A Teaching-Learning Method Integrating Research and Teaching: Exercises on Neighborhood Sectorization and Proposals for “Aldea para Todos”

Abstract

“Diagnosis of Land Communication Routes as Barriers or Centralities in the Sectorization of Neighborhoods: The Case of Villa Luro” is a research project initiated in 2012 and linked to the course Architectural Design, Planning and Urbanism II, fifth year, Civil Engineering, UTN-BA, which since 2010 has addressed the theme of the “Open Village,” with different particularities each year.

Specifically, in 2012, the problem of barriers was taken as a point of reference, and the “Village for All” was proposed as the topic for practical work: a village in which barriers that could generate discrimination are not present.

The intention of this paper is to show the importance of the research-teaching conjunction in implementing an alternative mode of teaching and learning for future engineers.

The problem of barriers, transferred from the research project, makes it possible to verify them through an exercise involving a field study in the form of a neighborhood survey. It also enables an evaluative analysis of barriers in human settlements, a situation that has allowed students to understand the scope of the conflict and to explore possible design and technological solutions that could be applied to achieve equality among the inhabitants of the village.

In DAPyU II, an alternative mode of teaching is implemented, different from that used in other courses in the degree program. This mode allows for technological training strongly linked to the social, urban, and environmental dimensions. This particular perspective, supported by the Department of Civil Engineering, could be considered by those who train future engineers, giving importance to criteria adopted by decision-making levels in different public and private universities.