Case study as a teaching tool integrating design, energy, and economic analysis

Abstract

Architecture educators and students are challenging traditional methods of teaching technical subjects related to buildings, seeking new teaching tools and methods. The case method, developed by business and management educators, holds promises an approach that can improve the teaching of architectural technology. Through the use of prepared case studies, the student makes decisions at critical points of the building process, using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. Following individual work on the problem or issues presented in the case, the teacher helps the students in a classroom discussion, consider the consequences of their decisions to the analytical steps and processes they used. This gives the students an opportunity to verbalize their thinking about a shared problem and compare that experience with that of their colleagues. This thesis describes the use of the case method use in architectural education to integrate the teaching of design and technical subjects. It documents the promise as experience in preparing testing, and evaluating a case. Design, energy consumption, and economics were the related topics of the case, given as an assignment to a class of architecture graduate students. Their to response the case was documented and evaluated as the basis for modifications. This study will guide others interested in using the case method. The documentation and discussion of a teaching tool specifically developed for architectural education will incite further discussion and study of the methods of architectural education.