GEOG 4030Y: COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY (FW) Peterborough.

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1 DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY TRENT UNIVERSITY GEOG 4030Y: COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY (FW) Peterborough Geography Department: Instructors: Prof. HEATHER NICOL Phone x 7107 Prof. PETER LAFLEUR plafleur@trentu.ca x 7487 Office Location: HN- ESC B307 PML ESB C127 Office Hours: Monday 10-12:00 Wednesday 10-12:00 Secretary: MARILYN MILLER mmiller@trentu.ca Office Location: ESC C204 Tel: ext Community-based Education Program: Trent Centre for Community-Based Education Projects Coordinator: Marjorie McDonald marjoriemcdonald@trentcentre.ca Telephone: U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research HEATHER REID, Director ulinks@on.aibn.com Tel: ( ) COURSE DESCRIPTION Synopsis This course is concerned with developing skills in community-based research. It encourages student-led research in applied geography in partnership with community organizations. Students will complete research projects situated within various sub-fields of study in human and physical geography, designed to meet the needs of a community group, government agency or business. Working alone or in small groups, each student will work on an individual project or be responsible for individual components of a larger group project. The projects are supervised by the course instructors in collaboration with the Trent Centre for Community-Based Education ( and the U-Links Center for Community-Based Research in Haliburton County ( with input from community organizations. Seminars featuring student, instructor and guest presentations, workshops and research-focused discussions are crucial to the 1

2 success of the projects and the course. The seminars focus on elements of community-based research, project design and implementation, data collection and analysis, report writing and presentation as well as peer support and professional development. Learning objectives Gain experience in undertaking applied, geographical research and community-based research. Develop the skills necessary to carry out an applied research project including the design and implementation of a research proposal, the collection and analysis of data, and the writing and presentation of a final report. Develop skills in community-based research including the ability to negotiate with community partners and assess their research needs, develop a professional collaborative relationship, and convey realistic expectations to research partners. Develop professional development skills in project management, leadership and collaboration, and writing and communication. Teaching approach The completion of the applied research project involves substantial self-directed learning with the assistance of the course instructors and the TCCBE and U-Links staff plus community partners. Students must be committed to the research process and are encouraged to discuss any questions or concerns about course material, requirements and special learning needs with the course instructors. Course material is available through learningsystem/blackboard and the instructor and TCCBE and U-Links staff are available by , phone and in-person during office hours. Course Format: Type Day Time Locations Seminar Monday 12:00-14:50 ESC C205 and community locations (see course schedule) Course Readings (recommended): Weekly seminar readings will be available on the learningsystem/blackboard website or on reserve. You will be advised each week in class, and online, which readings to access for the following week s seminar. Course Evaluation: Course Components Weighting Deadlines Project Report I: Proposal 10% November 12 Presentation I: (Proposal) 5% November 19 Project Report II: Literature Review and Methods 15% December 3 FALL GRADE = 30% Project Report III: First Draft 10% February 11 2

3 Presentation II: Community Event Poster 5% March 23 and April 4 Presentation III: Findings Seminar 5% March 14 Project Report IV: Final Report 45% March 25 WINTER GRADE = 65% Community-based Education Participation 5% TOTAL GRADE 100% Upload all assignments to GEOG 4030Y learningsystem/blackboard (see Assignments ) by 11:59 pm. on due date Community-based Education Participation (5%) Each student will be evaluated on their eight-month participation in the Community-based Education component of GEOG Students CBE participation will be based on feedback received at various points in the course from representatives of the TCCBE, U-Links and the host organizations. GEOG 4030Y MAJOR RESEARCH PROJECT DELIVERABLES To guide the preparation of the Final Report of the GEOG 4030 Major Research Project the course requires four written components (Project Reports I, II, III & IV) and three presentations (Research Presentations I, II & III, one of which is a poster). Project Report I: Research Proposal (10%) The research proposal will be developed in accordance with specific guidelines provided by the instructors and TCCBE and U-Links. The proposal will double as the research agreement contract with your host organization. Project Report I (proposals) must be submitted to the instructors, in electronic format, by November Presentation I: Proposal (5%) Students will present a progress report in-class that shows work completed to date on your research proposal and literature and methods review. Presentations will be 10 minutes long and use PowerPoint slides. Other details of the presentations will be discussed in class. Research Presentation I will be on November 19, Project Report II: Literature Review & Methods (15%) Students will complete a review of literature relevant to their research project, including a detailed outline of where the project is situated within the discipline of geography and appropriate research methods. Details will be discussed in class. Project Report II (lit review & methods) is due on December 3, Project Report III: First Draft (10%) Students will submit a First Draft of their project including progress to date on the research project implementation and analysis, including a comprehensive outline of the contents of the Final Report. Details will be discussed in class. Project Report III (first draft) is due on February 11,

