It is becoming common practice in some universities to provide, in electronic format, basic subject resources such as syllabi, task assignments, readings, task submissions, discussion groups, exemplary task solutions, and others. These clearly work best if integrated into a common interface that students find simple and accessible.

Computational Composition is a module in Design + Form, a subject in the Department of Architecture. We have authored all of the subject material for this module on the Internet, in what we hope is a form that reflects the goals of the subject--the making of strong and coherent architectural compositions.

Our subject material provides for students several things that conventional handouts do not:

• An electronic bulletin board (a bboard) which students can use to communicate to subject staff, but more importantly with one another.
  
• Handouts, including text, graphics and computer data files, all accessible through a simple and common interface.
  
• Electronic handin of student assignments.
  
• An electronic gallery of student work. Students handin work directly to the gallery and instructors mark the work by visiting the gallery (student marks are not displayed).
  
• Access to extensive help and tutorials authored by academics from other universities.
  
• General information about the module, including a statement of goals, schedule, due dates, reading lists and staff information.
  
• The ability to keep subject material up-to-date, especially to extend it in response to student questions and comments.

   

We hope that electronic subject material can enable richer, more productive interactions among students and lecturers.

Evaluation
We created similar, but much more primitive, material for a 1995 subject in Computer-Aided Design. We evaluated this earlier work through the Department's internal Student Evaluation of Teaching. We are currently working with ACUE staff to develop effective ways to evaluate this year's effort.

If you have any ideas that might contribute to our project and especially to its evaluation please mail Rob Woodbury.

Contact

Rob Woodbury

Department of Architecture
Adelaide University
Adelaide, SA 5005

Telephone: +61 (08) 8303-5836
Fax: +61 (08) 8303-4377

Email: rob.woodbury@adelaide.edu.au (inactive 25/2/04)