East St. Louis Action Research Project University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Course Outline

 

Part One:	Background research, project definition program development  Two weeks, 10% of final grade
Part Two:	Analysis phase.  Four weeks, 25% of final grade
Part Three:	Concept development phase.  Three weeks, 25% of final grade
Part Four:	Design development  Two and a half weeks, 20% of final grade
Part Five	Presentation preparation  Two weeks, 20% of final grade

Course Attendance

We will be working with studios in Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning who in past years have had somewhat different schedules than ours.  Architecture 374 meets MWF 1:00 to 4:00pm, Urban and Regional Planning 378 meets Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 2:00 to 4:00.  Working with Prof. Harkness we have moved our traditional class times so that we can effect a closer collaboration.  You are asked to make special efforts to make our collaboration work.  If this schedule causes you any special difficulties with other required or supporting elective classes talk to me immediately and we will work to accommodate your needs.

You will be expected to attend every scheduled class period, Wednesday through Friday, so that I can keep in touch with your progress.  I expect you, in addition, to meet with your team partners out of class time and to make arrangements to meet me at non-class times as you feel necessary.  Even within class times I must take time out to meet with a parallel workshop and sometimes attend meetings elsewhere on campus.  I will arange make-up times as required.

I will keep a record of attendance/non-attendance which will influence your final grades in the following manner:

1. If a student collects four unexcused absences during the course of the semester, the students final grade will be reduced one full grade;
2. An unexcused late arrival (after 1:30) will be counted as one-half of an absence.  Therefore eight late arrivals, or a combination of late arrivals and unexcused absences totaling four unexcused absences, will result in a full grade reduction;
3. Excused absences will be granted for medical reasons, or if some work needs to be done in a different location, and can only be done during the class period (this should be discussed ahead of time).  If you need to be away from your work area during class time, leave a note clearly visible on top of your table.

Grades

A:    The student is able to work consistently and rigorously (display an excellent understanding of design process), and is able to present and explain a thoughtful, excellent, well-conceived project.
B:    The student displays a good understanding of design process, and is able to present and explain a well-designed project.
C:    The student displays some understanding of design process and is able to complete and present a design project, which is deficient in conceptual strength.
D:    The student is weak in their understanding of design process, as well as weak in their design ability, or the project is incomplete and poorly presented.
E:    The work and student are nonexistent.

Minus (-) will be applied to the student’s grade when the work comes close to, but still hasn’t reached, the evaluation criteria of a grade level.

The instructor will be available for appointments to discuss grades or other issues throughout the semester.  Grade sheets will be distributed after each review.

Group working

Preliminary dates:

Wed Mar 18:  Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc. Meeting