Distance teaching of mathematics for students of architecture: is it possible?

On the basis of our experience as teachers of Mathematics in the School of Architecture of the University of Buenos Aires and with the support of an expert designer of image and sound, we undertook the task of distance teaching the subject Mathematics II for students of Architecture. The academic guidance of Ms Spinadel, PhD, the universityis authorization and the support of a computer platform provided by Nueva Internet S.A. have enabled the completion of this project. We were encouraged to set up the distance teaching of the subject by the many advantages the system offers, namely, the chance for students to work at home with a computer-based platform containing all of the subjectis contents and to integrate and apply all the knowledge acquired in architectural contexts, and the chance for teachers to offer on-line guidance and tutorials. Distance teaching is not to be understood or configured as an accumulation of calculus procedures. Rather, it should be thought of as having the major aim of promoting the full development of the studentsi imagination for the solution of architectural design problems. For that purpose, students must become familiar with the interface to be used as the virtual classroom, read the theoretical introduction to every one of the units, solve application problems (the students are provided with all the material, which they can visualize on line or print), and send their tutor all the queries they may have so that the process of teaching and learning is facilitated and enriched. The solution to exercises is presented in a didactic manner and students can resort to additional bibliography, image and formula galleries and a technical help forum provided by the software firm. A virtual classroom has been set up where students and teachers interact all the time. Students must also submit integrative assignments, which are corrected by the tutor and will form part of the subjectis final assessment, together with an in-person exam at the end of the semester. Excellent results have been obtained so far, being that this is the first time a subject of the Architecture course is taught this way. This paper is intended to share this experience and show how, in spite of the modality of the subject, the interaction achieved between students and teachers has proved to be very enriching