Validation in a Distance Learning Environment

Abstract

Design education typically involves a studio (physical environment), work surfaces, pinup spaces, and students. Studios are designed to be educational as well as professional environments. Throughout the semester, the studio fills with work related to the development of all projects and affording opportunities for peer-to-peer feedback. In the Spring Semester 2020, studios stopped face-to-face meetings. Studio environments were replaced with apartments and bedrooms, pinup space was removed, access to shops and labs was revoked, and class became a screen. Because of COVID-19, the Fall 2020 Semester was listed as Hyflex, a designation allowing face-to-face meetings up to fifty-percent of the time. Without a consistent face-to-face connection, how can students evaluate and validate their work? This paper will follow one project assigned in two consecutive studios during the current pandemic; one studio met regularly until the suspension of face-to-face meetings and the other was listed as Hyflex.