Abstract
ISSUE: Students in a history of modern architecture course receive much of their visual information through the medium of projected images in a lecture format. Additional images provided within written text present material in a preestablished order, rather than in a format that invites student participation, and may limit the students’ ability to discover comparative relationships.
APPLICATION: Student–owned computers make information available at the student's choice of time and place in a format that invites student participation.
GOAL: A computer file of images serves as a resource for improving instruction by providing an interactive, nonsequential study tool while encouraging students to experiment and become more familiar with computer use.
DESCRIPTION: Over 150 images were scanned from slides and incorporated into a database program that could be used on a student's personal computer (Macintosh SE or better). Images can be selected and grouped by architect/designer, location, date, and words entered by students; they can be viewed with or without text; and two can be viewed simultaneously.
CONCLUSION: Although most students reported using the image files, they seemed to prefer hard–copy prints. Student interest in having images included in the notes for the course resulted in the scanning and incorporating of approximately 200 images in the photocopy packet for use in a subsequent term.
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