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Aligning a CAD course constructively: telling-to-peer and writing-to-peer activities for efficient use of CAD in design curricula

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Abstract

As the literature points out the lack of efficient use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) in design curricula, we aimed to align a CAD course based on student-centered learning theories. While designating a constructively aligned CAD course, the intended learning outcomes were specified in relation to the knowledge types classified for the CAD learning process. Based on these outcomes, two genuine learning activities were developed which were namely telling-to-peer and writing-to-peer. These activities put novice CAD learners into the center where they could construct and reconstruct the knowledge while transmitting it to a predefined audience. The telling-to-peer activity referred to a tutoring experience in which they explained specific commands to their classmates. Tutorials in this course functioned as a writing-to-peer activity where the learners were asked to prepare for a specific audience. Additionally, we aligned the assessment strategy with these learning activities through formative assessment tasks. To get insights especially about these learning activities from the students, a qualitative course evaluation template was conducted at the end of the semester. In conclusion, a model associating the knowledge types with learning outcomes in terms of their complexities was developed for CAD courses.

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Fig. 1

Photographed by Author 1

Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Graph adapted from Nanyang Technological University (n.d.)

Fig. 5

Adapted from Biggs (1996)

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Notes

  1. The students’ responses were translated from Turkish to English by the authors. The translation was checked independently by two design researchers to ensure the equivalence of meaning.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the students who took the course and participated in our study voluntarily. We would like to extend our gratitude to Pelin Efilti, Tuğçe Ecem Tüfek Şerifoğlu and Güzide Güzelbey Esengün for their valuable contributions. We are also thankful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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  1. Department of Industrial Design, Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Faculty of Architecture, Taskisla, Taksim, 34437, Istanbul, Turkey

    Koray Gelmez & Selin Arkan

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  1. Koray Gelmez
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Correspondence to Koray Gelmez.

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Appendices

Appendix 1

EUT 241E Computer Aided Design course.

2018–2019 Fall Semester.

QUIZ 1 (18/100)

Choose and draw one of the patterns given. Prepare a tutorial explaining how to draw the pattern in Rhinoceros.

Target audience: The students who will take EUT 241E Computer Aided Design course in Fall 2019.

Format: Zip file including.pdf (A4) and 3dm files.

Hints:

  • Start the tutorial by showing the end result.

  • Use screenshots where necessary.

  • Include and explain the critical steps.

  • Write your names, student ID, and the date on your tutorial.

Appendix 2

EUT 241E Computer Aided Design course.

2018–2019 Fall Semester.

QUIZ 2 (18/100)

Choose a kitchen appliance and model it in Rhinoceros. Prepare a tutorial explaining how to draw the model in Rhinoceros.

Target audience: The students who will take EUT 241E Computer Aided Design course in Fall 2019.

Format: Zip file including.pdf (A4) and 3dm files.

Your score will be calculated according to the formula in the following: Complexity level of the product (3) * Quality of the model and the tutorial (6).

Hints:

  • Start the tutorial by showing the images of the kitchen appliance and the end result of the model.

  • Use screenshots where necessary.

  • Include and explain the critical steps.

  • Write your names, student ID, and the date on your tutorial.

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Gelmez, K., Arkan, S. Aligning a CAD course constructively: telling-to-peer and writing-to-peer activities for efficient use of CAD in design curricula. Int J Technol Des Educ 32, 1813–1835 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-021-09656-8

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