Design Experimentation & Knowledge Building in Architecture
Zahra Punja, 4rth Year PhD Candidate,
University of Toronto
Email: :zpunja@oise.utoronto.ca


Course Overview:
A critical analysis of research literature, methods, and findings related to design experimentation methodology in the creation of knowledge building communities. Specifically, this course will be built around learning about knowledge building theory and technologies, using various multi-media to support the inquiry. In this online course, the emphasis reading architectural literature in the area of design as well as educational literature in the area of design experimentation. It will focus on comparing the findings from the Aga Khan Award for Architecture books with those findings from the educational technology literature. The goal is to discuss the deeper ideas that emerge across disciplines while participating in design experimentation methodology in the online knowledge building course.


Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes:
Learners will be able to:
- learn about design experimentation
- learn about knowledge building theory, research and technologies
- learn about the Aga Khan Award for Architecture's philosophy on design
- discuss the deeper ideas that emerge across different disciplines (educational technology and architecture)
- compare and contrast designing virtual and concrete public spaces
The online seminars will be lead by Zahra Punja. Students will learn how to engage in knowledge building and design experimentation methodology to support their inquiry and how to use Knowledge Forum² to support their knowledge building processes.

Cost:
There is no cost for this course and all software materials will be provided. The Education Program is supported by the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. The participants should have access to a computer with an internet connection but computer experience is not necessary. In house support will be provided as requested. There will be an option to engage in research as part of this course, whereby we would work with the international knowledge building team who
would virtually visit our database and provide us with reflective feedback on how we may improve our knowledge building.

Schedule:
The seminars will be held online in the January - May 2003 the 40-hour time of knowledge building will be spread over a period of 5 months, thereby enabling registered participants the time to participate and discuss issues on average for about two hours a week. The remainder time of three hours will be divided into two meeting of an hour-and-a-half long. One at the beginning, to introduce participants to each other, virtual libraries and databases, and the simple-to-use educational software Knowledge Forum², and one at the end, to discuss the experience of knowledge building, online collaborative learning, and make suggestions for the next course. The 4-month online component enables the learner to engage in reflection, revision of one's ideas, collaboration with colleagues at a time and place convenient for the learner, and deeper understanding.


Topics and Schedule:

January 2003 - KNOWLEDGE BUILDING/KNOWLEDGE FORUM

- focus on learning knowledge building. See references below. There are two short articles and a few videodisc about knowledge building in the database for your to read and review, annotate, build on, criticize, support and provide meaningful examples from your experience.
-create a model of knowledge building and its 12 principles and upload it in Knowledge Forum for constructive criticism.

February 2003 - DESIGN EXPERIMENTATION METHODOLOGY

- focus on design experimentation literature. See references below. There are three short articles to read and review, annotate, build on, criticize, support and provide meaningful examples from your experience. Start to think of deeper ideas that apply to both design experimentation and knowledge building.
- build a model of design experimentation methodology as it applies to knowledge building.

March 2003 - ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES

- focus on the architectural design literature from the perspective of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture's sources. See references below. There are three main books to review to read and review, annotate, build on, criticize, support and provide meaningful examples from your experience. Start to think of deeper ideas that apply to both design experimentation and knowledge building and the ideas from the Aga Khan Award for Architecture books.
- build a model on how the architectural community can influence the design experimentation literature as it applies to knowledge building.

April 2003 - 'INVENTING THE FUTURE'

- focus on 'inventing the future'.
- Invent a KB course using design experimentation methodology and principles from the architectural design community.
- present your designs to your colleagues online and get their feedback.
- You can create these designs, models and plans by hand and then scan them in as a gif file and upload them or create them in Photoshop and upload them. Knowledge Forum only accepts gifs and jpegs as image files.
- your models will be published in Knowledge Forum and available for criticism by your fellow colleagues.

May 2003 - CONSTRUCTIVE ASSESSMENT

-create a view with your portfolio of notes, rise above notes, and models.
- analyze your contributions and create rise above notes and publish the rise above notes in Knowledge Society Network (database with published views from international sites participating in knowledge building)
- Using the Knowledge building principles scaffolds, show examples in the database of each of the 12 principles.
- invite criticism and give criticism to the rise above notes your colleagues online give.
- review and revise notes you have contributed.



References and Bibliography

Knowledge Building/Knowledge Forum References:

URL: http://ikit.org/ visit published databases and discuss how they represent exemplars of knowledge building.

Bereiter, C and M. Scardamalia. (1993). Surpassing Ourselves: An Inquiry into the Nature and Implications of Expertise. Open Court Publishers. Chicago: USA.

Scardamalia, M. (2002). Collective Cognitive Responsibility for the Advancement of Knowledge. In B. Smith (Ed.) Liberal Education in a Knowledge Society (pp. 67-98). Chicago: Open Court

Design Experiments References:

Brown, A. (1992). „Design Experiments: Theoretical and Methodological Challenges in creating Complex Interventions‰. Journal of the Learning
Sciences, 1992, 2(2), 141-178.

