Time Schedule:
Jin-Kyu Jung
BIS 314
Bothell Campus
Topics/areas of study may include: cultural geography, physical geography, geography of globalization.
Class description
BIS 314A MAPPING COMMUNITIES - Uses mapping and other methods to examine the concept of “community.” Explores the intersections of life in urban areas including perception and interaction with built environments, political and economic relationships, and social and cultural ties. Students conduct community-based mapping projects to examine the role of “space” in producing community. We will work with the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) in Seattle, the City of Bothell, and NUHSA (North Urban Human Services Alliance) this year.
Student learning goals
Students will critically examine the internal workings of “communities” and “mapping.”
Students will have a structured community-based learning and research experience.
Students will be exposed to the newly emerging field of geographic visualization and geographic webs (e.g. Google Maps).
Students will have an opportunity to design and complete a small community-based mapping project involving various research methods.
Students will further develop their critical (spatial) thinking, reading, and writing, and communication skills.
General method of instruction
Class will be composed of seminars, class participation, in-class mapping exercises, community-based research activity, and the final group project.
Recommended preparation
Students are expected to attend all class meetings and complete all community-based learning activities. It will be difficult to re-capture the spirit of this course in lecture notes, and class will be more interesting due to students' input. In Spring 2013, we are scheduled to meet only once a week, so it is essential to attend classes and actively participate in class discussion and activities. Class participation includes completing the reading for each class, thinking about what you have read, and listening actively and allowing each person an opportunity to express his or her view. During the community-based learning and research section of the class, students will need to arrange their own transportation to travel to the community we will work/research on, and schedule to accommodate spending approximately 2 hours/week. There are no prerequisite for this class, but taking BIS218 The Power of Maps, BIS 342 Geographic Information Systems are, and/or BIS343 Geographic Visualization are recommended.
Class assignments and grading
Grades will be based on two critical reviews (10% each), mapping exercises (25%), project design & proposal (5%), final project report (25%), project presentation (10%), and course participation/activities (15%).
