the policy.....

below is the rough draft of our Studio Culture Policy, how we came about it, and how we think it should be maintained....Thank you all for your work, ideas, and views. Now, how did we do? what else do we need to say?

3.5 STUDIO CULTURE

Summation

The School of Architecture is committed to the student centered model of studio learning. We support an integrated, heuristic, balanced and vibrant studio culture for our students and faculty. We are as concerned with HOW we learn as we are with WHAT we learn. An effective studio culture is the heart of our school and pedagogy.

Implementation and Maintenance

The school of architecture has always supported an open dialogue between students and the faculty. Our studios are team taught, and all faculty have an open door policy. Beginning in the fall of 2007 we began a series of workshops regarding studio culture. These workshops meet every week, are open to the entire student body, and are student run. They are facilitated by two faculty members and the president of the AIAS chapter. Students from all year levels were specifically invited to insure a well rounded voice.

These workshops started with the history of the AIAS studio culture policy, open discussions regarding what our existing culture is, what it could be, and what is should be. An online discussion board or ‘blog’ (http://ullstudioculture.blogspot.com/) was initiated by the students to aid and continue this discussion. An example of these online discussions is shown below. Students also initiated a weekly topic based ‘graffiti idea board’ in the lobby of Fletcher Hall where questions were posted and pens were made available for any and all to add their thoughts. These efforts resulted in our current studio policy. And, more importantly, the ‘blog’ creates a strategy for an open discussion and constant evaluation of our policies, their implementation, relevance, and maintenance.

Public knowledge….? How we let the students know that we have one, and where to find it….put it on website, link to the discussion blog, announce in 100, put in studio policies on the syllabi…..others.

Studio Culture Policy

After many meetings, discussions on the ‘blog’ and review of the ‘graffiti idea boards’ the students and faculty facilitators came to two important decisions.

1.To adopt the AIAS Studio Culture Policy in principle as the official policy of the School of Architecture and Design.

2.To set up a structure to insure that the adopted Studio Culture Policy be a living document.

Studio Culture Policy: The students and faculty support a student centered studio learning culture that is based on the following principles:

• Students Should Lead Balanced Lives
• Time Is More Than a Constantly Endangered Resource
• There Is a World Outside Of the Design Studio
• Design Is the Integration of Many Parts
• Design Process Is As Important As Product
• Collaboration Is the Art of Design
• Design Is Inherently an Interdisciplinary Act
• Even Educators Can Learn
• The Good of Students Must Prevail
• Grades Can Impede Productive Assessment
• Critiques Are Learning Experiences, Not Target Practice
• To Design For Many, Parts of All Must Be Included

Furthermore, the students and faculty support, encourage, and strive to foster a studio that engages a Culture of Optimism, a Culture of Respect, a Culture of Sharing, a Culture of Engagement, and a Culture of Innovation

Living Document Structure: The students and faculty understand that the studio culture is a living, active, and ever-changing dynamic that must be fostered. Therefore, and effective studio culture policy must act in the same manner. Towards this end, the studio culture policy and its effectiveness will be open to discussion and debate continually at the online discussion board (http://ullstudioculture.blogspot.com/). The students will also hold (at minimum) an open meeting at the end of each semester to discuss these matters and to make recommendations to update the policy.

What is Studio Culture?

I've moved my last comment into a new thread. Hopefully these new posts start new discussions. They can help both open up new thoughts, and organize major themes.

Now is the time to give your thoughts and comments.......blog away!!

we had a very interesting meeting this afternoon.....i encourage everyone to make the meeting next tuesday.

We talked about alot of things including trying to answer the questions...'What is studio Culture'

Some answers were
It is Inclusive
It is Creative
It provides a helping hand
It is a group dynamic
It offers critique
It gives different points of view
It searches for beauty
It has a value system: 'treat your classmates how you want to be treated'

Gate used a great metaphor....Studio Culture at its best is like a Soccer Game. It is competitive, Fun, and It is fair because everyone knows the rules.

I love this idea of a 'Fair Game'
How can studio be a Fair Game. There might be winners and losers on the boards, but everyone plays, everyone learns, everyone looks forward to the next game.....

So my new question is: What are the rules of the Studio Culture Game?

let us begin

OK
thanks, hans.

lets begin by documenting here some of the ideas that came out at yesterday's meeting:

drew: we need to find ways to introduce 1st year students to rest of student body.
Perhaps an event at the beginning, like a welcoming reception.

mark: spontaneous acts of consciousness raising.

ways to bring the campus to fletcher?

more