Development Studies (DEST) 591 - Lecture 02
Critical Perspectives on Development Practice and Research
Winter 2007
R 14:00-17:00  

Instructor:	Dr. Karim-Aly Kassam
Office Location:	SS 206
Office Phone:	(403) 220-3396
E-Mail:	kakassam@calgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	W 10:00-12:00

Course Description

An interdisciplinary consideration of selected issues and methodologies in development, which will provide students with the critical perspective and skills needed to conceptualize, design, implement and effectively manage community development projects and programs.

This course will be conducted as a seminar-practicum for students in Development Studies. It is designed to assist the student to transcend from knowing that development theories are important to knowing how to participate in development. The course is about doing development by becoming involved in a community development-related project. This involves project conceptualization, research, planning, implementation, and producing a final report. Students are encouraged to work in groups of two.

The seminar portion of the course will focus on development issues around equity and sustainability. The goals will be to think through some of the theoretical and practical implications of both these concepts and to apply these in the context of development work.

Objectives of the Course

• To enable the student to know how to participate in development activities.

• To provide students with the tools for conceptualizing, researching, planning, implementing and evaluating a community development project.

• To help students develop a critical viewpoint on a variety of perspectives dealing with development issues.

• To enable students to design and carry out independent scholarly research that establishes their own perspective on particular issues/ topics.

• To develop skills in conceptualizing, researching, planning, implementing and evaluating a community development project.

Textbooks and Readings:

Information on readings will be available on the first day of classes

Assignments and Evaluation

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.

Practicum Project (55%) Select a project for the term. This project involves meeting with a client group or organization, developing a project plan, implementing the project, and writing a final report for the organization. This report will also be orally presented to the class. Project includes the following elements: • Project plan – written (5%) – Due February 1st in Class. • Implementation Report – written and oral presentation (10%) – 2 page Implementation Report due March 8th in Class. • Oral presentations of Final Report (10%) –April 5th and 12th. • Final report (20%) – Due April 20th in Communication and Culture Office (SS 110). • Peer Review. This grade will be determined through peer review of the individual student’s contribution to the project by the group. (10%)

*Students are encouraged to use www.wikispaces.com. It is a free online collaboration tool and offers a simple copy and paste format for file sharing within groups. A short introductory video is also offered which explains how to share files and discuss projects on the website.*

Critical Analysis Research Paper (25 %) You will identify a community development project in the literature, examine documentation on this project, look up related research literature, and develop a critical analysis of this project. NOTE: This project must have been completed in the last 5 years. An example will be provided in class. • Topic and paper outline due February 15th in Class. • Research Paper due March 15th in SS110.

Participation (20 %) • Journal Although this will not be graded, 10% of class participation will be a personal journal. You are encouraged to jot down your reflections on your project work, the challenges you are experiencing, and your learning experiences. • Seminar Participation 10% for article write ups and discussion in seminar class.

There will not be a Registrar-scheduled final examination for this course.

All components must be completed in order to pass the course.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination: No

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you wish help with your writing at any stage, including drafts, you are invited to contact the Writing Centre, SS110, 220-7255.

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people’s words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS110) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

To be handed out in class.