Potential Hindrances to the Utilization of e-Learning System in Architectural Courses

Abstract

The core of Architectural education is the design studio where-face to face-social interaction, negotiations and communications happen between tutors and students. These communications are essential for development of the design concept and initiation of student's creativity. Laboratory and theoretical courses are considered as backup or supportive to the design studio's education. At the University of Dammam, an ambitious e-learning system plan was initiated and the system was gradually installed during the year 2012. The faculty have been encouraged to use it and integrate it with their traditional teaching methodologies. However, it is reported that the system is of little use by the faculty of college of Architecture. So, a survey was launched in early 2013 and it targeted the faculty at the department of Architecture. This is to find out why the faculty are reluctant to utilize the system and the hindrances to possible utilization. The survey's results showed that the faculty appreciated the qualities of the e-learning system. However, they felt that the e-learning system is still under development and it has not been tailored to respond to the requirements of architectural education. They said that it can be used, to a certain extent, for theoretical courses but it would not be beneficial for design courses. This paper argues that potential shortages of the system should be dealt with during the implementation of the e-learning system at the college of Architecture, otherwise, the present e-learning system, as it is, will not respond to the architectural education's needs and would have negative impact on architectural education.