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CRP453 PARTICIPATORY DESIGN AND PLANNING

Course Objectives

Course Objectives (CO)

By the end of the course students will be able to;

CO1- Become change agents and Take a catalyzing role in changing the society to a better state. To do that, students will actively take part in the facilitation of a real-life change process. This will be a common task, thus, it will be decided with everyone's participation in the class.  Participation and action are two fundamental components of democracy. The notion of participation cannot be grasped without being actively involved; and change does not occur without action. Students will be given the opportunity to experience both, and this experience will hopefully contribute to both students’ self-realization and community learning in general. Additionally, we will  be working on the planning of Samsun if it was planned with a participatory approach. This will be integrated to the conduct of the class as well as to the one of the studio. Thereby, it is hoped that students will benefit from the knowledge to be generated in the class and use that in their studio work.

CO2- Acquire an insight into the historical and theoretical evolution of participation and democratization of societies in general as well as methodological tools to enhance that.

CO3- Focus both theoretically and practically on some challenging issues that emerge in such processes including democratic participation, empowerment, politics of power, democratic dialogue and building common ground, and experiential learning.

CO4- Demonstrate proficiency in critical and constructive thought as well as in communicating complex ideas through writing and presentations, and reflexive thinking for their own experience. Furthermore, students will gain basic facilitation skills in a process of social change towards democratization and skills to apply appropriate methods and techniques.

Course Content

Citizen participation in planning, participatory design and planning methodology, community empowerment, participatory processes in urban management and urban regeneration, strategic planning and participation, participatory research with children living and working on the streets, non-governmental organizations in planning.

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Fundamental Principles (CFP)

CFP1- Open-mindedness * Constructive Attitude * Willingness to Work Together

If you think, you may struggle with showing these qualities; you may become easily unhappy in this course throughout the semester. This course will be treating the learning process in the class as a social change process; moreover,it will give the students the responsibility of facilitating a real-life social change process. Social processes are multi-dimensional phenomena involving human beings from diverse backgrounds and experiences. This adds full of ‘uncertainties’ and the ‘unexpected’, yet continuously reveals ‘new emergencies’. That is what is exciting about this, because there is always something innovative and creative in new emergencies, and that is what makes us learn something new about life in general, and evolve as a human being. Thus, in this course, it is truly OKAY not to know, and to be genuinely willing to know more is most appreciated.

The course will maintain some degree of flexibility about the outline of the course. We will conduct the course together in the line of the content of the course; however, it will also be open to change with reference to the procedural and students’ needs along the way. The course may take a significantly creative path due to the group dynamics which we may not predict in advance. Such a change can be both surprising and valuable in a way that may help you develop your adaptability skills to new emergencies.

We will be working together throughout the semester. Thus, developing your collaborative skills and working as a team will be a significant component of this learning experience. Representing yourself as an inspirational, enthusiastic and motivating individual who can tackle any complex challenges that may come along the way will be an added value to the course. If we are not enthusiastic about what we do, we will not be able to convince others to act in a particular way.

CFP2- LEARNING is what matters!

This course greatly values what you get out of this experience. Most often students are over concerned with grading. I see the grade as an end-outcome, yet what makes us evolve into a wise person is what we experience during the process. Within this respect, everybody will have a meaningful role in the conduct of the course, and thus, will have something to contribute to one another. A genuine willingness to learn and to gradually  improve your contribution to the learning experience of All is what counts and what will be appreciated the most in this course. If you engage yourself fully and commit to your improvement, the success will automatically and naturally come along.

CFP3- PLAGIARISM of any kind will not be tolerated!

Plagiarism is quoting, paraphrasing or summarizing without acknowledgment. It is failing to acknowledge the source of an idea, another person’s data, evidence or critical method without credit or permission. It is submitting another person’s work as one’s own and using unacknowledged research sources gathered by someone else.

Program Outcomes Matrix

0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution