Abstract:

The OIKODOMOS platform consists of two environments: Workspaces and Case Repository . The first one supports project-based learning activities, such as the development of a project –architectural and/or urban- in a collaborative manner. The second one is a digital repository of housing case studies, which is also constructed collaboratively by learners.
OIKODOMOS Workspaces
It is a web-based learning environment which facilitates the collaboration among distant learners who carry joint learning activities in different settings, physical and virtual: design studios, seminars and courses.
A “Learning Workspace” is the space where the shared learning activities are designed and executed . It is setup by teachers from different institutions who agree on developing a common theme during a period of time. A Workspace is composed of “Learning Activities” which in turned are made up of a “Tasks” which can be single or grouped in sequences. Sequenced tasks can be constrained to a single Learning Activity or span across different ones. This learning structure is flexible and neutral enough as to support different kinds of activities – from the collaborative developments of a design to course assignments – which can be carried out in multiple ways – by students working individually or in groups, at a school working independently or in collaboration with others.
OIKODOMOS Case Repository
This repository is a further development of a previous one created in a previous project, HOUSING@21.EU (www.housing21eu.net) carried out under the auspices of the Erasmus Intensive Program from 2003 to 2006. The existing repository contained over 300 documented cases, created by students from five European Schools during the activities of the program. As first step, the quality of content was thoroughly reviewed: irrelevant information was removed and English texts were edited and corrected. Then, following a usability test of the existing repository and a technical evaluation of platform, a full-fledged repository was designed and programmed and the upgraded content ported to it.
The new OIKODOMOS repository consists of a central database with linked Workspaces. This Workspace enables a group or learners to work with the content of the repository, adding new information to it. Before the new content is added to the central repository, a validation process takes place. Tutors need to validate the new content: appropriateness of the case, value of the content, and correctness of the text . This way, we can guarantee that the content of the repository will have the necessary level of quality to make it a valuable learning resource.
The basic data structure of the repository is the “case study”, which is composed of descriptions, images, bibliographic references, comments, web links, tags and keywords. “Tags” are words that users attach to a case (folksonomies) while “Keywords” are categories built-in the system to describe a case (ontologies). A “collection” is a group of cases studies sharing some characteristics, and they can be “private” or “public”. A “summary page” is a format-free document created with the data retrieved from the repository.

Keywords:

Virtual campus, Blended-learning, Constructivism, Virtual Design Studio, Elearning, Architecture.