4 Presentation II: Community Event Poster (5%) Groups and/or individual students will prepare a poster of their research findings to be presented to the host organizations and community members at the community research events held by the TCCBE (Peterborough) and U-Links (Haliburton). Details about the preparation and printing of posters using PowerPoint will be discussed in class. The Research Presentation II (posters) will be presented at the U-Links Celebration of Research, Haliburton on Saturday March 23, 2013 and the TCCBE Knowledge in Action Forum, Peterborough on April 4. Presentation III: Findings Seminar (5%) Groups and/or individual students will prepare a formal presentation of their research findings near the end of the year. Host organizations, research partners and the broader community will be invited, and all students will be expected to attend all the final presentations. Presentations will be 20 minutes long and use PowerPoint slides. Other details of the presentations will be discussed in class. Research Presentation III will be on March 14, Project Report IV: Final Report (45%) For the end of year, students will produce a final research report detailing the research design and findings of their project. The length of reports will vary according to the nature of the project. Final reports will include an introduction, a review of the relevant literature, a statement of the methodology used, analysis of the findings and a discussion of the implications of the findings for the community. The reports will communicate the findings with text, tables, charts and figures. An extensive and consistent system of referencing must be used throughout the report. Project Report IV (Final Report) is due no later than March 25, Final Grade: The Final Report will be evaluated and returned to the students/groups by April 3, 2013, for any required editing before it will be disseminated to the community hosts. Students will not receive a final grade for GEOG 4030Y until the edited version of the Final Report is re-submitted no later than April 8, COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH PROJECTS* GEOG 4030Y requires students to complete a community-based research project through TCCBE and U-Links, which coordinate community projects in Peterborough and Haliburton, respectively. Information about available projects, including descriptions of host organizations and proposed projects, is available at The projects are assigned to students from across Trent University after consultation among co-ordinators, instructors and students, on a first-come first-serve basis. It is important that students are prepared to sign-up for a project in the first few weeks of class in September). Haliburton County Peterborough County (& City) 4

5 *see for list of available projects and project details University and Departmental Policies University Policies Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely serious academic offence and carries penalties varying from a 0 grade on an assignment to expulsion from the University. Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with plagiarism and cheating are set out in Trent University s Academic Integrity Policy. You have a responsibility to educate yourself unfamiliarity with the policy is not an excuse. You are strongly encouraged to visit Trent s Academic Integrity website to learn more: Access to Instruction: It is Trent University's intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student has a disability and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may need accommodations to succeed in this course, the student should contact the Disability Services Office (BH Suite 132, disabilityservices@trentu.ca). University Regulations: Please see the Trent University academic calendar for University Diary dates, Academic Information and Regulations, and University and departmental degree requirements. Last date to withdraw from Fall/Winter full courses without academic penalty in is February 7, Department and/or Course Policies Absence from Class. Any student who needs to be absent from class for cultural or religious reasons should inform the instructors in writing before the end of September. Ancillary Fee. As approved by the Trent University Board of Governors, GEOG 4030Y students may be required to pay an ancillary fee of $25 for field trips and/or materials. Grammar & Style. It is expected that written submissions in Geography courses will conform to high standards of grammar and style. Although the penalty may vary from course to course, and from one kind of written work to another, bad grammar and style will be penalized in all grading of written work submitted in Geography courses. Late Policy. Extensions for the assignments will only be given for medical or compassionate reasons validated by a note from a doctor or counsellor. Submissions after the deadline without a valid reason will be penalized 10% per day. Submissions more than 10 days late will not be accepted. Research Ethics. GEOG 4030Y projects involve research on human subjects, which requires students and faculty to comply with Trent University s research ethics guidelines. Approval from the Department of Geography Ethics Committee is mandatory before students can undertake research for their projects. Information about the application for ethics approval and deadlines is posted at 5

6 Community-based Education. The course features collaborations among geography students and faculty, TCCBE and U-Links, and the Peterborough and Haliburton communities. The responsibilities of students participating in community-based projects are to: (i) undertake the project conscientiously and with due respect to the expectations of the host organization and the University; (ii) inform her/his supervisor of the project s progress and notify them of any concerns about the placement or the host organization in a timely fashion; (iii) attend and participate in all necessary meetings (with his/her instructor, placement supervisor and/or TCCBE/U-Links); (iv) ensure that the confidentiality of any information acquired in the course of his/her placement is strictly maintained, notwithstanding the host organization s commitment to make the results of the research project publicly available; and (v) provide a copies of the final report to the host organization and TCCBE/U-Links. GEOG 4030Y Course Schedule DATE (Location) Sept 10 (ES C205) Sept 17 (Traill College) Sept 24 (Fieldtrip to Haliburton) Oct 1 Oct 15 (ESC 205) Nov 5 Nov 19 Dec 3 (TBA) Jan 7 SEMINARS Community-based research in geography (Term I) Introductory seminar Introducing community projects Workshop: project details and placements discussed Developing research proposals Workshop: assigning project proposals & host contacts. Overview of proposal process. Conceptualizing research Situating your project in geography Research design Methods Ethics GEOG 4030Y alumni panel: Discussion of projects from previous years with former students. Proposal Development Workshop: filling out the proposal Workshop: research project peer-support Proposal presentations PowerPoint presentations to faculty and TCCBE/U-Links Literature review & methods Upload report to GEOG 4030Y learningsystem/blackboard site HOLIDAY BREAK Community-based research in geography (Term II) DEADLINES Decide on project Contact project host organization Deadline to submit research ethics application and proposal Presentation I: Proposal Project Report II: Lit. Review & Methods DUE 6

7 Jan 14 Jan 21 Feb 11 Mar 4 Mar 23 & April 4 (Haliburton & Peterborough) Mar 14 Progress review seminar Workshop: research project peer-support Strategies for analysis Workshop: issues and challenges of analysis Writing-up the final report Workshop: writing the First Draft First draft No seminar. Upload draft to GEOG 4030Y learningsystem/blackboard site Research Progress Progress review seminar Workshop: research project peer-support Community research events U-links poster event (Saturday 23 March) TCCBE poster event (Thursday April 4) Final presentations PowerPoint presentations to hosts, faculty and TCCBE/U-Links Project Report III: First Draft DUE Presentation II: Poster Presentation III: Findings Seminar Mar 25 Final report due Project Report IV: Final Report DUE Apr 1 Final report feedback No seminar. Feedback ed from faculty instructor Apr 8 Revised final report : No Seminar Upload final report to GEOG 4030Y learningsystem/blackboard website, send to U-Links/TCCBE Revised final report (*required for grade) 7