In architecture courses, the bridging of design learning and construction is a constant challenge for educators. When designing the construction details of a building, students lack the field/site experience of the construction process and an understanding of the problems and solutions associated with erecting a building. The degree of buildability of the student design proposal is limited by classroom teaching environments as it is difficult for students to develop design cognition between the assembly process and the design of constructional elements for assembly. The paper describes an experiment in practical learning to develop this design cognition in a building expedition. Student design cognition was evaluated with team-based and individual decisions in overcoming problems in assembly, created by the design of the structural connections used.