Humanities 330 and Ag X330
Cal Poly Land: Nature, Technology and Society

A scientific investigation of the natural features of the Cal Poly landscape and their transformations by land management technology. Analysis of the environmental, economic, social, and political effects of agricultural, resource extraction and construction technology on that landscape. Emphasis on the educational, land-use and long term planning issues of technology presented by this case study.
 
Section 01:MW 4:10-6:00 PM
in 053-0201
unless noted as elsewhere
Instructor: Steven Marx
phone: 756-2411
smarx@calpoly.edu
http://cla.calpoly.edu/~smarx
Office: 47-25E (Faculty Office Building)
Office hours: T: 12:30-2:00p.m.; MW 8:10-9:00 AM
class alias: hum-0330-01-042@calpoly.edu
 
 
 

Spring 2004 Schedule

Week Date Location and meeting place Topic activity guest assignments and invitations work due
I 3/29 classroom

introduction to Cal Poly Land

website tour

course profile

course objectives

workgroups for website project

possible specific website topics

 

Get class email

Journal evaluation form

Website evaluation form

 

 

  3/31 holiday--no class          
II 4/5 53-201 exploring our environment campus hike and class discussion Matt Ritter, Biological Sciences   Read preface, introduction and Places section of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide (pp. iii-23)
  4/7 Poly Canyon-- gate Geology and Climate

hike

study of geology and geological time and space

David Chipping, Physics

picture gallery

read and study: all documents linked to Geology and Climate on Polyland website

 

 Read Geology and Climate chapters in Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide (pp.24-45)
III 4/12 12-110

Making Webpages for Cal Poly Land website


workgroups formed

accessing servers

making pages

 

 

 

  4/14 53-201 for introduction followed by hike Soil and Water Resources  

Del Dingus, Soil Science

His Powerpoint Presentation

explore the Soils and Water section of the Cal Poly Land Website

Read Soils and Water chapter of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide

 

IV 4/19

Horse Canyon

meet at Arboretum in Environmental Horticulture Unit on Via Carta [item 48 on this map]

Plant communities and Vegetation  

David Keil, Biological Sciences

 

read and study the the Plant communities sections of the Cal Poly Land website

Read the Vegetation chapter of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide

Journal check--conference schedule

  4/21 12-110 working on journals and websites       Journal check--conference schedule
  4/23 Chumash Auditorium 4-6pm EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY--University Earth Day Convocation Special Event David Orr, Oberlin College, Warren Baker, Cal Poly President and many more    
V 4/26 53-201

Archaeology and History

Complete lecture as RealPlayer file

 

Dan Krieger, History

  read the Archaeology and History chapters of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide
  4/28

Trestle, Water Plant, Cheda Ranch

meet at Stenner Road Trestle at 4:10 [directions]

Train technology, water system, reservoirs, sheep, holistic grazing 2004 pictures Rob Rutherford, Animal Science

 

Read Technology chapter and Agriculture chapter of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide

 

VI 5/3

Chumash Challenge

Meet at site, Stenner Creek Road

  2004 pictures substitute assignment for journal   read the Recreation chapter of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide
  5/5 Stenner Canyon Meet at Serrano Ranch, end of Stenner Creek Road Watersheds, Wildlife and Infrastructure

hike

map of Serrano Ranch

Francis Villablanca, Biological Sciences

pictures

 

Read Birds and Wildlife Chapter of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide

 

 

VII 5/10 12-110 Working on Websites       webpage instructor review
  5/12 53-201 Technology and Sustainability   Ed Johnson Utilities manager and Rex Wolf, University Architect  

read Technology chapter of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide

journals collected--for provisional evaluation

VIII 5/17

Pennington Canyon

how to get there

hike map

 

Range Management, Geology, History, Landscape Appreciation Pictures Student Ranch Manager: Meridith Shempp   Arts chapter of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide
  5/19

Campus Farm--student experimental farm

map to get there

 

    Hunter Francis, Crop Science, Neil McDougal AgBusiness, Anthony Reis, Dairy Herd Manager

read and study the Agriculture chapter of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide

Download and read Natural
Capitalism

chapter 10

 
IX 5/24 12-110--website presentations and feedback from class        

 

  5/26

Business School Fountain, front lawn

 

Land Use and Stewardship: the Master Plan  

Linda Dalton, Cal Poly Chief Planning Officer

read the Stewardship chapter of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide

read executive summary of Cal Poly Master Plan

study the Stewardship section of Cal Poly Land website

 

read the Stewardship chapter of Cal Poly Land: A Field Guide

X 5/31 holiday     Website construction ideas    
  6/2 12-110--website submission date         sample website evaluation [foundation]
Final Exam Week Monday June 7--4:10-6:00 P.M. 53-201     Final Public Presentation of Websites    
  Wednesday June 9       journals collected at instructor's office or English office 47-25E at 5:00 p.m.    

Workload and Grading

  1. Journal
    1. Students keep a weekly journal--on paper or or as web site. Entries include written prose as well as maps, diagrams, drawings, photos, and other forms of expression.
    2. Journal entries center on the week’s place on Cal Poly Land, combining what students learn from lecture-presentations and reading with what they discover during the talk-walk and independent exploration.
    3. The weekly Journal entry has three elements: 1) a descriptive account of a place on Cal Poly Land 2) a scientific explanation of how something observed was made and how it works 3) a discussion of both sides of an issue regarding land and technology.
    4. Journals are collected twice during quarter for comments and grading, once on May 12 and again on June7. The total of journal grades comprises 60% of the course grade.
  2. Final Project
    1. During the time scheduled for the final exam, the class makes a public presentation of its collaborative work. The presentation is an updated and expanded version of the Cal Poly Land website developed by the instructors.
    2. Like the course itself, the website is divided by abstract topic as well as by concrete place. In groups of four, selected by major or previous expertise, students assemble, elaborate and design materials relevant to one of the first eight units of the course, maintaining a focus on the central theme of land management technology and the interplay among nature, technology and society on Cal Poly Land. For example, one group might work on the topic of the railroad, including materials on the creation of the Cuesta Grade right of way and trestle, the role of the railroad in the founding of the University, the constraints to Poly's Master Plan development created by present railroad policies, and the safety and maintenance of the section of track running through the University, augmented by sounds of engines and engineers. Each group is responsible for delivering a high-quality component of the final website and for a brief presentation to the whole class during lectures and talk-walks. This ongoing group-work encourages specialization to balance the multidisciplinary scope of each student’s journal.
    3. The final grade on the group project counts 40% of each student’s grade.