Portfolio as a strategy for promoting meaningful learning in Urbanism

Abstract

The direct applicability of the theoretical contents exposed in the master classes of Urban Planning subjects are not always clear in their practical development. This makes difficult the complete learning of the students. The irruption of the COVID-19 pandemia forced to develop the theoretical test of the subject Urbanism 2 (in the degree of Fundamentals in Architecture by the University of Malaga) in virtual format. The results were unsatisfactory, despite the fact that the students had unlimited access to multiple sources. This shows, even more clearly, that the teaching of theoretical contents in the lectures does not involve the students enough, and therefore, this knowledge is hardly applied to the practice of the workshop. In the 2020/21 academic course, it has been decided to introduce continuous assessment by portfolios in theoretical teaching, as well as bringing theory and workshop closer to professional practice and the solution of real problems. This has led to a significant improvement in student’s learning and motivation.