Learning in context: Contextual libraries in architecture distance education
Résumé
This paper introduces the notion of context in the architectural learning process. Designing and learning are social processes in which knowledge is learned in applied situations. A WEB-based apllication, called "Architectural Contextual Library", is presented as a means to arrive to a collaborative learning environment in architecture projects. The paper discuss the types of knowledge involved in architectural design, the difficulties in formalizing and sharing knowledge, and the implementation of a visual argumentation process through a design example – the design of stairs in a typical house.