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A mixed methods study of architectural education during the initial COVID-19 lockdown: student experiences in design studio and technology courses

Ramy Bakir (Architectural Engineering and Environmental Design Department, Arab Academy for Science Technology and Maritime Transport–Cairo Campus, Cairo, Egypt)
Sara Alsaadani (Architectural Engineering and Environmental Design Department, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport-Smart Village Campus, Giza, Egypt)

Open House International

ISSN: 0168-2601

Article publication date: 1 February 2022

Issue publication date: 29 April 2022

530

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to understand and assess architecture students' experiences of online teaching during the initial lockdown caused by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic between March–June 2020. The exploratory study was conducted across two architectural engineering departments of two separate campuses of the same not-for-profit, non-governmental higher education institution in Cairo, Egypt, focusing on two course streams within their architectural curriculum; design-studio-based courses (DC) and technology courses (TC).

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods approach was used, where a questionnaire-based survey was developed to gather qualitative and quantitative data based on perceptions of a sample of 245 students. The survey quantitatively queried five dimensions related to students' learning experiences and qualitatively sought to evaluate both the positive experiences and challenges the students experienced.

Findings

Findings outline that students' experiences were neutral but veered toward the positive end of the scale. Three factors appear to have affected students' learning experiences; students' reliance on educational technologies, the stage of architectural education students were enrolled in when they went into lockdown, and finally, quality and timing of feedback received. While challenges were faced during transition to the digital realm, these may have compelled students to take ownership of the students' own knowledge construction.

Originality/value

Results provide a nuanced understanding of how students dealt with this critical transformation in architectural pedagogy at a unique moment in history, highlighting merits that could have an everlasting impact on design education during and after times of pandemic.

Keywords

Citation

Bakir, R. and Alsaadani, S. (2022), "A mixed methods study of architectural education during the initial COVID-19 lockdown: student experiences in design studio and technology courses", Open House International, Vol. 47 No. 2, pp. 338-360. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-09-2021-0206

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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