Blog Showcase Event

In recognition of student accomplishments, the bITS Program is planning an end of the year celebration on Temple’s Main Campus. The event will showcase the weblogs created through participation in the bITS program and GUS 150, Urban Environment.

The event is open to students, faculty, friends and family. Please come and view participant work and meet ITSRG and HCC staff members with whom students have been working throughout the year.

Please Join us on Tuesday, May 9th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Room 126 - Engineering Building, Main Campus - Temple University.

Room 126 is located on the first floor of the Architecture & Engineering building, located at 12th and Norris Streets.

The Blogs

1. Urban Perspectives
2. The Urban Environment
3. Jess Musti's Geography
4. Urbanize
5. What Lies Around Us
6. Dr. GreenGlobe's Environmental Center
7. Urban Environment at Temple
8. Urban Environment Spring 2006
9. Urban Environmental Problems
10. geog0150
11. jdgriggs
12. My Space in Urban Environment
13. T. Branch and the Urban Environment
14. Urban Development
15. Urban Environmental Issues
16. Urban Environment in North Philadelphia
17. Urban Environment and You
18. Gregory Powers
19. Downtown
20. Urban Environment 1
21. Urban Environment 2
22. Urban Environment 3
23. Urban Environment TU
24. Urban Studies
25. Urbn Env
26. My Urban Environment
27. CONCRETE EARTH

Change Blog Entry Time and Date

You may wish to adjust the time and date of a specific blog entry to affect the order in which your posts appear. This can be done by editing your post. When you have entered the edit screen, you may notice a tab at the bottom of the left side of the window where content can be entered.

Click on "Post and Comment Options."

You will notice a series of buttons that permit changing the time and date of the entry.

You can also adjust whether or not to allow comments on the post.

Instructions on How to Create a Google Map JPG File

Follow these instructions to create JPG images that highlight areas you have visited during field exercises or independent research. Two examples are shown below.

1. Enter the website maps.google.com or open the Google Earth program that resides on your computer.

2. Enter the name or zipcode of the location that relates to the area you wish to map.

3. Zoom in to create a screen image that caputures the entire location you wish to manipulate as an image file.

4. Save your image as a JPG file. Click on: "File" and the "Save Image" and select JPG as the format for the image. Label the image clearly for future use.

5. Save file on the desktop of your computer.

6. Open the software application called Microsoft Paint. You can find it by clicking on the Start Menu on the bottom left screen and scrolling to Accessories.

7. In Paint: go to "File", then "Open", the browse the files on the Desktop and then find your saved image.

8. Use the tools to enhance the image, adding color for emphasis, text to create a key or label features or to shade in the area or areas of focus in the blog narratives related to this image.

9. Click save when you have finished revising the image.

10. Enter your blogsite and insert the image into the appropriate entry using the image upload button.

Examples from Class Field Exercises

The two examples shown below were created using Google Earth Pro. This software has some tools not available in the free version of Google Earth. The cost of the software is $20.00. The tool used is called "overlay". The overlay tool allows one to draw a polygon overlay. The two examples posted use the "transparency" function found by clicking "Advanced" edit when creating the Overlay. The same effect found below can be created using paint or image processing applications as per instructions provided above.

Walking Trip, Group 2, 3-22-06

North Philadelphia, PA

Walking Trip, Group 3, 3-22-06

North Philadelphia, PA

Suggested Readings Related to Gentrification

Here are links associated with a lecture given in class related to gentrification. Please review the materials in preparation for our Broad Street field exercise aimed at examining gentrification in and around Temple University.

Elvin Wyly and Daniel Hammel

Peter Marcuse – Commentary on work of Wyly and Hammel

Benjamin Grant - Flag Wars web resource, PBS

“Gentrification is a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the district's character and culture. The term is often used negatively, suggesting the displacement of poor communities by rich outsiders. But the effects of gentrification are complex and contradictory, and its real impact varies.”

Field Reports

Instructions on How to Write Field Reports

Write a 500-750 word description of field observations related to the site you have chosen to analyze for the remainder of the semester. The site could be Temple and its surrounds or one you select. Use the guide to field notes and associated field observations worksheet to provide additional information beyond your own notes when writing your report. The following elements should be included in each report.

