Diseño universal y metodologías activas: una práctica en los estudios de posgrado

The optional course DAU 848, offered by the Postgraduate Program in Architecture, Urbanism, and Landscape Architecture (PPGAUP) at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), focuses on teaching methodologies in Architecture and Urbanism Courses. In collaboration with the postdoctoral research project “Digital Fabrication Applied to Universal Design and Ergonomics” within PPGAUP, the course explored topics of Universal Design (UD) and prototyping during the second semester of 2023. Emphasizing Active Methodologies that promote student engagement in the learning process, the course culminated in the development of a quick practical exercise designed for undergraduate students and aligned with the semester’s topics. This article aims to present the final exercises, structured around the course’s methodological framework, which is divided into three stages: (1) Foundations of teaching in Architecture and Urbanism Courses; (2) Teaching Universal Design; and (3) Design and application of exercises. As a result, four teams developed four exercises focused on furniture design, gamification, tactile maps, and signage. These exercises included discussions on the use of prototyping and suggestions for improvements to facilitate future implementation in undergraduate courses.