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

According to Reffat 224 the effective utilisation of technology should be
based on four components: advancing IT education in architectural
design, strong infrastructure, IT-based pedagogical focus and cognition-
based IT tools.
Reffat believes that the use of IT in education in architectural design
should be based on the idea of using IT as an integrated tool rather than
a separate stand-alone tool for the designer. He further assures that the
strength of the infrastructure is an important factor when utilising IT in
education. The pedagogy according to Reffat‟s model should be
facilitated and focused to better accommodate IT tools. In the last
component Reffat argues that the designer at the conceptual stage
prefers to use pen and paper as opposed to the CAAD system. The
designers believe that the use of pen and paper is more suited and
promotes their creativity flow. On the other hand, the new generation of
designers who have a better relationship with IT recognise the
effectiveness of using computers in terms of saving time, easing the
tasks and precision on one hand but on the other hand they also
question that current CAAD systems are not providing design feeling
when drawing and also not giving the opportunity to reflect the abilities
of the designer and his creative ideas. Therefore, Reffat argues that the
cognition-based IT tools are an important component.
In the Western countries, the use of IT in design has acceded to using
more effective technologies such as the VDS which they regard as the
fifth trend in the utilisation of technologies in design education. There is
no evidence of the use of this technology in any of the Arabic countries
or the UAE. There have been some attempts to integrate technology in
architecture education in some of the Arabic countries. These attempts
included the experience of the paperless studios at King Fahad
University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). This university is
located in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study encouraged the use
of technology such as CAD to replace the current methods of designing.
224 Reffat, R. M. (2008). op.cit. p903.
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