall, she is one of the best instructors I've had in college. She is very professional and extremely knowledgeable on the subject and is very good at conveying that knowledge to us in ways we can relate to.

Writer: Aspen Deno, denoa@purdue.edu