Ruoyao Sun
Research Mentor(s): Becky Kato
Mentor Department: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
Authors: Ruoyao Sun, Becky Kato, Deborah Des Jardins
Session: Session 4 (1:00pm – 1:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 14
Abstract
Architectural critiques or reviews are a high-stakes form of assessment in design education (Dannels, 2008). In reviews, students present a semester’s culmination of design work to architecture industry professionals and faculty, both external and internal to the Architecture school (Webster, 2005). According to existing research, successful or “acclimated†student presenters typically use architectural jargon to describe the nuance and rationale behind their designs (Morton, 2009; Dannels, 2008; Webster, 2005). Architectural reviews are “central to the pedagogy of architectural education†(Webster, 2005), yet they are challenging, particularly for international students who must navigate language and cultural barriers. This research investigates the linguistic patterns of graduate architecture students at a large midwestern university. It aims to improve pedagogical methods and support students in delivering effective architectural presentations. The methodology of this qualitative project involves transcribing and analyzing recorded reviews from the Fall 2023 and Fall 2024 semesters. An initial raw transcript of the recordings will be generated using MacWhisper, a GPT-4o-powered transcription service. Then, the raw transcript involves meticulous manual corrections, timestamping, and the noting down of non-verbal communication between the student speaker and the reviewers. Edited transcripts are formatted so the speaker is identified, the timestamps are accurate, and speech segments are conjoined into more readable paragraphs. The study’s analysis stage will highlight rhetorical strategies, speech structures, and delivery techniques that constitute a cohesive and impactful critique. However, the time-intensive nature of the transcription process limits the scope of this research within the given timeline. The ultimate post-transcription objectives will include a thematic analysis of successful elements within students’ presentations and an assessment of the transcripts’ pedagogical impact. The finalized transcripts may serve as instructional material in English classes for international graduate students; additionally, this research aims to add to the current literature on this topic.
