Any Takers? - 2

This post is a continuation of my earlier post on pedagogy:

Constructive Imposition Policies:

In our quest to improve students' vocabulary, we had started taking dication tests before beginning our Architectural Design classes. To our surprise, not even a single student scored 100% marks in any of the tests. To ensure maximum attention and response, we randomly came up with this idea that who ever scored well (maximum) could avail those points for upgrading their attendance. Since this was a completely out of the curriculum initiative, we thought that students who lost out on their attendance because they came in late, etc. would be prompted to perform well to avail their lost attendance. 75% attendance is mandatory to be able to appear for any University exam. Thus, I thought of tying up both issues making it more constructive. Although there is no sense of imposition here, it definitely is a constructive technique. On the other hand, impositions like coordinating archival works from students, photographing projects and events, etc. could help generating our own documentation instead of giving re-dos and disallowing students to sit for lectures.

Faculty Exchange Sessions:

To align with various levels of study in the school, constant exchange of ideas is important. The visiting faculty seldom is able to interact with other classes/teachers. This can be initiated by exchanging faculties between different classes for smaller sessions, eskis, discussions, etc.

Vertical Studios:

The idea of a 2-3-week intensive vertical studio is an interesting one. Although it has been experimented already, it was highly unstructured and unplanned. Better planned vertical studios can become breeding grounds for telescopic ideas of what students would eventually like to do. It can become a great platform for interactions with people and developing all round skills.

Joint Jury:

An initiative already experimented, I think it must be taken forward. However, it has to be a week long process, such that all attend all. There is no point in rushing it over one day. Although students may not be interested, it definitely is an important ground for faculties to look at loopholes in design programmes and an overall curriculum-building.

Exchange Programme:

For a student, it is important at the later years of college to distance himself/herself from their institution to be able to critically assess the skills they have learnt. Going out to a different environment is important to gauge the level at which a school is operating. Learning from different contexts is extremely important and making networks outside our circle of friends in crucial in personal development.