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Through <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> “free time” <strong>the</strong> students were required to socialise,<br />

relax, and above all reflect upon <strong>the</strong>ir projects. Donald Schön‟s 272<br />

<strong>in</strong>novative <strong>the</strong>ory surround<strong>in</strong>g notions such as <strong>the</strong> “learn<strong>in</strong>g society”,<br />

“double-loop learn<strong>in</strong>g” and ”reflection-<strong>in</strong>-action” has come to typify<br />

<strong>the</strong>oretical academic thought. The students were encouraged to become<br />

reflective practitioners and embrace <strong>the</strong> relationship <strong>of</strong> reflection-<strong>in</strong>-<br />

action to pr<strong>of</strong>essional activity.<br />

Notions <strong>of</strong> reflection-<strong>in</strong>-action and reflection-on-action are <strong>in</strong>tegral to<br />

Donald Schön‟s philosophy <strong>in</strong> “The Reflective Practitioner” 273 . The<br />

<strong>for</strong>mer, at times described as “th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g on your feet”, <strong>in</strong>volves us<strong>in</strong>g<br />

experiences, connect<strong>in</strong>g with feel<strong>in</strong>gs, and attend<strong>in</strong>g to our <strong>the</strong>ories <strong>in</strong><br />

use. This <strong>in</strong>volves build<strong>in</strong>g renewed understand<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>m action <strong>in</strong> a<br />

particular situation which is unfold<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

The practitioner must experience someth<strong>in</strong>g alien <strong>in</strong> an uncerta<strong>in</strong> or<br />

unique situation to reflect on <strong>the</strong> phenomenon. Draw<strong>in</strong>g on previous<br />

<strong>in</strong>nate understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> practitioner‟s behaviour, <strong>the</strong> practitioner<br />

<strong>the</strong>n experiments with <strong>the</strong>se new-found behaviours which ultimately<br />

serve to generate a fresh take on <strong>the</strong> phenomenon and <strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e <strong>in</strong>itiate<br />

change with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> current situation.<br />

In accordance with <strong>the</strong> delivery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> project <strong>the</strong> students were required<br />

to employ reflective analysis throughout <strong>the</strong> project, <strong>the</strong> alien<br />

environment act<strong>in</strong>g as a stimulus <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>design</strong> ideas. The idea was to<br />

encourage <strong>the</strong> students to get an understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> “self”; to clarify any<br />

previous preconceptions; to be able to grasp <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ory and make sense<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> data. This stripp<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> students encouraged <strong>the</strong>m to be<br />

<strong>in</strong>ductive. Their understand<strong>in</strong>g was gradually built through <strong>the</strong> emersion<br />

and reflection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> project stimulated by a comb<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> participatory<br />

observation, lectures, and <strong>studio</strong>-based sessions. The aim was <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

272 Schön, D. (1985). The Design Studio: An Exploration <strong>of</strong> its traditions and potentials. London: RIBA<br />

Publication <strong>for</strong> RIBA Build<strong>in</strong>g Industry Trust.<br />

273 ibid. p81.<br />

110

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