Course Syllabus
Contact Information
*Note: Visit Scott's OU Canvas Profile for more information about your Instructor.
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Format
- Synchronous Online: Learning occurs online and in real time. These "Live Sessions" take place weekly from 7 pm to 9 pm (CST). In the event that your work or personal schedule makes it impossible for you to attend, please review the recording of the Live Session for the particular week you were unable to attend.
Course Prerequisites
Before exploring the Start Here module, You need to complete the following:
- Ensure your LinkedIn Profile and LinkedIn Learning (LiL) Account are activated and connected.
- Review and test all links to Assumed Prior Knowledge and Course Materials (see below) to make sure they are accessible to you. Certain sites and tools may require setting up a user account or profile. Make sure you are set up in advance. Last-minute technical support or troubleshooting of these types of issues will not be feasible as we learn together in real-time.
- View all Guest Speaker bios and submit questions for the speaker to address no less than one (1) week before the Live Session where the Guest Speaker will join us. More detailed information regarding Guest Speakers will be found in the individual modules.
Assumed Prior Knowledge
- Design Thinking, Social Innovation, and Complex Systems (LinkedIn Learning Module + Certificate)
- Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity’s Implicit Bias Module Series (Online Learning Modules + Certificate)
- Equity in Architecture: It's Part of Sustainability (Blog Post)
Course Materials
All required materials can be found linked to the individual weekly modules within Canvas. They are also available at the RESOURCES: Course Materials page in the Start Here Module.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)
The Human Centric Design course in the MS in Sustainable Architecture program aligns closely with the program learning outcomes (PLOs), emphasizing research, design, and societal impact through a human-centered lens. CLO A addresses bias assessment and JEDI issues, aligning with research methodologies and the AIA Framework for Design Excellence (PLOs 1, 5). CLO B focuses on understanding how policies and the built environment impact individuals and groups, directly supporting the PLO on accounting for ESG impacts (PLO 4). CLO C integrates research on human comfort and thermodynamics with JEDI principles, aligning with research, design and assessment, societal impact, and the AIA Framework (PLOs 1, 2, 4, 5). This comprehensive alignment ensures students develop a nuanced understanding of human-centric sustainable architecture, considering both technical and social aspects in their approach to design.
- Research - Research and evaluate emerging science and methodologies for optimizing building and human performance through the case study method.
- Design, Build, and Assess - Use analysis, tools, and methods to design, develop, select materials and assess the building systems and performance of code-compliant sustainable projects.
- Fund and Manage - Evaluate financing and life cycle cost accounting strategies used in green building initiatives.
- Account for ESG Impacts - Explain how design decisions impact society, systemic issues and the environment for all communities today and in the future.
- AIA Framework - Demonstrate integrated project design and sustainability within the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) Alignment
| CLO | Description | PLO |
|---|---|---|
| A | Bias Awareness. Learn about implicit and explicit bias and practice situating their own identities and biases. Evaluate strengths and areas for improvement in terms of biases and JEDI issues through interactive group work, journaling, and documentation. | 1, 5 |
| B | Social Equity. Describe how to research information, understand policies and how the built environment can affect individuals and groups of people over time. | 4 |
| C | Fundamentals of Human Comfort and Thermodynamics. Research and explain the metrics of human comfort, and thermodynamics through the lens of JEDI principles. | 1, 2, 4, 5 |
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn Learning Course: Completion + Certificate | After completing the LinkedIn trainings relevant to each module topic, the certification will need to appear on your personal LinkedIn page. Be aware that some modules have more than one required video. | 100 |
| Kirwan Institute Implicit Bias Series: Completion + Certificate | After completing all modules in this series, you will need to request an email verification of completion of each module's quiz or certification. | 100 |
| Pre-Lecture Discussion Board Participation | Pre-lecture participation will submitted via Canvas on the Discussion Board. For our first class, you will answer a prompt about your expectations for this course. For each class after, you will submit your feedback after reviewing the materials for that week. | 90 |
| Guest Speaker Preparation | After reviewing the speaker bios, you will need to submit at least two questions in a discussion post before the speaker's visit. | 60 |
| Paired Interviews: Notes, Summary & Report Outs | To help you reflect on your awareness and understanding of JEDI, implicit bias, and key aspects of identity, values, and principles, you will take part in an interview, note-taking, and report out with a paired partner assigned to you in class. | 40 |
| Paired Research: Gather, Assemble & Submission | To build upon your growing awareness and understanding of JEDI, implicit bias, and key aspects of identity, values, and principles, you will collaborate with your paired partner to research, organize, refine, and present exciting information related to a specific place or region of your choosing. | 70 |
| Post-Lecture Weekly Reflective Journal | For your Post-Lecture Journal entries, you will answer a prompt in a discussion post. To get full credit for each Post-Lecture Journal, you will also need to comment on at least two posts from your colleagues. | 140 |
| Short Narrative Report & Final Presentation | You will create a Short Narrative Report using a design and publishing application (e.g. Adobe InDesign or PowerPoint). You will present a high-level "executive summary" of your Short Narrative Report in the final class in groups. You will also be expected to provide constructive feedback to your colleagues on their presentations. | 200 |
| Total | 800 |
Scale
| 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
During our Live Sessions, we will synthesize the information you have collected from your readings, videos, interviews, online resources reviews, and interactions with guest speakers into a further exploration of each module’s topic. This discussion will often continue in small breakout groups where you and your colleagues will dive deeper into your own experiences and perspectives on each topic.
