Focus of the Study

The focus of the Studio Teaching Project was to identify, describe and investigate the circumstances and characteristics of studio teaching and practice in the discipline areas of Art, Architecture and Design.  A further aim was to uncover effective studio practice in each of these disciplines to illuminate the practice of studio for the higher education sector and identify practices that enhance student experience and student learning outcomes.  A systematic examination of the continuum of practice in studio teaching was aimed at informing curriculum development, future practice, and professional development for studio teachers, and helping to shape university policy with regard to appropriate resourcing.

The project aimed to address the following fundamental questions in relation to the disciplines of Art, Architecture and Design:

• What is Studio and how does it contribute to student learning?
• What models of studio teaching are currently used in each discipline area in Australia? How and why have models changed over time?  Which models are considered most effective in terms of a variety of student learning outcomes?
• What key indicators can be identified to assess good learning outcomes in a studio experience?
• How can the variety of approaches to Studio inform future curriculum development and resourcing across the sector?