Forum Model

This is a picture of a model that Robert Garbish made of the Roman Forum.  As an architecture student, models intrigue me and help me visualize what I am trying to learn about.  This model is incredibly detailed even to the point of tiny statues and it took him two and a half years to complete.  The link on the side labeled the Roman Forum of 179 AD will take you to the page with all of the pictures of the model.  Check it out it is pretty cool.

Reflection on my experience thus far

I think what is most interesting about taking a multi-disciplinary class is that if people come in with an open mind some really incredible ideas and products can be produced.  It is still fascinating to me to see all of the different styles and modes of learning that exist and how they interact.  When we first met as a team we struggled with how we wanted to brainstorm.  Two of us were cyclical thinkers who needed to draw or write our ideas.  Two of us were linear thinkers who wanted to use the C-map program because it helped to link ideas.  We worked through it and ended up doing a combination of both.  What was interesting to me was that in the end our c-map had a very broad range of ideas.  It had both the range of ideas that comes from spontaneous creative brainstorming and the links that come from a linear process of making connections.  This c-map lead to what I considered to be an excellent solution to a problem.  It was an incredible example of the fact that if you are willing to try new things and compromise, the combination of different styles of learning and thinking can produce really interesting and provocative ideas.

Thoughts on the first problem

So I have to say that after this first assignment I am very excited to go to Rome with all of these amazing people.  Our first assignment was to propose a way to teach kids and get them interested in the Roman Forum.  At first my group was a little uneasy about the problem statement because it seemed so open ended.  Our group was a mixture of students (architecture, architectural engineering, accounting, and engineering).  We were asked to us a tool called c-map which allows you to create a interactive thought bubble diagram.  We decided to not limit any idea and to write down everything that was said by a member.  By not limiting ourselves we were able to really discover that we needed to propose a strategy to get kids excited, not do research and tell the professors everything that we knew.  After this everything kind of just fell in to place.  We decided to make a game similar to Cranium.  This strategy allowed us all to play on our strengths.  I love art and so I wanted to research art questions and came up with artsy things to have the kids do such as model statues with clay.  I also was very excited to make the game board.  One of my colleagues was more interested in construction and loved learning somewhat trivial things so he was in charge of the trivia questions.  I think you get the picture.  We had to do quite a bit of research and creative thinking to come up with all of the questions for the game.  In the end I think we all were very proud of our final product.  It was great to see such a positive response from the professors about how interactive we were able to make learning about the Roman Forum be and that we had addressed the problem correctly.

Forum Board Game

Welcome

This is a blog to chronicle my experience leading up to visiting Rome this winter and the actual trip itself.  As an architecture student and someone very interested in history, Rome has always been a must see for me.  Check in periodically and see what new things I have learned about architecture, Rome, and even myself.  Ciao!