Measuring the architectural design skills of children aged 6-11

The purpose of this study is a) to conceptually define the architectural design skills which enable children to design their own educational environment and living areas, b) to identify the higher order thinking processes related to these skills and, c) to discuss the tools, methods and approaches that can be used in measuring these skills. The discussion is enriched with the construction of a performance task which includes the design of a product by children aged 6-11, requiring the use of creative thinking and visual thinking to illustrate the way of measuring architectural design skills. An analytic rubric has also been developed in order to assess the task in accordance with several criteria. The study is considered as important in expressing how to use the measurement and evaluation approaches which include not only the architectural design product, but also the architectural design process. This study is also important to ensure widespread use of these approaches mentioned above. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu