2024-11-21T11:44:09-05:00 https://archinect.com/features/article/150011097/discussing-the-role-of-jargon-and-difficulty-with-harvard-gsd-s-k-michael-hays-lisa-haber-thomson Julia Ingalls 2017-06-09T10:30:00-04:00 >2022-03-16T09:16:08-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/s6/s6mj9cgv3ofnf651.jpeg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>Why are introductory architecture courses often packed with dense, off-putting jargon? It&rsquo;s a question I didn't anticipate asking an esteemed architectural historian and current Harvard GSD professor, yet after I unintentionally offended K. Michael Hays by publicly airing my annoyances with jargon and difficulty as part of <a href="http://archinect.com/news/article/150005958/christopher-hawthorne-la-times-architecture-critic-reviews-harvard-s-first-online-architecture-course" target="_blank">a recap of a review of his new online course</a>, I realized that I needed to ask it. In fact, I owed it to the Professor; it&rsquo;s unfair to criticize someone&rsquo;s teaching style if one hasn&rsquo;t thoroughly experienced it, although I've taken courses taught by others that used a similar approach.</p>