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TIME: Wed 1:30 - 3:00
Syllabus (By Vivek Shandas, David Oleyar, and Jeremy Bunn) - word version
INTRODUCTION
This course is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff associated
with the urban ecology program to read papers and engage in discussion
(or other activities) relevant to the program. The 2004 -- 05 AY is the
first time that all three student cohorts will participate – offering
a tremendous opportunity to come together in the spirit of collaborative
learning. Student representatives from the three cohorts have designed
a course structure that is intended to identify the foundations upon which
this program has been built, to explore avenues for future research and
discussion, and to enable the wide variety of student and faculty interests
to be represented.
In the first week, participants will sort themselves into small groups with others who share their interest in presenting a particular topic to the class. In the eight subsequent weeks each group will be responsible for organizing one class session. In the final week all participants will discuss what progress has been made in identifying the foundations of urban ecology, and develop an agenda for further inquiry.
GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Group assignments are at the core in this course. Group assignments are
designed to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary learning, and to enable
each student to develop communication skills and investigate in more Dadetail
subjects of particular interest to them. Each group will consist of N/8
participants, where N is the number of people in the class, so that there
is one group for each of the following eight weeks of the quarter. Each
group will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Choose a class session for which they will be responsible;
- Choose papers or/and other material related to their topic of interest;
- Disseminate the materials to all the members in the course by the Friday
prior to the class session;
- Lead a class discussion (or other activity) on the topic-- including
time for synthesis at the end; and
- Write a synthesis of the class discussion (i.e., major topics, knowledge
gaps, tidbits for future discussion, etc.), two pages long at most.
Groups are encouraged to use creative methods, in the sprit of a learning atmosphere, to engage class participants with each topic. Given the large size of the class, dividing into smaller groups for discussion has been suggested; however, it is up to each individual group to decide, for their week, whether the class will work in small groups or as a whole. Members of each group are expected to contribute equally to the preparation of their topic. The synthesis activity and write-up should attempt to characterize major themes emerging from the discussion, and address areas that warrant further exploration. The compiled group synthesis write-ups will comprise the reading for the last session.
In addition to their group roles, each participant is individually responsible for reviewing the provided materials prior to each session, and for actively participating in discussion. Prior to the last meeting, each participant will summarize, in writing, what they see as unanswered questions and areas of research that could be further explored (for example, in future quarters of this seminar). The final session will consist of a discussion of these questions and themes, a reflection on what has been learned during the quarter, and an opportunity to structure the class for Winter.
SCHEDULE
9/28 Introduction -- class time and discussion of syllabus
9/29 Introduction -- group assignments and scheduling
10/6 Global Perspectives I - Transition Urban East Europe reading, Newspaper article added 5 oct 04
10/13 Methodological Issues I : Class outline
Reading Groups:
1) Attempt to integrate qualitative and quantitative methods - Ryan, Adrienne, Aren, David, Jeremy, Josh, Lin, Vivek, Thomas - read this one - Garrett and Downen
2) Qualitative methods - Sarah, Andrew, Belen, Bob, Jessica, Kara, Michelle, Stan - read this one - Gobster and Westphal
3) Quantitative methods - Jeff, Jack, Bill, Jenna, John, Kend, Rebeca, and Gregory - read this one - Song and Knaap
4) Faculty, Guests, people I have missed - pick one or more of the above
A Glossary and article summaries for all three will be provided at class time on Wednesday (Word documents of Summary of Garrett and Dowen, Summary of Gobster and Westphal, Summary of Song and Knaap). Fee free to download all of them, but please critically read the one article beside your name. Thanks.
NEW 11/22/04 - Post-class summary for this class is now available here
10/20 Human Behavior - There are 2 "required" readings and one optional reading for this week.
1) Sustainable Consumption by Gert Spaargaren - download here
2) Nature at home: a social ecology of post-war landscape design. Chapter from "The Culture of Nature". This reading is paper-copy only and will be available from Anderson 30 by pm Friday 15 October. We will provide paper copies for the faculty mailboxes for Gordon, Marina, Tae Hoon, Dorothy, Eugene, and Josh.
Optional Reading: The theoretical background of the city-identity-sustainability network
New 6 Dec 2004 - Summary of Discussion
10/27 Ecological Perspectives
New 6 Dec 2004 - Summary of Canonical Ecological Perspectives
11/3 Berlin/Oslo Trip Report
11/10 Global Perspectives II
11/17 Regional Comparisons
New 6 Dec 2004 - Summary of Regional Comparisons
11/24 Methodological Issues II
Andrew, Ryan and Jeff will be leading this week's discussion. We have picked out three readings - one for all to read, and one for those with birthdays before June 30th, and one for those after June 30th (unless you really dont like the one that matches your birthday, in which case read the other option).
1. For all to read: Alfasi and Portugali (2004)
2. For those with Birthdays before June 30th - Evans and Kelley (2004)
3. For those with Birthdays after June 30th - With and King (2004)
4. For those of you with birthdays of June 30th, you are off the hook for any reading (Just kidding)
New 6 Dec 2004 - Summary of Ryan's notes (Jeff's notes by pm Monday - sorry)
12/1 Data Mining Activity - word document for this week
New 6 Dec 2004 - data mining summary
12/8 Final Discussion
Summary document for final day discussion here
Students Participating:
Faculty/Post-docs Participating
John Marzluff (In Oslo, Norway, this quarter)
College of Forest Resources
Office: Anderson 123E
Tel: 616-6883
E-mail: corvid@u.washington.eduMarina Alberti
Department of Urban Design and Planning
Office: Gould 410H
Tel: 616-8667
E-mail: malberti@u.washington.eduGordon A Bradley
Office: Anderson 123G
College of Forest Resources
Tel: 685-0881
E-mail: gbradley@u.washington.eduCraig ZumBrunnen
Department of Geography
Office: Smith 416D Tel: 543-4915
E-mail: craigzb@u.washington.eduEric Shulenberger
Office of Research
Office: 204 Winkenwerder Hall
Tel: 685-1457
E-mail: ericshul@u.washington.eduRobert Reineke
Urban Ecology
Office: Anderson 301 Tel: 616-2874
E-mail: picapica@u.washington.edu
Jeff Hepinstall
Urban Ecology
Tel: 293-3237
Office: And.30/Gould410F
E-mail: jahwash@u.washington.edu