Abstract:

This abstract presents the use of wiki tool, included in Sakai platform (Poliformat), as a pilot project method for development a practice of Construction’s Materials Subject (ETSAV School of Architecture- Polytechnic of Valencia-Spain). The process is drawn according to web quest method, realized by Bernie Dodge, following these steps:

-Choose a starting point
-Prepare a task
-Draw the informatics tool
-Develop sketch’s evaluation
-Define the process
-Prepare a “pilot-sample-tool” for the teacher
-Refine the tool
-Try the wiki with the students in a pilot project
-Review the results

The object of the practice is to recognize the phases of materialization of a project of a building, in this case a primary school typology, from the genesis towards its materialization. In this practice, due wiki tool, the students are involved in the different stages as distinct agents of the constructive process (starting from the users and ending with promoters, architects, and builders). The practice is based on a common basic project of school, selected by the teacher (plans, sections, prospects…), and the scholars, trough the wikis, discuss and compare the appropriate and suitable materials for each area or part of the building (floors- pavements-walls-openings-roof…). The contribution of each student is both individual and with the schoolmates group.
How does this practice work? Before all the students receive an approach to a “primary school building’s typology” (they have to visit their own schools and make a complete materials analysis of them (with sketches, videos, photos, interviews to the directors and users….). In the later phases the theory and the practical results they have received from the magisterial lectures are like the tolls fan. Afterwards they have to propose and draw materials details for the school project, using the plans presented by the teacher. At this stage they start to role the the different parts of agents ‘constructive process.
They role like clients, promoters architects and builders, always sharing their work and their points of view in the wiki spaces, in a process that can benefice the teacher’s help and control, and above all a systematical development of the exercise.
The use of Web 2.0 and its multiple tools choices would be a powerful method for giving a new focus on teaching THEORICAL subjects of architecture, both for resources acquirement and for skills development. The student of architecture, as a potential professional, has to join the society’s profiles, as the users of architecture are. The involving of the scholars as promoters and clients improve also the understanding of customer’s demands of architecture. Apply the practice also requests the future professionals to manage the needs of the users. Well then the use of social web 2.0 can manage and administer the information produced by the students, and it can give constant input to materials careful study and research.

Keywords:

wiki, architecture, materials, web 2, 0, collaborative work.