Learning Technologies Grants
Project Examples

Project Title Design and Computing: Capturing Digital Images in a New Multi-Media Computer Laboratory. Principal Investigator Marguerite Koepke

This project focused on producing student design portfolios using the newest digital technology. Traditionally landscape architecture students have used portfolios to chronicle their creative and technical work. Portfolios are traditionally used by students to secure employment by professional landscape architects or used as part of an application to graduate school. Historically portfolios contain photographs of illustrative drawings, plans, 3-D models and other forms of design documentation. Unless this work is photographed professionally, adequate quality is difficult to achieve and production limited and costly. In the late 1990's, advances in digital imaging technology attained a level of sophistication and affordability that made it possible to produce high quality reproduction of large format work. The ITG support purchased 10 computer workstations, a color laser printer, an LCD projection device, small and large format digital scanners, a digital camera and numerous software programs to support a variety of production venues. These resources made it possible to deliver high quality images that could be delivered in multiple formats; electronic portfolios in the form of web pages, PowerPoint portfolios viewed on compact disc and the traditional printed portfolios. Digital imaging capabilities introduced through this project, have transformed the way students and faculty at the SED think about the interface between computers and design. After only three years of operation the digital imaging lab has met and surpassed the goals of the original proposal. In addition to a high level of portfolio production for students, digital resources have supported a variety of communication publications for the school, including the design of the schools web page, lecture/events posters, alumni materials, and a wide array of publications that support community outreach initiatives. The SED continues its commitment to project through sustaining the lab and keeping the hardware operational and software current.