Teaching methodologies based on touch interfaces for the teaching of drawing and architectural projects

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to propose a new way of teaching freehand drawing based on touch devices, tablet-pc’s, applied to the teaching of drawing and architecture projects. We have tested this new methodology in case studies. Based on this experience, we have obtained results that demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our proposal, which has helped increase students’ academic performance. When making hybrid drawings, we explore new possibilities of communication design and architecture, while uniting the intuition and expressiveness of hand drawing with the precision of CAD and the visibility of 3D models. The article discusses the results of two case studies that are being conducted through an institutional support along with two other projects in process which, at present, are at an early stage of definition, but are beginning to denote important findings. These cases and projects cover the entire academic spectrum, from basic graphic training of first-year students, the teaching of final year projects to graduate research projects. Based on all of this we are exploring new teaching methods, while demonstrating the usefulness and intention of the digital drawing in architecture.

Key words: educational technology, multimedia learning, architectural design, freehand drawing, Sketch Based Interface and Modeling.