Between Design and Digital: Bridging the Gaps in Architectural Education

Abstract

This article brings accepted educational research into the discussion of digital design's relationship to architecture and architectural education. Digital technologies, such as computational design and digital fabrication, have transformed the design and construction of contemporary architecture. However, a lack of educational theory among instructors and widespread belief in pedagogical myths, such as the 'digital native,' have made it difficult for architecture schools to establish teaching methods for effectively integrating technology. In response to this situation, the authors present two proposals that attempt to address this issue at both the tactical (instructional methods) and strategic (curricular) levels. Respectively, the first proposal describes the teaching of soft skills for digital design and the second uses Bloom's Taxonomy as a method of developing learning objectives for digital design instruction. These proposals represent two examples of how educators can bridge the gaps that commonly exist between design teaching and technology teaching.