DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING FROM FREEHAND DRAWING TO DIGITAL PROCESSES

Learning never stops, and neither does teaching. Stimulating critical thinking at the university plays a critical role in shaping a generation of professionals capable of meeting the ever-changing challenges of the modern world. The experience is related to the course of Building Drawing in the first year of Building Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino. The methodological approach adopted explores the potential of the drawing itself as a language of communication for the construction sector. The course becomes a learning path with the students: theoretical notions are provided as the foundation, then tools and methods for representing the survey and the project between tradition and innovation are analysed and evaluated with a critical attitude. Real-world (freehand sketching), digital (CAD vs BIM), augmented and virtual practices are presented to provide a synoptic picture of possibilities that the student may choose to use in subsequent courses and in working life. The recent pandemic has promoted further opportunities to innovate in teaching by adopting tools that stimulate creativity. The teacher becomes an avatar who can interact with students in cyberspace to evaluate and discuss project ideas. Students are continually asked to self-reflect and assess lesson content by identifying key concepts. The final evaluation also involves a discussion of a mind map in which keywords are put in order, reworked, linked to form a personal interpretation of the teaching. Through the introduction of these actions, it has been noticed an increasing involvement of students, both individually and in groups, leading to the achievement of quality results sometimes higher than required.