Spring 2017 University of Massachusetts Department of Natural Resources Conservation

Understanding the Language of Design

Landscape Contracting 105 - SPRING 2010

NRC 333 Principles of Arboriculture II

Spring 2017
2 Credits
http://www.unri.org/arbordesign
Instructor:

David Bloniarz,
Urban Forester, USDA Forest Service
202 Holdsworth
phone: (413) 545-3755
email: bloniarz@eco.umass.edu

Seminar Session: Wednesday 2:30 pm > 5:30 pm

Course Summary
Developing skills in communicating with design professionals is undertaken in
this practical applications course. The ability to understand the language of
design, and to use the communication tools utilized in professional
architectural, design and engineering practice will be presented, through
hands-on exercises and assignments.
A variety of concepts, tools and techniques will be introduced and students
will have the opportunity to enhance their skills at communicating design and
engineering concepts to various audiences.
This course will meet once per week, and include a substantial amount of
independent work by class participants. Online resources, web-based tools
and other communication technologies will be used to provide students with the technical skills needed to
understand how architects, planners, designers and engineers communicate their ideas and specifications
to practicing professionals in other disciplines. The students will be expected to develop a final project
that will incorporate many of the tools and skills developed during this 8-week course.
Required Tools
The textbook for this course is Plan Graphics for the Landscape Designer: With SectionElevation and Computer Graphics by Tony Bertauski; ISBN-9780131720633 and Google
SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture, Author:
Daniel Tal, Publisher: Wiley, Edition: 1; ISBN-9780131720633
You can probably find used copies from Stockbridge Seniors, or online at Amazon or Chegg. Also, the
following tools will be required in order to complete the assignments and fully participate in the class
assignments. Please check the course website for the specific requirements for tools that will be needed.
At a minimum he following items will be needed to initially participate in the course: 12 Triangular
Architects Scale, 12 Triangular Engineers Scale and a Section Pad with 10 Squares, Quadrille Rule, Letter
Size (8.5 x 11) or on-line generated equivalent.

Additional Course Details

Topics to be introduced during this course cover a wide of interest areas, and include:

An Overview of The Vocabulary of Design

Using the Engineers and Architects Scales
Reading & Understanding Architectural and Engineering Drawings
Computer Aided Design (CADD) Tools and Google Sketch Up
Application of Google Sketch Up, Google Maps and Google Earth software tools.
Digital Photography, Imaging and Workflow
Preparing Presentation & Communication Materials

Learning Goals
It is anticipated that students, who fully engage themselves in the content of this course, will acquire new
knowledge, skills and perspectives on how to communicate with design and engineering professionals. In
addition to familiarization with the course topics noted above, it is hoped that students will learn additional
skills related to group dynamics, collaboration, public speaking and organizational methods. These skills are
not unique to this particular course, but this course will encourage exploration of these facets of peer-base
learning, professional development and project management.
Methods of Instruction
The course will be conducted in a seminar format, which will include discussion, lecture and some student-led
presentations. Because of the large amount of materials that will be covered in this course, lecturing will be
kept to a minimum, and increased emphasis on discussion and presentations will be stressed. Each student is
responsible for staying abreast of the readings, which will vary in length and depth by topic areas, and being
prepared for in-class discussions and presentations. Participatory Learning, which encourages involvement by
all students will be encouraged and will provide the framework for the courses seminar sessions. At least one
of the class seminars will be delivered by an internet webcast session.
Instructor Availability
My office is room 130 Holdsworth Natural Resources Center. You are welcome to drop in any time during
my office hours, or contact me via e-mail to make arrangements to get together at another time. My cell
phone is 413/537-3748. My e-mail address is bloniarz@eco.umass.edu The easiest way to contact me is probably
via text on my cell.
Course Requirements
Attendance and participation in all seminar sessions.
Reading of all assigned materials.
Completion of all Take-home assignments
Submission of (3) Summary Briefs on assigned reading (typed, and in proper format).
Final Exam/Project - Preparation and submission of a final project or exam to determined by the
progress flow of this particular course.
Evaluation of Student Work
The instructor will complete review, evaluation and assignment of grades for each assignment. On some
assignments, feedback from your class colleagues will solicited, and will be used as a component of the scoring.
The feedback to, and from, your fellow students is to be constructive and supportive. In addition, the class
may divide into groups assigned by the instructor, with members of each group evaluating each other in peerevaluation exercises. Additionally, in completing group assignments or projects, an individual grade for each
team member will be awarded, based on the quality and content of contributions made to the group project
or assignment.

