Active Learning in Architectural History: Design Exercises as Pedagogical Tools

Within architectural education, there has been a noticeable decline in students’ interest, application, and critical reflection concerning theoretical subjects. To address this, an active learning methodology was implemented during the 2022 academic year in the course History and Theory of Architecture II at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. The aim was to foster deeper internalization of historical content, spanning from the 15th to the 19th century, through practical design exercises. This academic experience yielded positive results by connecting historical knowledge with architectural design practice, enabling students to critically reflect on content and apply it in their own design processes. Grounded in active learning principles, the proposed methodology moves away from memorization-based or behaviorist approaches and promotes meaningful understanding of architectural history. The exercises, one for each historical period, demonstrate how history can become a valuable and impactful tool in the development of design skills among future architects, especially in academic settings with limited instructional time.