Sam: a Multimedia Case Library of Structural Designs

Recent developments in multimedia and case-based reasoning provide the basis for developing teaching aids for architecture students that present technology and science learning materials as design cases. Case-based reasoning tools can provide assistance in the identification of a relevant design case and the modification of a case for the current design problem. We have developed multimedia library of buildings to support a case-based reasoning approach to teaching structural design . The design cases are linked through a network of concepts that follow a specific learning area, for example, the structural design of tall buildings is linked through the concept of lateral load resistance. The multimedia environment provides an active learning tool that the student uses to generate design solutions.