Learning to Know and Think: Computing for Architecture Course

Abstract

Computational technologies for solving design problems become increasingly important in architecturalpractice. In responding, architectural education has encouraged the use of this tool and method in the curricula. As the technology and environment are ever changing, the curricula should be evaluated and updated to adapt and to teach method and skills necessary to the students. Over the last four years, Architecture Program of ITB has inserted new computational courses into undergraduate levels. These courses are the mix of a skill focused computational workshop that is compulsory for the second-year students and introduction of computational design as an elective course that can be enrolled both by third and fourth year students. This paper delivers a report of our methods and findings from our continuingstudy of the courses including analysis of student outcomes, student evaluation of the course structures, assignments, and feedback as well as computational abilities after completion of the courses. The aim of the study is to have a grounded validation of computational courses in architecture curricula and to improve courses goal based on the evaluation. The result of our study reveals challenging issue to teach computational thinking undergraduate level rather than only providing them a set of computer skills for production and presentation techniques of the design.

Keywords

• computational thinking
• computational course
• architectural design