学生将亲身到社区中，真正与民众合作，完成实际企划案，且把理论付诸实践，并且仔细思考在这过程中获得的深刻理解。在规划较大社区与分水岭（或流域？）的范畴下，我们将调查环境和社会的历史背景，策划西费城内中等学校附近空地的设计。

课程结合了费城西部景观计划（WPLP），这是一项自1987年起，统合研究、教学、和社区服务的方案。费城西部景观计划网站（网址http://web.mit.edu/wplp/）自1996年来已有数百万点阅次数。新的费城西部景观计划网站将是我们在学校和社区间合作的原则所在。


场所

米尔（磨坊）溪（The Mill Creek）和费城西部邻近地区，尤其是苏兹伯格中学周边地区。这学校紧邻一条地下河（埋藏河），以及许多邻近学校的未开发土地都位于或邻近下水道周边，在这小溪以前的行水区。


人员

在苏兹伯格中学的学生和老师、邻里居民、费城水务部门的人员。


计划

为参与这社区发展过程的苏兹伯格中学学生开一门创新的、以社区为基础的环境课程。自从1997年开设第一个场所力量（Power of Place）课程后，七年级和八年级的学生们已对他们的邻里自然和社会历史做了研究，而且提出了杰出的作品，让他们对自己社区能引以自豪，并激发对未来的愿景。该中学的校长和老师因这计划的前景扩大，且加入了麻省理工学院学生，而感到非常兴奋。

这学期期间在费城将有一个实地考察。

关于计划的背景资料，可上费城西部景观计划网站浏览，特别是苏兹伯格中学和米尔（磨坊）溪计划的摘要部份。

关于网页编辑和地理资讯系统（GIS）的知识并不是今年的必修，但却是很需要的。


课程安排

在研讨会的时段，每星期有一次在学校里上课。课外时间将和苏兹伯格中学学生有线上会议，还有费城的实地考察。将与我们合作的苏兹伯格中学学生，在平日和星期六参加课后计算机课程，他们懂得网页编辑和如何使用ArcView®。

课程要求

这学期的作业将有四个评分的依据。

持续的工作进度和最后的计划将公布在网络上。将不会有期末考。



ArcView®是ESRI在美国、欧洲社区、或者某些其他管辖区域的商标或注册商标

Students will work in a real neighborhood with real people on a real project, putting theory into practice and reflecting on insights gained in the process. We will study environmental and community history and devise designs for vacant land near a middle school in West Philadelphia within the context of planning for the larger community and watershed.

The course is associated with the West Philadelphia Landscape Project (WPLP), a program that has integrated research, teaching, and community service since 1987. The WPLP website has received millions of hits since 1996. The new WPLP website will be the principle locus of our collaboration with the school and community.


Place

The Mill Creek watershed and neighborhood in West Philadelphia, particularly the area around Sulzberger Middle School. The school is located next to a buried river, and many vacant lands near the school are located on or around the sewer, in the old floodplain of the buried creek.


People

Students and teachers at Sulzberger Middle School, neighborhood residents, staff of the Philadelphia Water Department.


Project

Develop a new, community-based, environmental curriculum for Sulzberger Middle School where students engage in the process of community development. Since the first Power of Place class in 1997, seventh and eighth graders have studied the natural and social history of their neighborhood, produced outstanding academic work, inspired pride in their community and visions for its future. The school's principal and teachers are very excited about the prospect of expanding this program to include MIT students.

There will be one field trip to Philadelphia during the semester.

For background on the project see the WPLP website, especially the section on Sulzberger Middle School and summary of the Mill Creek Project.

A knowledge of web-authoring and geographic information systems (GIS) is not a prerequisite this year, but is highly desirable.


Course Format

The course meets once a week in workshop sessions at MIT. There will be online sessions with students at Sulzberger Middle School outside class time, and a field trip to Philadelphia. The SMS students we will be working with attend an after-school computer program on weekdays and Saturdays. They know web-authoring and have used ArcView®.

Course Requirements

Your work for the semester will be evaluated in four ways:

Ongoing work and the final project will be posted online. There will be no final exam.



ArcView® is a trademark or registered trademark of ESRI in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions.