Abstract:

E-learning technologies such as LMSs continue to play an integral part in the higher education landscape across many South African institutions. E-learning systems have been used to extend “human capabilities to solve problems” (McLuhan, 1994; Koch, 2002) and to empower students and lecturers to develop new knowledge and skills individually or collaboratively. However, the efficacy or impact of these technologies has been challenged at CPUT’S graphic design, architecture, and industrial design departments as they have been found to be of little or no help inside the studio.

The current Learning management system (Blackboard) was adopted in 2005, and the system was gradually introduced to the design department during the year 2009 by the faculty dean of Informatics and design. Faculty members within the above-mentioned design disciplines have cited a lack of adaptability of the current e-learning systems to fit studio-based disciplines among many other reasons (Koch, 2002). The present studio-based teaching and learning approach at CPUT is based on the principle of learning by doing which originates from the 19th century Bauhaus (Carbone et. al,2001). It has also been noted that most lecturers and design educators at CPUT within the design department are reluctant to use e-learning tools as they heavily rely on the traditional face-to-face teaching methods and tools (Pektas & Dermikan, 2011).

This research investigated the usage of Learning management systems (LMSs) like Blackboard at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in studio-based environments. The aim of this research was to find out why the faculty was reluctant to utilise the LMSs inside studio-based spaces. Using qualitative content analysis to analyse collected data; students and lecturer interviews reviewed that current LMSs and learning spaces lack the ideal requirements of studio-based disciplines. Key considerations were found to be a need for a re-design of the current e-learning system to cater for studio-based disciplines; otherwise, the present e-learning system; the studio environment, as it is, will not respond to the needs of future technologies that enhance teaching and learning inside studio-based spaces.

Keywords:

E-­learning, learning management systems, blackboard, virtual design studio, virtual environments, hidden curriculum.