LEARNING BY DOING: INVESTIGATING THE INTEGRATION OF DESIGN THINKING RESEARCH METHODS INTO AN AUTO- CONSTRUCTION DESIGN WORKSHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIVING ENVIRONMENTS FOR SENIORS

Learning by doing refers to a theory of education exposed by John Dewey, which suggests that learning should be relevant and practical, not just passive and theoretical. The aim of this study is twofold: firstly to report on the experience and results of a 2 weeks auto-construction workshop carried out with 21 bachelor undergraduate Interior Design students, aimed at designing and constructing living micro-spaces solutions for elderly living in a Senior Housing apartment; and secondly to investigate if the integration of action research-based methods (i.e. Design Thinking (DT) methods) into teaching and learning favourably influence learning. In particular, the methodology will include DT following 3 phases: inspiration (1), ideation (2), implementation (3) and related methods, followed by an auto-construction phase. DT methods include: interviews (1), drawings (1), immersion tools and storyboards (1) (2), rapid- prototyping (2), and live prototyping (3). The results of post-experience qualitative analysis (group discussions, perceptions and opinions of both students and teachers) recognize the importance of learning by doing activities (project-based assignment, action research-based activities, auto-construction to test) in teaching/learning. Moreover, the auto-construction workshop experience allows undergraduate bachelor students to confront social issues, support processes of social inclusion for elderlies and ageing society, and cross disciplinary boundaries.