The University held the ninth edition of the University of Navarra’s Innova Forum, a meeting teaching organized by the teaching Planning and Improvement Office. Under the theme “Talent as a Driver of Change,” 50 innovation projects were presented, four of which were recognized with the Innova Awards.
The project and Commitment: Improving Learning in Architecture and design, designled by Pilar Salazar, a professor at the School of Architecture, received the award in the Talent category. The initiative arose during a meeting for first-year architecture students.
“After analyzing the various challenges we were seeing among the students, we realized they were common across the entire generation. That’s why we teachers decided to try to provide a unified effort, so that the impact would be greater.” In this interview, he explains the project:
What is the project about?
In the laboratory courses laboratory Geometry and Form, Graphic Expression Workshop, Architectural Expression Workshop, Modern Architecture, and Anthropology—all part of the first year of the Architecture program—we have worked on various activities aimed at increasing students’ concentration and commitment to their programs of study.
How did you go about it?
Fernando Alonso, María Villanueva, Héctor García-Diego, Pablo Arza, Ricardo Piñero, and I have implemented new activities and innovative changes in the course’s subjects, as part of our teaching .
The activities include visits to buildings in Pamplona, ensuring that faculty dress appropriately faculty raise the aesthetic standard, standardizing the criteria for assignments, holding brief awareness sessions before classes begin, and doing origami to hide cell phones in a paper case during class.
How have the students responded?
We have noticed an increase in concentration compared to previous years. According to surveys, students have demonstrated what they have learned through their visits to the buildings, which has helped them gain a better understanding of architecture.
How did you feel when you received this award?
It is a recognition of the teachers' daily efforts to improve our teaching our students' knowledge. I'm really excited because it was a work involving several courses.
