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Sometime back I had a very interesting conversation with someone to whom I was pitching the idea of creating an app for online architectural education in India. Here is an excerpt from it.

S: I want to start something on the Architectural Education in India.
A: Why?
S: Because I am an Architect and I think it’s time to teach Architecture to the next generation.

A: Then join an Architectural College and teach.
S: My reach will be limited.

A: So?
S: I want to start an online Architectural Course.

A: Why ‘Online Architectural Course’?
S: Why not? In fact being the 2nd highest no of internet users in the world, with around 25 crore internet users, its best to start a ‘Online course’.

A: Isn’t there one already available?
S: I checked on the ‘internet’, there is none.

A: Hmmm…that still doesn’t answer my question. Why Architectural Education?
S: Because there is a lack of Architects in India.

A: Please explain.
S: India has only 50,000 registered architects as against the requirement of 500,000. Yet there are very few takers for the career. With the current growth of real estate in India don’t you think we need quality architects?

A: Hey! now what do you mean by quality architects?
S: Those who has a proper understanding of buildings before they start designing it.

A: Please explain again.
S: You know Architects are always considered as ‘Designers’ whose main aim is to make something look good.

A: Is that incorrect?
S: Thats not fully correct.

A: Explain….
S: Architecture is not only about the aesthetics. Definitely, you need to be creative and you should have the aesthetic sense but Architecture is way beyond it. Architecture is about preparing good quality working drawings, about new construction techniques, new materials in the market, about project management, about bye laws, about building services, about….

A: ok ok.. got it…so lets get back to the point….what do you want to do?
S: I want to start an online course on architectural education.

A: Is that going to be an independent course or a supplementary study materials for the existing course?
S: Well I need to figure that out. I went through the course curriculum. There is nothing wrong in the curriculum. I think its the teaching process which needs to be modified.

A: And how do want to do it through your ‘Online’ course?
S: By making it more interesting.

A: ?
S: Two days back I was trying to teach my son ‘Addition'. Well it was quite unusual for him to have me as the teacher and hence was more interested on my iPad than me. And then it clicked me. Quickly I took a break, went to the other room and downloaded an app for him for ‘Addition’. The result was awesome. The fish that was swimming was asking him questions on the same ‘addition’ problem and this time his response was spontaneous. After half an hour of playing non stop with the same app he was exhausted. But by now I was too excited. Next day I downloaded 5 more apps…:)

A: So what you trying to prove through all these?
S: That you need to make every subject interesting for the students to learn. Whether a 5 year old or a 25 year old.

A: So how do you plan to do that for Architecture Students?
S: Have you read the 'History of Architecture’ by Bannister Fletcher?

A: I have…
S: Do you remember it completely.

A: Well most part of it…
S: Wow! But I don’t. And I think most of my peers also don’t. Because we were taught in a very boring way. We were given notes and we simply memorised them a day before the exam.

A: So what do you plan to do in your course?
S: Was thinking of giving them a virtual tour of all the architectural masterpieces around the world. In the age of youtube videos its so easy.

A: hmmm…and how do you plan to teach them structure?
S: Through simple examples and diagrams. You know Architects are very bad in mathematics and most of them hate structures. What you need to know as an architect are all the principles of structure and the remedial methods to overcome them. You anyways need a structural engineer to give all the reinforcement details. As an architect you do need to challenge the structural consultant not by getting into his shoes but by giving him options to try out new shoes for you.

A: Can you explain it a bit more?
S: Ok. What will be your reaction when I say ‘Liquefaction of soil’?

A: Well….
S: Its a process by which the soil looses its bearing capacity. Any example?

A: ?
S: When you are standing on a beach and waves comes and touches your feet, after it has left have you seen your feet sunk in the sand? Thats what is liquefaction.

A: (Smile)…
S: Its easy solving it. Take the foundation to the level where there is no liquefaction or improve the ground quality by adding stones so that your building rests on firm ground.

A: ok. So how do you want to proceed….
S: Well I first need to go through the curriculum again in detail. The content is all there. I need to represent them differently. Need to work on that.

A: So how do want to bring it to the students?
S: Did an initial net search. IGNOU was planning to open a B Arch Course through correspondence. I am not sure if they have already started. Also I need to visit SPA and other architectural college and talk to the faculty there. I need to understand the mentality of the student and the teachers before I start preparing the course material for them.

A: So who are the target? Regular students of architectural colleges?
S: All those who want to learn architecture in a different way. They can be regular students enrolled in the colleges, they can be diploma holders who wants a degree, they can be civil engineers who wants to understand more on the subject, they can be anyone who is interested in ‘Architecture’…can be a mason also in far away village of India.

A: And how will the course work?
S: As you will get enrolled in the course you will be sent a kit of CDs/DVDs. You need to go through them and do the necessary research on the web as given in the curriculum. You will then need to fix up a time slot for an online test similar to GRE/GMAT. Once you will clear it, after achieving certain grades, you will be sent the next kit. After certain no of tests the result will ensure that you get a degree and a license to practice architecture. This definitely are my initial thoughts and needs refinement.

A: ‘License to practice’…are you involving COA?
S: I plan to. Since this is an initial stage I haven’t made any progress in that direction but I definitely intend to involve them as they are still the only governing authorities for architects in India.

A: What is the time line you are looking at for the project?
S: Around 2 years, for the first batch of students to get enrolled.

A: Investment?
S: Very minimal compared to the returns.

A: Returns?
S: Enormous. If gets hit then we can go for other courses also.

A: What if it doesn’t become a hit?
S: Well failures are pillars of success….though I want to give it a good shot before considering it as a failure. If not anything it will make me a better architect along with the people involved with me. 🙂

A: Well I have many more questions?
S: So do I…(Smiles..)…and more the queries foolproof is going to be the course…..Will meet again to discuss more in detail….