introduction to the courseasmayer/rural_sustain/intro/module... · 2011-09-04 · 1 9/5/2011 -...
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INTRODUCTION TO THE
COURSE
Alex Mayer, Michigan Technological University
Course overview: Origin and purpose
of the course
“SustR”: Sustainable Development for Rural
Communities A Student Mobility Program
Consortium of six universities in the US, Canada, and
Mexico
1 or 2 semester student exchanges in the consortium
universities
Shorter intensive field trips to experience rural
sustainability issues in Mexico, Canada and the US
A new collaborative web-based course on rural
sustainability
Course overview: Origin and purpose
of the course
For more information on
the SustR program,
contact the program
director at your
university.
At Michigan Tech, go to
http://www.geo.mtu.edu
/~asmayer/sustr.htm
Locations of the six universities
Course overview: Weekly modules
Weekly Schedule
Week Date Topic
Responsible
University
1 9/5/2011 - 9/9/2011 Introduction to the course; Goals and objectives of rural sustainable
development UNISON
2 9/19/2011 - 9/23/2011 Global, regional and local forcesUNBC
3 9/26/2011 - 9/30/2011 Governance and the Commons LU
4 10/3/2011 - 10/7/2011 Case study: Renewable energy All
5 10/10/2011 - 10/16/2011 Case study: Food security and cultural connectedness LU
6 10/17/2011 - 10/23/2011 Case study: Natural Resource Extraction – the Case of Mining MTU
7 10/31/2011 - 11/4/2011 Case study: Sustainable rural tourism UNBC
8 11/7/2011 - 11/11/2011 Case study: Sustainable agricultureMTU
9 11/14/2011 - 11/18/2011 Case study: Population and Environment in the State of Aguascalientes,
Mexico All
10 10/24/2011 - 10/28/2011 Case study: Water and SanitationMTU
11 11/28/2011 - 12/2/2011 Case study: Biodiversity and rural communitiesMTU
Course overview: Weekly modules
Weekly modules are available at course web site: http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~asmayer/Seminar_on_Rural_Sustainability.htm
Objectives
Background
Web-based lectures (posted on Monday)
Readings
Other resources
Discussion questions
Evaluation (assignments)
Vocabulary
Faculty contact(s) for questions of clarification
Course overview: Weekly modules
Discussion sessions
Held every Friday, beginning at 12:00 am to 1:00 pm, Eastern time via Adobe Connect
Students from the consortium universities will participate in a discussion session on the week‟s topics, led by the students from the university responsible for that week.*
At the beginning of the discussion session, students from the responsible university* will deliver a 10-minute summary of the week‟s lecture and readings and a list of discussion questions
Students from the responsible university* will then moderate the following discussion (approximately 30 minutes).
*except for the first week
Course overview: Written assignments
Students will submit a three‐page reflection paper
each week of the first five weeks of the course. *
Questions for each reflection paper will be posted
the Friday before the week when the paper topic is
discussed.*
Reflection papers will be due the Wednesday after
the week when the paper topic is discussed.*
Student reflection papers will be posted on the
course website.
*except for the first week
Course overview: Written assignments
Reflection papers will be based on the following
rubric: 20% for spelling and grammar; 30% for
organization; 50% for depth of analysis.
For the last six weeks of the course, no reflection
papers are due, but reflection questions will be
posted.
A 10-page synthesis paper will be due
12/9/2011, connecting the two halves of the
course and explaining the concepts of rural
sustainability.
Course overview: Overall grading
Semester grades will be based on
5 weekly reflection papers 50%
synthesis paper 40%
participation 10%
Refer to the syllabus for an explanation for
expectations regarding participation.
The home university‟s instructor will grade all
aspects of their university‟s students.
Organization of the module
Lecture
what are sustainability and sustainable development?
how do we define “rural?”
Organization of the module
Readings
Cromartie, J. and Bucholtz, S. (2008) “Defining the „Rural‟ in Rural America, Amber Waves, 6(3): 28-34.
Hamilton L., Hamilton L., Duncan C., Colocousis C. (2008) Place Matters: Challenges and Opportunities in Four Rural Americas. Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire: Durham, New Hampshire.
Harris, J.M. (2000) Basic Principles for Sustainable Development, Global Development and Environment Institute, Working paper 00-04, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts.
Robinson, J. (2004) “Squaring the circle? Some thoughts on the idea of sustainable development,” Ecological Economics, 48(4): 369-384.
World Commission on Environment and Development (1987), Our Common Future, Chapter 2: Towards Sustainable Development, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Organization of the module
Assignments
Write a three-page reflection paper considering the following questions, based on the lecture, readings, and your prior experience. The reflection paper is due by 5 pm, Wednesday, September 14. Email your paper to your instructor.
Are the notions of sustainable development useful?
How are rural areas defined and of what use are these definitions?
How do the notions of sustainable development apply to the current issues faced by rural communities?
Organization of the module
Assignments
For Friday‟s discussion session, prepare two Powerpoint
slides on the sustainability
efforts/activities/research/etc. that are occurring at
your university.
Email to Alex Mayer (asmayer@mtu.edu) your
Powerpoint files by Thursday (September 8) afternoon
at 5 pm (Eastern time). Be sure to put your name and
your university in the Powerpoint. You will present these
during Friday‟s (September 9) discussion session.
Organization of the module
Discussion session (Friday, September 9)
Each student will present two Powerpoint slides on the
sustainability efforts/activities/research/etc. that are
occurring at their university.
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