Methods to improve the effectiveness and quality of teaching the disciplines of the architectural and artistic profile (experience of Libya)

Abstract

The article analyses the methods of teaching the disciplines of the architectural and artistic profile in Libyan higher educational institutions. The research objectives address the close-open survey that outlines the methods currently used in the educational process, selection of the most efficient teaching strategies, and development of the recommendations for the teachers of architectural and artistic disciplines to use combined teaching methodology. For the study, we analyzed 30 recent scientific papers devoted to the problems of the organization of architectural education in Libyan higher educational institutions and abroad including China, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Poland, and UK. We applied a number of research methods including interdisciplinary literature review, generalization of research results on the existing requirements to architectural education and the peculiarities of its organization. Also, we used teachers survey with close-open ended questions to collect objective data on teaching methodology. The survey was conducted among 187 faculty members with different teaching experience in different Libyan higher educational institutions that train future architects during one academic year. All of them participated in the survey voluntarily and answered the questions objectively and openly to further elaborate the appropriate recommendations for the enhancement of educational process. The findings demonstrate that effective and qualitative educational process requires combination of different teaching strategies and methods. The use of combined methodology depends on many factors such as students’ needs, learning objectives, peculiarities of educational environment, employer’s requirements, and pedagogical mastery of teachers. The research proves that the effective teaching methods are productive, informative, satisfying, interactive, innovative; they must consider interdisciplinary links and contribute to improvement of integrated professional competency as well as soft skills. The research resulted in elaboration of recommendations for the teachers to apply combined methodology in teaching the disciplines of the architectural and artistic profile