Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
To succeed in this course there are some required and some preferred prerequisites.
Required Prerequisites
- Computer use proficiency
- Some knowledge on building design and operations
- ARCH 5812, ARCH 5822
Preferred Prerequisites
- Knowledge of building design (architecture or engineering degree)
- Autodesk Revit, SketchUp, or Rhino
Course Materials
You will need to purchase a one year education license ($55) of SketchUp with your OU email account through the Creation Engine. All additional required materials are in the "Start Here" module (resources page) and linked to the individual weekly modules' resources page within Canvas.
Grades
Breakdown
|
Task |
Description | Grade Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | Participation encompasses engagement through pre-session questions on the discussion board, active involvement in live sessions featuring discussions of popular Canvas-submitted questions, and contributions to both teacher-led and student-led discussions. | 10% |
| Quizzes |
Quizzes will assess comprehension of discussed topics on weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6, each containing 10 items (multiple choice, multi-select, true/false) at 1 point per item. With a 20-minute time limit, one attempt is permitted, and quizzes are open book and open notes, due by noon on the day following the Live Session. |
15% |
| Reports |
During weeks 3, 5, and 7, in teams of two, you will collaboratively produce three short reports, each valued at 100 points and assessed based on a provided rubric. |
45% |
| Final Project |
You will collaboratively produce a final report in teams of three to four. Worth 100 points, and comprising 30% of your total grade, this report involves wrapping up course concepts and conducting an analysis on a chosen building, with evaluation based on a provided rubric. |
30% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
Grading will be given in percentages. Please see the table below to understand how those percentages correspond to letter grades.
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Live Session Attendance and Participation
Includes:
- Pre-session questions from discussion board
- Active participation in the Live Session:
-
- Discussion of most popular questions submitted on Canvas
- A teacher-led discussion
- Student-led discussion
Quizzes
Four (4) quizzes will be administered on weeks 1, 2, 4 and 6 testing your understanding of the discussed topics. Each quiz will have 10 items at 1 point each: multiple choice, multi-select, true/false. Each quiz will have a 20-minute time limit, and students will have only one attempt. Open book and open notes allowed. Due by noon on the day after the Live Session
Reports
Three (3) short reports will be produced on weeks 3, 5 and 7 where you get to practice using the software. Each report will be evaluated on a given rubric. Reports will be done in teams of two.
- cove.tool: an online platform that assists designers with early design decisions by evaluating the performance of the building. This is done with simple box energy modeling and daylight analysis. cove.tool has its own geometry modeling platform, but users can upload models from Revit, SketchUp or Rhino.
-
- Week 2: Overview of basic concepts of cove.tool and the online platform
- Week 3: Uploads from SketchUp and Revit and performance analysis
- Sefaira: a plugin for SketchUp with a powerful online platform that assists designers with decisions at the early stages of design by providing information on the energy performance and daylight of the building.
-
- Week 4: Overview of the basic concepts of Sefaira and the SketchUp component
- Week 5: Review of the energy analysis and optimization on the Web Application
- Autodesk Insight: an online platform that is used to analyze the performance of buildings during all stages of design. It is getting geometry information from a Revit model that can vary in complexity depending on the stage of the project and provide daylight information.
-
- Week 6: Overview of the basic concepts of Insight and the Revit environment
- Week 7: Review of the performance analysis and Insights on the online platform.
Final Project
For the course's culmination, you will collaboratively produce a final report in teams of three to four. This report involves wrapping up course concepts and conducting an analysis on a chosen building, with evaluation based on a provided rubric. This final week of the course will focus on synthesizing the final project report and understanding how the three demonstrated software can influence the design process.
Course Policies
Communication
I will be available to answer your emails within 48 hours, Monday through Friday. Please allow enough time to get an answer before a deadline is due. I may be periodically checking emails over the weekend, but this is not a guarantee.
If your question is something that the entire group would benefit from hearing the answer, please ask it on the Course Help Board. You might even get an answer from one of your peers faster than me.
I will not be holding office hours, but I can be available for a meeting if you need specific help during the two hours before the Live Session. Please make sure to schedule a time with me at the latest the day before and I will send you a Zoom link.
Feedback
Expect to receive feedback and grades within the week following your submission.
Late Policy
Timely feedback will only be provided for work submitted by the deadline. Late submissions will incur a daily 5% grade deduction until reaching a maximum of 60%. Prompt feedback will only be available for work that is submitted on time.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Errata and Changes
Errors and omissions to this syllabus or class presentations will be revised as observed and do not constitute incomplete or late work from students. Students are responsible for bringing the professor’s attention to any and all possible errata they encounter. The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the syllabus and content based upon course pacing and current events that may be relevant to the material.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
OU Student Rights & Responsibilities Code
Please familiarize yourself with the Student Rights & Responsibilities Code.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, the privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important in this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they can enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability or a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Institutional Equity Office (M-F, from 8-5, at 405-325-3546) or OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013).
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth-Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in the innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional information about severe weather preparedness is available through the Department of Campus Safety's Emergency Management Division.
OU-Norman Campus: Tornado Refuge Protocol
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits.
- Assist those who may need help.
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area.
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone who may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|