Digital Technology in Architecture and Arts - Era Challenges

Abstract

Digital art is considered one of the modern arts whose learning has become no less important than other arts, as it has been introduced into the curricula of general education and university education. Moreover, university programs specialized in digital art have also been established. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the first computer-based university program was opened in 2004 at Dar Al-Hekma University under the name of Graphic Design and Digital Media, and then followed the opening of similar programs in different universities, even Fine Art education programs, which aim to prepare an fine art teacher, which introduced computer-based art courses, meaning that the skill of digital art became Essential for fine art teacher, but the difficulty of providing a computer lab equipped with the latest drawing software, whether in schools or Fine Art education programs in universities, is an obstacle for students to learn and practice this art, hence the goal of this research, as it seeks to verify the creative capability of Microsoft Word as an alternative to digital drawing software, as it is an alternative often available and suitable for the simplest computers, unlike drawing and design software that require certain specifications in the computer such as high speed and large memory and the latest processor. This study uses qualitative research as it relies on direct observation of students' performance and conducting interviews with them to collect qualitative data from students and with faculty members in the Fine Art Education Department. This research has shown results that indicate the creative capabilities of Microsoft Word, which recommends its use as an alternative creative tool in public education, especially when high specification computer is not available.