framework for the implementation of a virtual design studio model in ...

the study, the purpose of the study, the research question, and a brief
overview of the methodology to be conducted. The chapter also
summarises the cycle of architecture process and the importance of
team-working among architects as well as the promotion of creative
ideas. The chapter defines the significance of the study as a result of
the above factors.
Chapter Two: this chapter establishes the historical background of UAE
as a country as well as the architecture development through time and
the different images of architecture due to the infrastructure
development. The chapter also summarises the architecture education
practice in the Arab world in general, and specifically in the UAE. It also
introduces architecture education in the UAE and details the challenges
facing architecture schools in terms of technology integration and skills
development.
Chapter Three: this chapter presents the needs analysis of this study.
The theoretical issues in terms of the UAE‟s Vision for 2021 and the
emphasis on skilled national manpower are also presented. The chapter
refers to the UAE‟s management style in order to understand the issues
concerned with technology integration. This chapter also pinpoints the
use of IT in architecture education making specific references to the
UAE architecture education.
Chapter Four: this chapter discusses the teaching and learning
methods in architecture education in the UAE highlighting the
emergence of the new methods in teaching and learning according to
the literature and the UAE higher education role to adapt these
methods. The chapter also summarises the design education in the
UAE and highlight the current design curriculum.
Chapter Five: this chapter presents the methodological framework and
the research design. The chapter further discusses the principal model,
the treatment of data collection methods utilised in the study, the
reliability and validity issues, and the research question and the
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