Engineering - Other (59) Architecture students typically learn about structural design elements in a traditional lecture setting without linkages to the design studio. As a result, architecture students are unable to integrate their technical knowledge into their building designs effectively. This project is taking advantage of recent developments in multimedia computer technology and is creating a set of computer-aided, web-based learning modules to teach fundamental concepts in building structures to architecture students. Each module is devoted to a long-span building system (either steel-framed systems, truss systems, arches, or domes) and consists of two parts: an introduction and system selection submodule, and an analysis, design, and visualization submodule. The modules being developed through this project are improving the technical education of architecture students by enhancing their ability to integrate structural systems into their designs and by increasing their understanding of technical content. Workshops and online courses are being developed to disseminate the results of the project and to enable other institutions to adopt the educational materials.
