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Shahin Vassigh I received the AIA award as I was finalizing a project entitled A Comprehensive Approach to Learning Structures by Using Advanced Media. The project goal was to harness the capability of state-of-the-art digital tools such as dynamic modeling, animation, and graphic media to help students in understanding the fundamental principles and practical aspects of structural technology and design. The first project was to demonstrate that advanced digital media could be utilized to develop learning environments that not only better meets the need, but improves the understanding and mastery of the subject. The second objective was to develop and implement an evaluation procedure that measured the changes in the student performance in application of structural concepts during the design process. The project outcome relied heavily on visualization techniques to convey structural concepts. The project evaluation showed promising rewarding results, which were published in the AIA 2005 report and university research. Although the project had a certain level of interactivity, by the time of its completion six years later the technology had advanced to allow much more. And there were a few nagging questions that kept me thinking. How comprehensive was this project in reality if it only looked at the structural issues of the building design? How responsible was the project if it didn’t look at the larger issues of sustainability when buildings are responsible for 40 percent of energy consumption in United States. And then, would the students use this tool if they were not, if they were not obliged to or that, it was not a part of their coursework? |
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