Allosteric learning based methodology as a package of supporting applications in the architectural design education process

This study aims to contribute to design education in terms of increasing the creative thinking potential of the student, providing concept development skills and abstract thinking skills in the design process. From this point of view, it is assumed that the ability of the designer candidates to use their intellectual infrastructure (concept production / concept usage / abstraction, etc.) on the solution of the design problem can be developed within the framework of a methodology. The proposed model is based on the Constructivist Education Approach and is based on the recently developed Allosteric Learning Model (ALM) approach. The Allosteric Learning Model differs from other models of education with its emphasis on mental design. In addition, it includes intuitive thinking methods in intellectual processes. The fictionalized method was tested with an empirical study on a group of first year students of Karadeniz Technical University, Department of Interior Architecture, between the years of 2018-2020. The existence of expected development was tested with the Remote Associates Test (TRAT), which was established to test the intuitive aspect of the cognitive process in solving a problem. Remote Associates pre-post tests was tested within the context of independent samples Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test and Mann Whitney U Tests and it was observed that there was a significant difference between the subject group and the control group scores. As a result, in the TRAT, which is the criterion of the test and used to measure awareness against suddenly established responses in the mind; The development of intellectual skills was provided according to the data of the subject group and a positive development was observed. In addition to this, "Qualitative Performance Practices" were applied to develop conceptual and intellectual skills called "Intuitive Thinking Performances". Frequency analysis was performed for all variables obtained from these stages. In the following performances, the expected result from the proposed methodology was reached with the increase in the orientation towards the concepts of thought from the use of object concept in the subject group. The obtained development graph obtained confirmed the main assumption that the skills of the designer candidates that they develop while creating their intellectual infrastructure on the design problem can be enhanced within the framework of a methodology and the sub-assumptions of the study as "developing skills by experiencing the conceptual dimension intelligently" and "individuals' abstraction skills can be enhanced through imagination". In summary, in the model proposed within the framework of the study, a "Supporting Practice Package" based on the Allosteric learning model has been created. Among these applications, there is "Qualitative Performance Practices" and a sub-content called "Intuitive Thinking Performances". According to the results obtained from the data obtained, the most efficient performance in "Intuitive Thinking Performance" is "Metaphoric Thinking Performance". At the end of the study, taking into account the development achieved, a methodology proposal was made that takes the "Metaphoric Thinking Performance" to the center and can be integrated into the early stage of design education. This methodology proposal, which is defined as "Concept Enrichment", was developed by considering a flexible fiction understanding that can be adapted to different design problems.