1. Identify theme of field visit - such as interpreting
industrial historical landscape

2. Describe landscape - use inquiry questions to
guide description and support further research

3. Illustrate landscape – use photographs, maps,
drawings or other visual aids

4. Explain what illustrations are meant to visualize

5. Reference other field reports, blog entries, or
concepts to compile overall community profile

Group1 Field Work

This post provides a review of the first field exercise instructions using information provided by Group 1. A map has been created that shows the area that team members visited near Temple University in North Philadelphia. You will find a description of the places they visited and the inquiry questions asked based on field observations.

Group 1

Jessica, Brian, Theresa, Chantal, Danee, Yennaira, Jenny

Route

Depart Gladfelter Hall, South on 11th,
East on Master, North on 9th, West on Berks

Places Visited

1. St. Malachy's Church
2. Abandonned buildings/factory
3. Maltepes Boxing Gym
4. PGW
5. Hardware, produce
6. Abandonned Row Homes
7. Community park

Inquiry Questions

1. What religion is worshiped at St. Malachy?
2. What was Clermont Engineering?
3. What are smoke stacks for at U.S. uniform sales?
4. Did the empty lot used to be a warehouse?
5. How long has the school been in this location? Was it relocated from another place?
6. When did the two original factories close and why?
7. Did the church come first or did the community come first?
8. When did PGW enter the neighborhood?
9. Which factories were located here before the commuter rail line was located here?
10. What is the age of the school?
11. How long have the buildings been abandonned?
12. Did the closing of the factories cause the community around them to decline?

Mid Semester Assessment

Course Blogs will be assessed beginning March 14, 2006. Please complete the assessment worksheet distributed in class and bring to class on the 14th.

Blogs must include:

1. Assignments 1-5
2. 4-5 Key Concepts identified and defined for each assignment
3. Community Maps integrated into blog

The concept list will be graded as your midterm exam. Each concept identified and appropriately defined is worth 4 points; The total points possible are 80-100. You will receive a percentage grade, e.g. 60/80= 75%
You will also receive a mid-term class participation grade based on blog completion and self-assessment reports. The interim grade will be shown as unsatisfactory, satisfactory or very satisfactory.

Blog Design Resources

Class blogs will be assessed March 14, 2006. Please consult the following blog design resources found on the world wide web for tips on effective design. You will find information about design considerations, including: (a) blog color schemes, (b) the use of images, (c) typography, and (d) overall design.

Color

http://www.webwhirlers.com/colors/colorinfo.asp - general color information

http://wellstyled.com/tools/colorscheme2/index-en.html# - selecting color schemes 1

http://www.colormatch.dk/ - selecting color schemes 2

http://jrm.cc/color-palette-generator/index.php - generating a color palette

Images

http://www.killersites.com/killerSites/1-design/image_tools.html - tips for using images

http://www.widearea.co.uk/designer/ - creating graphics for the web

Typography

http://www.wpdfd.com/editorial/wpd0704news.htm#feature - article on general font use

http://www.wpdfd.com/editorial/wpd0600.htm#comment - web typography and background images

Overall Design

http://www.wpdfd.com/editorial/articles.htm - articles and tips on designing web and blog pages

http://www.wow-factor.com/ - web and blog design resource links

http://www.mandarindesign.com/style.html - instruction and use of style codes

Assignment #5: Community Description

Select a community, neighborhood, or unique setting in Philadelphia or the surrounding area. Describe what makes this location unique, coherent, and of interest for examining urban environments. During class we will focus particularly on the local context surrounding Temple University's Main Campus, you may choose this area as the focus of this assignment. The location you select to describe will be the setting for future assignments and provide a context for your blog project for this class.

Your description may include the following elements: a) narrative discussion of up to 750 words, b) photographs, c) maps, d) archives, e) supporting data and documentation. Please cite any reference our source material. Be sure to link your essay to this assignment entry.

Assignment #4: Environmental Ethical Dilemma

Identify and discuss an ethical dilemma that pertains to environmental quality. Discuss the values associated with each position, and explain why this dilemma does not allow for easy solutions towards the goal of enhancing environmental quality. Discuss how your own perspective on environmental problems is related to an environmental ethical position.

Please link your essay describing your discussion of an environemental ethical dilemma from the blog you have developed for GUS 150 to the comments section of this entry. Position papers should be 500-750 words in length.