On the pedagogical benefits of incorporating digital media in the teaching of architectural history and theory

Abstract

This paper reports on the use of physical and digital media in a history and theories of twentieth century architecture and landscape course. An electronic bulletin board (ebb) was used to generate an open forum for critical dialogue on textual, physical, and digital media. It gave teachers and students the ability to observe the course in new ways. Student interactions with the ebb transformed a culture of hidden collaboration to an open exchange of ideas and concepts. Of particular interest here is the use of 3-D digital composing tools (VRML) that provided a simple, but powerful way to visualize ideas which physical representation often could not. This approach instilled a philosophy of linking design and theory, where history and theory are seen as a body of knowledge consciously brought to bear on design practice.