Learning-by-Doing using 3D printers: Digital fabrication studio experience in architectural education

Abstract

With transition to Industry 4.0, the usage area of Three-Dimensional (3D) printing technology has shown a rapid increase recently. Apart from scientific fields such as engineering, architecture and medicine, it has expanded its scope in many other fields. The aim of the study is to provide pedagogical guidance to educators and students by presenting a three-dimensional printing education as a case study in the digital design studio course as well as to make the students experience the Learning-by-Doing processes. This case study focuses on the importance and integration of 3D printing technology into undergraduate architecture education and seeks to strategically integrate this technology into the curriculum. The results of the study showed positive student responses to the inclusion of 3D printing and the use of 3D modeling techniques, which increased students' interest and participation in their projects and improved their understanding and visualization of design concepts. According to the results, 76% of the students, who took the course, were observed to make significant progress in the use of 3D modeling tools, 75% of them found solutions to the problems related to making 3D models printable and 69% of them made progress in converting their designed models into 3D.