Rethinking the Crit: New Pedagogies in Design Education

Assessment in architecture and creative arts schools often uses a 'crit' approach, where students pin up their work, present, and receive verbal feedback in front of peers and staff. This approach can increase stress, inhibit learning, and reinforce power imbalances, contributing to the reproduction of dominant cultural paradigms. This book critically examines the pedagogical theory behind the 'crit, discusses recent critiques, and examines the reality of the 'crit through analysis of practice. It explores the challenges for education and suggests how changes to feedback can shape the future of architecture and the creative arts.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Assessment in architecture and creative arts schools has traditionally followed a 'one size fits all' approach, where students exhibit their work, deliver presentations, and receive verbal feedback in front of peers and academic staff. Not only does this approach exacerbate stress and hinder learning, particularly for individuals from diverse backgrounds, but it also perpetuates power imbalances and contributes to the reinforcement of dominant cultural paradigms.

In response to these concerns, this book takes a critical look at the pedagogical theory underpinning the 'crit approach. It explores recent critiques of this approach and delves into the realities of the 'crit through an analysis of practice. The book also examines the challenges facing education and proposes ways in which changes to feedback can shape the future of architecture and the creative arts.

One of the primary criticisms of the 'crit approach is that it fails to recognize the unique strengths and weaknesses of individual students. Instead, it promotes a standardized and impersonal evaluation process that may not effectively address the diverse needs and perspectives of the student body. Moreover, the adversarial structure of the 'crit reinforces power imbalances, as students are often judged based on their performance relative to their peers, rather than on their individual merits.

This book argues that a more inclusive and personalized approach to feedback is necessary to promote learning and development. It suggests that feedback should be provided in a supportive and constructive manner, focusing on the student's strengths and areas for improvement rather than solely on their weaknesses. Additionally, feedback should be tailored to the specific context and requirements of each student, taking into account their cultural background, learning style, and individual goals.

To achieve this, the book proposes a range of strategies, including peer feedback, self-reflection, and collaborative learning. Peer feedback, for example, can provide students with valuable insights into their work from their peers, while self-reflection can help students to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Collaborative learning, on the other hand, can promote a sense of community and teamwork among students, while also providing them with opportunities to learn from each other and develop their skills.

Furthermore, the book emphasizes the importance of feedback in promoting diversity and inclusion in architecture and the creative arts. It suggests that educators should be aware of the cultural biases and stereotypes that may influence their feedback and work to counteract them. This may involve providing training to educators on how to provide culturally sensitive feedback and promoting diversity in the curriculum and teaching practices.

In conclusion, this book provides a critical examination of the 'crit approach to assessment in architecture and the creative arts. It argues that this approach is outdated and ineffective and proposes a more inclusive and personalized approach to feedback that can promote learning, development, and diversity in the field. By examining the challenges facing education and proposing changes to feedback, this book aims to shape the future of architecture and the creative arts in a positive and inclusive manner.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 154 x 234 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032266855