Article Gold Open Access 2025

Towards an integrative model of blended design studios: a multiple case study across architecture, design and planning education

Education and Information Technologies
Journal · Vol. 30 · Issue 2 · pp. 2005-2039
Abstract

Design education embodies distinctive pedagogical practices rooted in experiential learning, frequent interactions between students and instructors, reflective dialogues through project deliverables, and enculturation through activities and encounters facilitated by a physical studio setting. Contrasting the traditional lecture-based format, the design studio fosters a dynamic, participatory environment, making technology-mediated instructional delivery methods more rare and experimental than widely adopted. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a sudden shift to emergency remote teaching, which prompted a critical re-evaluation of both conventional and unconventional teaching methods, thereby leading to a reconsideration of traditional pedagogical approaches. This paper outlines common technology-enhanced approaches in design studios and advocates for blended learning as an effective mode of delivery. Multiple case study methodology was employed to elicit collective experiences, practices and future expectations of studio instructor teams from 12 architecture, design and planning departments across six universities. Findings of the thematic analysis are presented utilising Khan’s octagonal framework. The themes are synthesised in an integrative model to aid instructors in planning and implementing blended design studios, and recommendations are made for delivering blended learning experiences. The distinctive contribution of this study is its effort to develop an inclusive, comprehensive, and overarching model that resonates across various studio-based fields. © The Author(s) 2024.

Keywords

Author Keywords

blended learning technology-enhanced learning Blended design studio Design studio Studio pedagogy

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Department of Industrial Design, TED University (TEDU), Ankara, Turkey
Department of Educational Sciences, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Funding & Acknowledgements
Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu, TÜBİTAK
Grant: 121K942
Open access funding provided by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of T\u00FCrkiye (T\u00DCB\u0130TAK). This study was supported by Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under the Grant Number 121K942. The authors thank to TUBITAK for their support.
Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu, TÜBİTAK
Open access funding provided by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of T\u00FCrkiye (T\u00DCB\u0130TAK). This study was supported by Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under the Grant Number 121K942. The authors thank to TUBITAK for their support.
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