Weekly Lectures - Tuesdays (1 hour)
On Tuesdays, we focus on the use of digital technologies to represent, analyze and mobilize communities. The first part of the course explores the subject of visual representation and analysis, with a critical eye toward the use of photography, video and the internet to construct and communicate arguments about people and place. Anne Whiston Spirn, Professor of Landscape Architecture & Planning, and Ceasar McDowell, Associate Professor of the Practice of Community Development will discuss the strategies they've employed. These talks are intended to assist students in their exploration of the Central Square community.
Throughout the second part of the course, we address issues of spatial data representation and analytical mapping by examining the way in which communities collect, encode and display spatial data. Lorlene Hoyt, Assistant Professor of Technology & Planning will ask students to critically examine the role of geographic information systems in representing place, analyzing local conditions and mobilizing citizens.
Finally, the third part introduces the topic of presenting arguments by showing students state-of-the-art and three-dimensional methods used for visualizing and simulating change in the urban environment. Annette Kim, Assistant Professor, Eran Ben-Joseph, Hayes Career Development Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture & Planning, and Eric Klopfer, Assistant Professor of Science Education will present their work and speak to the methods they use (satellite imagery, tangible computerized interfaces, and computerized simulations, respectively) for communicating ideas and revealing hidden processes.
Lab-Related Recitations - Thursdays (1 hour)
On Thursdays, recitations seek to parallel Tuesdays lectures. However, recitations focus on skill-building through an introduction to a variety of software packages and computing devices. For example, the first lab-related recitation speaks to the history and use of the world wide web, followed by a demonstration of how to launch a basic web page using Macromedia's Dreamweaver. To capture and manipulate images for the web-based portfolio, students will use digital cameras, scanners, and Adobe's Photoshop. Over the next several weeks and through a series of laboratory exercises, students will also learn to use Microsoft's Excel and Access to manage and analyze data. Finally, they will also experiment with ESRI's ArcView to create maps and create spatial representations.
You have an entire semester to design and construct a web-based portfolio that will not only serve as a central repository for your work as you progress through the program, but will also communicate your professional and scholarly interests. In addition to this project, there are laboratory exercises that you will have a week or two to complete. Each will integrate with the second project, which you will post in your portfolio.
There is no mandatory laboratory time; you may work through the exercises at any time that is convenient for you. However, for your benefit, instructors and teaching assistants (fondly referred to as "the team") are available in the computer laboratories listed above throughout the week if you need technical assistance or have questions concerning the exercises.
We'd like a few spectacular photographs of 11.204 in action! For extra credit, each student may submit (via e-mail) one photograph at the end of the semester. Merely submitting a photo will not ensure that you receive extra credit; rather the photograph should creatively and eloquently communicate an important aspect of the course. A handful of photographs will be selected, posted on the internet, and available for review by next year's incoming class. This is an opportunity to further develop your skills as a photographer, make a statement about this course, and share your ideas with future colleagues. If you're wondering what constitutes a spectacular image, take a look at some examples at
http://www.magnumphotos.com/ and
http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/gallery/index.jsp
11.204 is a new core course in DUSP's MCP curriculum. Rather than wait until the end of the semester for feedback, we invite you to comment on the course throughout the semester. We will carefully consider your suggestions, and implement appropriate changes along the way. If we are unable to make some changes this year, they will be integrated into the course design in 2003.
Additionally, we will hold two meetings, and hope that you will attend and give us feedback on the course.