Empowering the Next Generation: The Role of Schools in Fostering Architectural Skills

Amid global climate disasters and social challenges, many people find hope in the design of healthy schools. Architects can help foster that hope by teaching students to build resilient communities and adaptable buildings.

As architectural education evolves, students learn to use cutting-edge software and integrate sustainability into their projects. This will allow them to stay competitive in a rapidly changing industry.

Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is a hands-on approach that moves away from the traditional teacher at the front of the classroom and towards a more interactive learning method. This process enables students to be involved in their learning and to take on more responsibility and decision-making. It can include field exercises, internships, practicums, studio performances, and undergraduate research.

The experiential learning model consists of four phases: active experimentation, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and functional application. It encourages students to try things out for themselves and to make mistakes in a safe environment, which helps them develop valuable skills such as problem-solving and self-motivation on top of academic knowledge.

In the first phase, students engage in a practical experience, such as designing and hosting a bake sale. This provides a concrete example of an industry problem and allows them to test their ideas and understand how the real world works. They will then reflect on their experience and use their understanding of the concept to form new ideas. These new ideas will be tested through active experimentation, such as surveying customers or running another bake sale.

While traditional architectural pedagogy has encouraged intuition, reflection, and concept formation, this has primarily been hypothetical and unrelated to real-life situations. This is a gap that the introduction of structured fieldwork in architecture can fill.

Interaction and Collaboration

So, what schools offer architecture? Architectural schools in some universities should foster interaction and collaboration to promote innovation in students’ design process. These learning methods, known as pedagogy, andragogy, and pedagogy, can teach students the skills needed for professional practice. These methods should be incorporated into the curriculum structure, design studio practices, and teaching methodologies.

The architectural world is constantly changing, and schools need to adapt to those changes. One way to do so is by introducing sustainable practices from the beginning of students’ education. Schools can help future architects create energy-efficient and environmentally conscious buildings by focusing on environmental sustainability.

Similarly, schools can encourage student collaboration by promoting collaborative work in classrooms and hallways. This type of interaction is essential for fostering architectural skills, as it allows students to learn from one another and to work together to solve problems. Furthermore, it can increase students’ motivation and engagement. For example, a recent high school designed by Fanning Howey features glass partitions and uninterrupted lines of sight, allowing students to collaborate throughout the building and share their work with classmates.

Another way to foster student collaboration is by requiring them to research and conduct fieldwork. This can help them better understand their design project and improve their communication skills. For example, in a CCA class, students researched the needs of marginalized communities to find ways to provide more equitable housing. As a result, they created residential units that connect residents vertically – adults and teens living together – and horizontally – by creating shared kitchens.

Internships

Internships can help students gain practical experience in their chosen field. They can also give employers a good idea of candidates’ abilities and skills. Moreover, internships can be cost-effective for completing short-term projects and tasks. They can also save organizations on salary, benefits, and other employment-related expenses.

Interns should treat their work like a job, be punctual, act professionally, and coordinate with other employees effectively. They should also follow company policies and procedures. Additionally, they should treat their supervisors as mentors and seek guidance when needed. This will allow them to develop professional relationships and expand their network of contacts.

Similarly, architects must understand teachers’ core pedagogical practices to design meaningful educational spaces for learners. This can be achieved by incorporating activities involving collaboration and other types of learning into the curriculum structure, teaching studio practices, and pedagogy.

Architects can also make a difference in the environment by promoting sustainable construction methods. This can be done by using energy-efficient designs and utilizing renewable materials. These practices can reduce energy bills, minimize waste, and reduce carbon footprints. In addition, they can help lower maintenance costs and overall operational costs for building owners. As a result, architects can have a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole.

Mentoring

Mentorship is a valuable learning tool that helps students expand their knowledge of the field and develop practical skills. This enables them to navigate the industry better and advance their careers. It also provides a wealth of networking opportunities, giving them access to professionals in their field who can open doors to new opportunities.

Unlike coaching, which aims to impart specific competencies in the short term, advising and mentoring focus on broader educational and career goals. These include imparting general guidance, providing an example for a student to emulate, and advocating for the student in the community and workplace (NAS-NAE-IOM, 2017).

Research on student mentorship has produced a range of theories that help guide practice and improve programs. Some of the more commonly used are the SCCT model and the sources of learning framework. The latter posits that a student’s beliefs and behaviors related to their academic and career choice are socially influenced and strongly shaped by their interactions with others, particularly mentors (Byars-Winston and Rogers, 2019).

Creating a mentoring culture in architectural schools allows students to gain valuable insights from experienced professionals and enhance their understanding of the complexities of the design process. It also enables students to foster creativity and critical thinking, essential qualities in construction professionals. In addition, by promoting sustainability, students learn to design eco-friendly buildings and incorporate renewable materials in their projects.