The document describes OpenArchitecture, a part-time blended learning program for architectural studies in South Africa. It provides mentoring in offices, online courses, and occasional face-to-face meetings. The program aims to address staffing shortages and serve non-traditional students. Its first program is a two-year part-time degree in architectural technology in collaboration with Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

1. 2014 UIA CONGRESS DURBAN Jolanda Morkel & Lone Poulsen
“A part time blended architectural learning programme”
OpenArchitecture provides part time Architectural studies through a
blended learning programme whereby an online learning portal supports
office-based mentoring, occasional regional studios and face-to-face block
release reviews on campus.

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CONTEXT
In response to the shortage of Professional Architects in
South Africa, the need for transformation in the
Architectural Profession and growing numbers of non-
traditional students with work and family commitments,
OpenArchitecture (OA) was conceived as a South African
Institute of Architects (SAIA) initiative.
Collaborating with Architectural Learning Sites (ALS) at
different Higher Education Institutions (HEI) it aims to offer
universally recognised alternatives to main-stream
graduate and post-graduate architecture education.

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ACADEMIC COLLABORATION
The first programme to be presented in this way is
the two year part-time
BTech Architectural Technology (Applied Design)
in collaboration with the
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
(CPUT) which started in January 2014.

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CHALLENGE

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OA PROGRAMME
OpenArchitecture provides four different forms of engagement
office based
mentoring
online learning
portal
facebook
group
face-to-face
block release

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Office based mentoring
Students are required to be employed by a
SACAP registered Professional Senior Architectural
Technologist or Professional Architect and an approved
mentor allocated to guide their studies.
Robin’s workspace Samantha’s view Ayanda in the fire escape

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Face-to-face block release
Students are required to attend
highly interactive face-to-face
block release programmes on
campus three times a year:
Orientation Block (February)
Mid-year Review Block (June)
Year-end Review Block (Nov)
for academic preparation work,
workshops, subject
assessments and portfolio
reviews.

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Online Learning Portal
In response to the educational requirements of OA +
CPUT, Construction Communication Network (Pty)
Limited (CCN) set up a Sharepoint site
as the official academic platform for the BTech:
Architectural Technology (Applied Design) programme

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Announcements are made by
lecturers and visible to students
Calendar entries are regularly
updated to reflect all online
meetings (crits), submissions and
assessment dates, including
portfolio reviews.
Hangout topics are created by
staff and students and discussed
online.
The online learning portal
contains the following virtual
spaces for learning:

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Course work
is shared by educators and organised
per subject and assignment. Learning
material includes: recorded lectures,
short videos, written briefs, document
resources and links to available
online material. All staff and students
have access to the course work
folders.
Student work
is submitted for feedback and
assessment. Work is mostly created
in Word or Powerpoint formats and
then uploaded in pdf format. Only
staff can view and access the
submitted student work, not the
students.

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Design Journal
students are required to keep a
design journal for every design
project. It resembles a blog and
contains drawings and text, arranged
in chronological order, to reflect on
their individual design process and
receive feedback from tutors and
peers.
Online crits
are held weekly through a webinar
where staff and students discuss
projects, using audio and digital on-
screen sketching. Crits are recorded
and uploaded to the learning portal.

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Facebook group
A closed facebook group provides informal social
interaction, discussions and sharing of resources

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The OpenArchitecture virtual learning interface
has demonstrated that it is possible to successfully
enable studio-based learning in a virtual
environment through the various face to face
interactions of the blended programme

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OpenArchitecture affiliates
The South African Institute of Architects (SAIA)
The Kwa-Zulu Natal Institute of Architects (KZNIA)
Construction Communication Network (Pty) Limited (CCN)
Department of Architectural Technology & Interior Design,
FID, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
OpenArchitecture sponsors
City of Durban
Corobrik

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FOUNDERS AND INTERIM BOARD
MEMBERS
Rodney Harber
Kevin Bingham
Mark Grant
Bharti Vithal
Programme Director: Lone Poulsen
CPUT Coordinator: Jolanda Morkel

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CONTACT DETAILS
Programme Director:
Prof Lone Poulsen, B.Arch (UND), M.T.R.P. (UND)
director@openarchitecture.co.za
+ 27 82 699 7269
CPUT Coordinator:
Jolanda Morkel, B.Arch (UPE), HDHET (CPUT)
cput@openarchitecture.co.za
+ 21 460 2232, + 27 83 262 9032
www.openarchitecture.co.za