Louis Tassinary, professor of architecture and associate dean of research at the Texas A&M College of Architecture, suggested that college students in all disciplines would benefit from curricula infused with an educational tool common in architecture studies — the studio.
Tassinary’s comments appeared in a Nov. 10, 2007 article in the Monitor on Psychology that suggested most of today’s college graduates lack the practical skills and global awareness required to succeed in the 21st century.
The article reported on a survey conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, which found that students see strong time-management skills and a focused expertise as important, while employers are looking for a more broad knowledge of science and technology and an awareness of the United States’ role in the world.
Tassinary noted that intensive six-hour studio courses bring students together to tackle real world problems and often include a community service component, such as redesigning a local public building. And since each studio builds off the one before it, students make the connection between theory and practice.
"We need to get to the point where it's not about owning a course, it's about owning an outcome," Tassinary was quoted in the article. "Studios help students fit together the pieces of the puzzle."
The complete story is available on the Monitor of Psychology website at:
http://www.apa.org/monitor/nov07/outcomes.html
