framework for the implementation of a virtual design studio model in ...

transition in order to successfully utilise this advancement. As belief in
technology grows, research 52,53 reveals that technology has much to
offer to education. Many researchers 54,55 believe that technology can
tackle many of the educational challenges. For that reason, many
universities have invested heavily towards technology-facilitated
classrooms. Architecture Education is not an exception. Nevertheless,
the challenge is to find an appropriate approach towards the integration
of technology into the curriculum. Western HE institutes have made
many attempts to integrate technology into education. The question still
remains: - what skills can these technologies provide for the students?
Yet, in the UAE, a society that is controlled by a conservative culture,
more influential factors have to be taken in consideration. Therefore a
fundamental question is, “What would form the best framework, that
consists of the most advanced technologies, and that can develop skills
required for the future, and what are the critical issues involved in the
effective implementation of such a framework in architectural design
education into a culturally distinctive society (i.e. the UAE)?.
1.7 Significance of the Study
The obvious economic growth in the UAE is associated with physical
and socio-cultural changes. 56 The UAE government has previously
launched a five year strategic plan for the development of its
infrastructure. Unfortunately, this plan was faced with the difficulties of
lack of manpower and skilled designers which resulted on dependency
on foreign expertise. Mustafa 57 asserts that the impact of environmental
design on the psychological sense of community has a strong relation
51 Al-Ali, J. (2008). op.cit. p365-379.
52 Emmitt, S. (2002). Architectural Technology. UK: Blackwell Science Ltd.
53 Clayton, M. J., Warden, R. B., Parker, T. W. op.cit. p228
54 ibid. p228.
55 Fryer, W. A. (2007). ‘Integrating technology in the classroom: mobile digital storytelling’, The Journal of
the Texas Computer Education Association, creative commons.
56 Abdullah M., (2007). the United Arab Emirates a Modern History. Abu Dhabi: Makarem G Trading and
Real Estate LLC.
57 Mustafa, Y. M. (2009). ‘Design and neighbourhood sense of Community: An integrative and crossculturally
valid theoretical framework’. Archnet iJAR International Journal of Architectural Research, 3(1).
p71-91.
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