Assignment Points Scoring

Take-home Assignments (5x100 points each)
Reading Briefs (4x50 points each)
Final Exam/Project
Class Attendance & Participation
Total Possible Points

500 points
200 points
300 points
200 points
1200 points

Final Grading Evaluation

A
AB
BC
CD
D-

1 1 4 0 - 1 2 0 0 p oin t s (9 5 .0 % - 1 0 0 .0 % )
1 0 8 0 - 1 1 3 9 p oin t s (9 0 .0 % - 9 4 .9 % )
1 0 3 2 - 1 0 7 9 p oin t s (8 6 .0 % - 8 9 .0 % )
9 7 2 - 1 0 3 1 p oin t s (8 1 .0 % - 8 5 .0 % )
9 2 4 - 9 7 1 p oin t s (7 7 .0 % - 8 0 .0 % )
8 6 4 - 9 2 3 p oin t s (7 2 .0 % - 7 6 .0 % )
8 0 4 - 8 6 3 p oin t s (6 7 .0 % - 7 1 .0 % )
7 5 6 - 8 0 3 p oin t s (6 3 .0 % - 6 6 .0 % )

E x e m p la r y
M u ch a b ov e a v e r a g e
A b ov e a v e r a g e
A b ov e a v e r a g e
A v era g e
B e low a v e r a g e
M u ch b e low a v e r a g e
M u ch b e low a v e r a g e

Late Submission of Assignments, Presentations or Final Project

You are expected to have all required assignments, and in-class presentations and projects, submitted on the
date due. If you are late in turning in these assignments, your score will be reduced 30 percent (unless you
have a very good excuse, and it is presented prior to the class date in question). The Final Project is due on
the assigned date, with no exceptions. No late Final Projects will be accepted, since this assignment is
regarded as a University Final Examination, and it follows the specific exam calendar established by the
University.
Academic Honesty
Honesty is essential to learning and inquiry. Participation in the life of the University implies a commitment to
honesty and integrity in all academic work. Academic dishonesty is a violation of the spirit and the regulations
of the University, and will not be tolerated. Any student in our class found to be in violation of University
academic honesty regulations will automatically receive, at a minimum, a failing grade (F) for the course.
Examples of academic dishonesty include: Plagiarism, Cheating, and Fabrication. For further information on
academic honesty regulations, please consult Academic Honesty Policy for 2017-2017, which can be found at
the following website - http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/
Class Meeting Schedule & Presentation Topics
The dates and presentation topics for the course are outlined below. This is a preliminary schedule, and is
subject to change based on the actual course accomplishments. This is an aggressive schedule that is
necessary in order to fully introduce a comprehensive toolkit of learning tools to the class participants. All
readings assigned for a particular week must be completed prior to the start of that weeks class session, in
order to facilitate active discussion on the presentation topics. Please try to keep current with any readings,
since it is important to the success of the seminar sessions.

Class Meeting Schedule & Presentation Topics

Wk #

Date

Topic

01-25-2017

Course Introduction and Semester Outline

02-01-2017

An Overview of The Vocabulary of Design

3
4

02-08-2017
02-15-2017

5
6

02-22-2017
03-01-2017

03-08-2017

Using the Engineers and Architects Scales

Reading & Understanding Architectural and Engineering Drawings
Computer Aided Design Tools
Digital Photography, Imaging and Workflow
Application of Google Sketch Up, Google Maps and Google Earth
software tools.
Preparing Presentation & Communication Materials