Spring 2019 • 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 2019

2 Credits
http://www.unri.org/arbordesign

Instructor: David Bloniarz,

Urban Forester, USDA Forest Service
202 Holdsworth
phone: (413) 537-3748
email: bloniarz@eco.umass.edu

Seminar Session: Monday 4:00 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 Section-
Elevation and Computer Graphics by Tony Bertauski; ISBN-9780131720633

SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain, and Architecture 2nd
Edition, Author: Daniel Tal, Publisher: Wiley. ISBN-13: 978-1118985076; ISBN-10: 1118985079

You can probably find used copies from Stockbridge Seniors. Also, the following tools will be required in
order to complete the assignments and fully participate in the class assignments. At a minimum the
following items will be needed to initially participate in the course: 12” Triangular Architect’s
Scale, 12” Triangular Engineer’s 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 Engineer’s and Architect’s 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 course’s 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 peer-
evaluation 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) 500 points

Reading Briefs (4x50 points each) 200 points
Final Exam/Project 300 points
Class Attendance & Participation 200 points
Total Possible Points 1200 points

Final Grading Evaluation

A 1140-1200 points (95.0% - 100.0%) Exemplary

A- 1080-1139 points (90.0% - 94.9%) Much above average
B 1032-1079 points (86.0% - 89.0%) Above average
B- 972-1031 points (81.0% - 85.0%) Above average
C 924-971 points (77.0% - 80.0%) Average
C- 864-923 points (72.0% - 76.0%) Below average
D 804-863 points (67.0% - 71.0%) Much below average
D- 756-803 points (63.0% - 66.0%) Much below average

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 2017-2019, 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 week’s 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
1 01-28-2019 Course Introduction and Semester Outline
2 02-04-2019 An Overview of The Vocabulary of Design
Preparing Presentation & Communication Materials
3 02-11-2019 Using the Engineer’s and Architect’s Scales
4 02-19-2019 Reading & Understanding Architectural and Engineering Drawings
TUESDAY Computer Aided Design Tools
5 02-25-2019 Application of Google Sketch Up
6 `03-04-2019 Digital Photography, Imaging and Workflow
Google Maps and Google Earth software tools