E LEARNING
There is a consensus among universities that e-Learning has become an increasingly important tool for teachers and students in architectural education. The exponential growth of e-Learning makes it important that learning should happen at a greater pace and depth. In meeting this challenge, one requires new thinking about the ways and means of acquiring knowledge and skills as well as ways and means of developing learning resources that can keep pace with the changing knowledge environment.
The AASA has attempted to respond to some of the e-Learning issues faced by educators and students at the AGM in 2017. A one-day event, “Online Learning and Teaching in Architectural Education Symposium and Workshop” was held at the School of Architectural Design and Planning at the University of Sydney on 29 September 2017. The symposium was attended by 27 academics from Australia, New Zealand, and PNG.
Five different themes were explored and presented by eight academics from Australia and New Zealand at the symposium. The themes were curated by Professor Glen Hill with a focus on addressing some of the most common issues in the e-Learning space. They were: “Geographic Freedom” (Synchronous e-Learning); “Temporal Freedom” (Asynchronous e-Learning); “A Bridge Too Far” (e-Learning in Design); “e-Measures of Success” (student assessment/information/feedback management) and “Flippin’ Classrooms for Flippin’ Students”. Participants were also invited to attend group discussions after each presentation.
Outcomes of the Symposium
`In general, participants agreed that the AASA can play a role in e-Learning. Some of the suggestions include:
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Collaboration between universities poses some extreme challenges but the AASA website could be used as a platform for content creation and sharing.
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The loss of the OLT grants as a funding source has reduced funding opportunities for research in this area. Having something like the AASA supporting research through promotion or funding would be beneficial.
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There is so much we can learn from each other. AASA would be useful in facilitating this learning.
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AASA LinkedIn group could be useful in helping to create networks to share learning.
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There needs to be a way to provide assistance to people who are doing interesting work in this area to be able to publish and disseminate it.
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The AASA website can be used as a platform for sharing cross cultural information like multi-lingual construction dictionaries and indigenous design guidelines.
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Possibility to offer research grant funds for innovative e-Learning (e.g. collaborative project between universities)
Full written report and recommendations prepared by Professor Glen Hill can be downloaded here
