Geodesign: Change Your World

About this course: What happens when creativity and science come together? The power to design our world is unleashed, providing tools to inform choices about how we live! Geodesign is the glue—it’s a process that deploys creativity to connect information to people, using collaboration to better inform how we design our world. This course includes well-illustrated lectures by the instructor, but also guest lectures each week to ensure you are hearing a variety of viewpoints. Each week you will also be able to examine what geodesign is through interactive mapping that showcases real-word Case Study examples of geodesign from around the globe. As you move along in the course, you will discover the interrelationships of both the physical and human aspects that contribute to how geodesign strategies are composed. The course concludes with you outlining your own Geodesign Challenge, and receiving feedback about that from your peers.

Created by:  The Pennsylvania State University

• Taught by:  Prof. Kelleann Foster, Director

  Stuckeman School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Level Beginner Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

Help from your peers

Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

Certificates

Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.

The Pennsylvania State University Founded in 1855 as Pennsylvania's only land-grant university, The Pennsylvania State University combines academic rigor with a vibrant campus life. A nationally recognized Research-I institution, Penn State teaches students to be leaders with a global perspective. Supporting not only the citizens of our Commonwealth, Penn State engages in collaborative activities with industrial, educational, and agricultural partners in the United States and abroad to generate, disseminate, integrate, and apply knowledge that is valuable to society.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Week 1: Shared Languages



This week we’ll begin your geodesign journey by helping you understand that the roots of geodesign are comprised of languages we all share. By languages I mean commonalities everyone can relate to; for example: our awareness of the spaces around us, our connection to place (location), and the way we deal with problem solving nearly everyday.


4 videos, 8 readings expand

1. Video: Course Introduction Video
2. Reading: Grading and Logistics
3. Reading: Community Map
4. Reading: Cool Geodesign Resources (Use in Future Weeks; For Your Own Library Too)
5. Video: Main Lecture: Week 1
6. Reading: Alternate Access Main Lecture as Text: Week 1
7. Reading: Guest Lecture Information: Week 1
8. Video: Guest Lecture 1: Week 1
9. Video: Guest Lecture 2: Week 1
10. Reading: Change Agent Overview: Week 1
11. Reading: Case Study Examples: Week 1
12. Reading: Activities and Explorations: Week 1

Graded: Week 1: Shared Languages

WEEK 2


Week 2: The Three D's of Geodesign



In this second week we begin piecing together some of the key components that are central to the geodesign process. These happen to all start with "D": Design, Decision, and Data. By the end of this lesson I hope you will recognize how these three key components are interrelated.


3 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Video: Main Lecture: Week 2
2. Reading: Alternate Access Main Lecture as Text: Week 2
3. Reading: Guest Lecture Information: Week 2
4. Video: Guest Lecture 1: Week 2
5. Video: Guest Lecture 2: Week 2
6. Reading: Change Agent Overview: Week 2
7. Reading: Case Study Examples: Week 2
8. Reading: Activities and Explorations: Week 2

Graded: Week 2: The Three D's of Geodesign

WEEK 3


Week 3: The Three C's of Geodesign



In this third week you will begin to recognize the complexities inherent in the geodesign process.We will also get into two topics that without which, geodesign is likely to fail: computation and collaboration. As it happens these all begin with “C,” hence this week is the Three C's of Geodesign. By the end of this lesson I hope you will recognize how these three key topics are put into action to accomplish geodesign.


3 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Video: Main Lecture Week 3
2. Reading: Alternate Access Main Lecture as Text: Week 3
3. Reading: Guest Lecture Information: Week 3
4. Video: Guest Lecture 1: Week 3
5. Video: Guest Lecture 3: Week 3
6. Reading: Change Agent Overview: Week 3
7. Reading: Case Study Examples: Week 3
8. Reading: Activities and Explorations: Week 3

Graded: Week 3: The Three C's of Geodesign

WEEK 4


Week 4: The Influence of Context



In this fourth week you will gain an understanding about the interrelationships of the physical and human aspects that contribute to how geodesign strategies are composed. Those physical and human aspects comprise the context for a geodesign challenge, so this lesson is titled "The Influence of Context." By the end of this lesson I hope you will recognize that through understanding the cultural and physical context of a place your geodesign team will be better equipped to propose sustainable solutions.


3 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Video: Main Lecture Week 4
2. Reading: Alternate Access Main Lecture as Text: Week 4
3. Reading: Guest Lecture Information: Week 4
4. Video: Guest Lecture 1: Week 4
5. Video: Guest Lecture 2: Week 4
6. Reading: Change Agent Overview: Week 4
7. Reading: Case Study Examples: Week 4
8. Reading: Activities and Explorations: Week 4

Graded: Quiz 4: The Influence of Context

WEEK 5


Week 5: Process and Framework



We have been building up to this week, and now we are here-- putting all the pieces together in the geodesign process! In this last week (so sad to say that!) you will gain awareness about the three-stage geodesign process. The lecture includes a overview about the process through a discussion centered on one of the Case Study examples. We also have two guest lectures that share the geodesign process as applied to their work. By the end of this week I hope you will be able to distinguish between the various components of the geodesign process and how each one's role contributes to and is valuable to the whole process.


3 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Video: Main Lecture Week 5
2. Reading: Alternate Access Main Lecture as Text: Week 5
3. Reading: Guest Lecture Information: Week 5
4. Video: Guest Lecture 1: Week 5
5. Video: Guest Lecture 2: Week 5
6. Reading: Change Agent Overview: Week 5
7. Reading: Case Study Examples: Week 5
8. Reading: Activities and Explorations: Week 5

Graded: Sharing a Geodesign Challenge