w9

March 20th, 2007

I had another shadowing day. This time, it was Shawn's second visit to UCLA, and Paul's first. I picked them at the Culver City High School in the morning. I showed them around the school, the hallway exhibition, alumni exhibition, 1st-year's studio final review, and Thom Mayne's research studio review. We had a chance to meet Amy at her office briefly after lunch before going in to see the Mayne studio review. They sure experienced how harsh the critics were at the 1st-years review, harsh yet constructive and helpful. Mayne studio was dealing with things at urban scale, so it was interesting for Paul to relate it with the class that I have been teaching in terms of looking at cities. It seemed to be more helpful for them to understand what happens in architecture school through observing studio reviews, because it was more hands on things with drawings, models, and presentation. The previous shadowing day which had Shawn sit in one of my critical studies class was a bit too much for him to grasp. We learn as we go.

March 21st, 2007

I thought I'd go in more than once for this week and next week since I had my studio final review this past Monday. Students seemed to be more on track than before, emotionally and physically with modeling. I felt so bad to realize that I forgot to bring in green plastic sheet that Allison and Jennifer asked last week so they could make trees. Allison and Veronica had been actually drawing out the plan of their landscape for their garden next to the library. I was fascinated to see how close it was to architectural sketches. More is to come. I helped Andrea and Charles with modeling cone shaped piece. From my experience from showing them how to draw plans, sections, and elevations, I find it effective to just demonstrate for once. I wonder if there's a modeling clips in youtube..


March 22nd, 2007

It was a long drive jumping from stores to stores to get the materials. Two plastic stores and Blick Art Store for extra plastic sheets and Sobo glue.

Amy came to observe me teaching. I hope she understands the way the class is run.
Uvaldo's group troubles me, because they aren't working as a group. Their group is led by Uvaldo, and everyone pretty much just watches him doing models. I wish they would be more cooperative and try to find something to do to help Uvaldo. He was troubled with working with scale, but at the end of the class, I think he finally understood it. Maybe it's that moment that you fall for.. when your student is in that 'ah-hah' moment after realizing/understanding something.

Grace's group has been great with modeling, but it reminded me that I should have gone over the sections with them a little more carefully. Their project would have been better through section studies. However, once again, this is their first time being introduced to architecture. It happens in Paul's group as well, but Paul has been trying to do something different, against homogeneity in terms of materials. I think it helps them to see me more than once a week. I feel closer to them in the same way.