Learning by Experiencing the Space: Informal Learning Environments in Architecture Education

This paper discusses the effects of a structured programme in an informal learning environment in higher education and aims to initiate the integration of other forms of education into the formal education system in architectural education. Acknowledging the relationship between learning and the context, the programme was designed to take place in an informal setting, ie. the city with its buildings, museums and urban spaces. Participants were a group of students from the architecture department of a Turkish university. The informal learning environment was six different cities in a foreign country, Italy that was unfamiliar to the students. The authors evaluated the program using preinstruction and postinstruction sketches of an architectural design, written comments of the students, and a report written by the instructor. Students demonstrated marked improvement in creativity, expression of ideas, and sketching technique. Results of the study may provide some insight into the use of informal education in higher education. Keywords: Informal Education, Informal Learning, Higher Education, Architectural Education, Modes of Education