Collins, A. (1992). Toward a Design Science of Education. In E. Scanlon and T. O'Shea. New Directions in Educational Technology.

Collins, A. (1998). The Changing Infrastructure of Educational Research. Chapter 13. in Hawkins, J. & Collins, A (Eds). Design Experiments Using Technology to Restructure Schools. New York. Cambridge University Press, forthcoming.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture References:

Al-Asad, M. (1994). „Writing on the Architecture of Islam‰ in Nanji, A. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Building for Tomorrow. Academy Editions. New York: USA.

Al-Hathloul, S (1998). „Continuity in a Changing Traditions in Davidson, C. C. Legacies for the Future: Contemporary Architecture in Islamic Societies. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture. New York: USA.

Aga Khan Architectural Award (2002). Institute of Ismaili Studies. UK. Ardalan, N. (1994). „Intentions and Challenges‰ in Nanji, A. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Building for Tomorrow. Academy Editions. New York: USA.

Ardalan, N. (1980). Places of Public Gathering in Places of Public Gathering in Islam. Proceedings of Seminar Five in the series. Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Architectural Transformations in the Islamic World Held in Amman, Jordan, May 4-7, 1980.

Arkoun, M. (1998). „The Aga Khan Award as a Process of Thinking in Davidson, C. C. Legacies for the Future: Contemporary Architecture in Islamic Societies. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture. New York: USA .

Arkoun, M. (1994). „Thinking Architecture in Nanji, A. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Building for Tomorrow. Academy Editions. New York: USA.

Cansever, T. (1994). „Thoughts on Architecture in Nanji, A. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Building for Tomorrow. Academy Editions. New York: USA.

Cantacuzino, S. (1985). „Continuity and Change: Architecture and development in the Islamic World‰ in Cantacuzino, S. Architecture in Continuity: Building in the Islamic World Today. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Islamic Publications Ltd. New York, USA.

Davey, P. (1994). „Courageous Criteria‰ in Nanji, A. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Building for Tomorrow. Academy Editions. New York: USA.

Doshi, B.V. (1980). Toward an Appropriate Living Environment: Questions on Islamic Development in Places of Public Gathering in Islam. Proceedings of Seminar Five in the series. Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Architectural Transformations in the Islamic World Held in Amman, Jordan, May 4-7, 1980.

Grabar, O. (1980). Issues Raised, Issues Omitted in Places of Public Gathering in Islam. Proceedings of Seminar Five in the series. Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Architectural Transformations in the Islamic World Held in Amman, Jordan, May 4-7, 1980.

Haider, S. G. (1994). „The Tangled Web of Time: Future of Muslim Past and The Aga Khan Award for Architecture‰ in Nanji, A. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Building for Tomorrow. Academy Editions. New York: USA.

Hasan., A. (1998). „Pragmatism and the Built Environment‰ in Davidson, C. C. Legacies for the Future: Contemporary Architecture in Islamic Societies. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture. New York: USA.

Hattstein, M. & P. Delius. (2000). Islam: Art and Architecture. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Konemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, France. Ivanov, W. (1939). The Organization of the Fatimad Propaganda. Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series, 15, p20.

Khosla, R (1998). „The Conscience of Architecture‰ in Davidson, C. C.Legacies for the Future: Contemporary Architecture in Islamic Societies. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture. New York: USA.

Nanji, A. (1994). The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Building for Tomorrow. Academy Editions. New York: USA.

Nijem, R. (1980). Background to Yarmouk University in Places of Public Gathering in Islam. Proceedings of Seminar Five in the series. Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Architectural Transformations in the Islamic World Held in Amman, Jordan, May 4-7, 1980.

Serageldin, I. (1994). „The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: The Anatomy of an Approach to Promoting Architectural Excellence in Nanji, A. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Building for Tomorrow. Academy Editions. New York: USA.

Serageldin. I & Francois Vigier. (1980). Changing Roles and Procedures in the Design of Public Buildings in Places of Public Gathering in Islam. Proceedings of Seminar Five in the series. Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Architectural Transformations in the Islamic World Held in Amman, Jordan, May 4-7, 1980.

Soedjatmoko. (1994). „The Social Challenge to Modern Islamic Architecture in Nanji, A. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Building for Tomorrow. Academy Editions. New York: USA.

Soedjatmoko. (1980). Islamic Architecture: The Social and Spiritual Realities in Places of Public Gathering in Islam. Proceedings of Seminar Five in the series. Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Architectural Transformations in the Islamic World Held in Amman, Jordan, May 4-7, 1980.

Ul Haq, M. (1980). Priorities: The Social Context of Public Buildings, Islamic Architecture and the Poor People of Islam in Places of Public Gathering in Islam. Proceedings of Seminar Five in the series. Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Architectural Transformations in the Islamic World Held in Amman, Jordan, May 4-7, 1980.
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