Guest Speaker Preparation
We will have a guest speaker join our Live Session on three (3) occasions during this course. They will contribute relevant insight and offer a unique perspective to the module's topic. To prepare for the guest speaker, you will submit 1-2 questions beforehand for the speaker's review and to support meaningful dialogue during the Live Session.
Certifications
As indicated in modules, you will complete assigned video courses (e.g. LinkedIn Learning and Kirwan Institute) that pertain to the module's topic. Upon completion of each course or quiz, you will earn a certificate of completion. For LinkedIn, you will post this to your profile. For Kirwan, you will request email verification of completion, and share that with me. Adding the completed LinkedIn Learning certifications you'll earn throughout the course to your LinkedIn profile will show your professional network your willingness to learn and the knowledge base you've tapped into through these trainings.
Pre-Lecture Discussion Board: Weekly Dialogue
The benefits of interactive dialogue are immense. Being able to reflect on new information, pose/reply to questions, and share thoughtful feedback serves to strengthen your ability to not only absorb useful tools and techniques but better prepares you for implementing them in real-world applications. How often have you reflected on what you have learned from mentors and peers? Each week you will participate and connect in ways that illustrate leadership, awareness and expertise in the module's topic. Optionally, you may wish to schedule a meeting with me to pose more detailed questions or backcheck ideas that might support your pre-lecture efforts. Using the discussion board participation as a touch point is highly recommended.
Post-Lecture Journal: Reflection
The post-lecture journal reflection will facilitate processing what we have learned through the week's class activities (i.e. interview(s), video(s), reading(s), lecture, guest speaker, and/or group discussion(s) depending on which module we are in). Thoroughly answer the reflection prompt, and make every effort to cite materials that support your response. You will also need to comment on the reflection posts of two of your colleagues.
Final Project: Short Narrative Report
The purpose of this exercise is to empower you to process, assess, measure, and organize much of what you have learned as a foundational tool to refer back to as you progress further into the MS in Sustainable Architecture degree, as well as your practice/career. The Short Narrative Report will be completed in the following parts:
- Report: 55 pages maximum with a cover sheet, double-spaced in length; images and graphics that correlate to text; submitted to the instructor via Canvas during Week 7.
- Presentation (materials): 5 - 8 minutes live presentation to small groups via breakout groups during Week 8 (or if unable to attend, a pre-recorded video submitted to instructor via Canvas prior to the last Live Session)
- Presentation (Live Session): small group reflective discussions and peer feedback on live presentations; completed during Live Session Week 8.
Course Policies
Communication
If you need to contact me, please e-mail me directly at Scott.A.Moore-1@ou.edu. Canvas messaging is unreliable, please only use OU email for communication with me. I will do my best to respond within 24 hours, 48 hours max. As needed, if you have a need to speak directly, please also include potential dates/times in your email and we can work towards setting up a video call, as needed. Please note that work-life balance is very important to me, and I make an effort to avoid checking e-mail on the weekends if at all possible.
How will we address each other? My pronouns are he/him. In terms of titles, I am fortunate to have many titles for you to choose from, but "Mr. Moore y Medina" (which honors both of my parents) or "Mr. Moore" (if we want to go strictly patrilineal) works fine. If you go by a name other than the one listed in Canvas, or have other specific information to share, please tell me how you prefer to be addressed. Additionally, if I mispronounce your name, do not hesitate to correct me.
Feedback
Unless otherwise noted, assignments will be graded within one week of submission. If you would like a deeper dive into any feedback or grade you receive, I am happy to set up individual video conference meetings to discuss further.
Late Policy
Late work will be accepted with a grade penalty as specified in the assignment rubrics. All assignments must be submitted by the due date. Extensions must be arranged in writing a minimum of two hours prior to the deadline. Late submissions will incur a 10% grade reduction per day, and assignments submitted 3 or more days late will receive zero points. Any extensions of assignment due dates due to university-excused absences or for personal reasons (sickness, family emergency, etc.) must be arranged prior to the assigned due date.
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.
Additional Resources
If you need additional support or guidance in navigating Canvas, please visit the Sustainable Architecture Student Orientation Course for helpful tutorials, tips, and resources to enhance your experience with our learning management system.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Access the University Academic Policies Document.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|