University of Wisconsin – Stout

Outreach Program

Course #/Title: AEC 191

The Built Environment: Past / Present / Future

Credits: 3 Spring 2018

Last Updated: April 18, 2018

Instructor
Sam Bontrager, AIA Email: bontragers0914@uwstout.edu
Office: 157A Jarvis Building Cell: 612.554.2089

Blended Instruction: Online and In-Person Course

Course Schedule
Dates: January 21, 2018 – May 11, 2018
(SEE ATTACHED)

Course Overview

Description
Construction and its relationship to resources, materials, and the culture in which it takes place.
Discussion of significant historical and modern structures. Emphasis on how, why, and by whom
structures are built and what can be learned from them.

This course examines the world of architecture and construction, both past and present trends, and
what the future holds. The semester material will be focused on two critical topics of the built
environment, architectural (historical) preservation and architectural sustainability. We will learn about
the historic architectural, preservation intervention approaches, state and federal preservation and
green building organizations and agencies, and technical, legal and economic aspects of preservation.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course the student will:

• Given appropriate material, summarize key events in legislation that pertains to

historic preservation in the United States, in timeline format without errors
• Given government websites, describe the relationship between examined built
structures and the resources/technology available for preservation assessment
and document processing
• Given proper training, identify national and international green building
assessment systems based on design process
• Identify and integrate innovative construction trends that encourage individual
and professional responsibility while preserving historically significant
architecture

Course Goals

• Students will demonstrate their proficiency in speaking and writing skills through scholarly essay
assignments and presentations of specified subjects within the curriculum.
• Through weekly discussion students will demonstrate critical thinking skills: Which is defined as the
ability to raise clear and precise questions, use abstract ideas to interpret information, consider
diverse points of view, and reach well-reasoned conclusions.
• A semester-long group project will provide the opportunity for students to develop research skills:
Which is defined as the ability to gather, assess, record, and apply relevant information in
coursework.
• Interactive debate of relevant preservation efforts encourages understanding of ethics and
professional judgment: Which is to understand the ethical issues involved in the formation of
professional judgment in design and practice.
• Field activities provide opportunities for students to identify pragmatic and effective management of
personnel, materials, equipment, costs, and time related to architectural preservation.
• Curricula topics address the student’s role as a member of a multi-disciplinary team. Course work will
examine the various roles and responsibilities of project participants throughout a project’s life and the
creative ways that project teams can be assembled.
• Fundamental topics provide an appropriate combination of breadth and depth in current construction
industry practice. These topics develop skills that will facilitate advancement of the individual in the
construction profession.

Course Outline
Unit 1 – Historic Preservation Introduction
• Historic Preservation
• Preservation Movement in the US
Unit 2 – Historic Site Documentations
Unit 3 – Intervention Approaches for Historic Sites and Buildings
Unit 4 – Sustainable Construction Introduction
• Sustainable Construction
• Green Building Design
Unit 5 – Issues in Sustainable Construction
• Site and Landscape
• Building Design
Unit 6 – Innovative Trends in Sustainable Construction
Method of Assessment
Course evaluation is based on the following three categories:

Individual Assignments & Tests 66% - This section is comprised of individual assignments
online tests

➢ Required Individual Assignments

• Assignment 1: American Architectural Style Essay 25
• Assignment 2: Intervention Approaches Essay 25
• Assignment 3: Personal Carbon Footprint 25
• Assignment 4: Sustainability and Preservation Opinion Essay 25

➢ Required Individual Projects

• Historic Preservation (HP) Project 100
• Sustainable Construction (SC) Project 100

➢ Tests
• Test 1 Mid-Term 50
• Test 2 Final 25

In-Person Weekend Attendance at FVTC 23% - It is required to attend the weekend class
sessions. You are in essence attending 6 classroom lessons in the four days that we meet at
Fox Valley Tech.

➢ Weekend Class
• Weekend 1 Feb 2 and 3 60
• Weekend 2 Apr 20 and 21 60

Discussion Board Postings 11% - This section is comprised of conversations with your online
classmates. This is a way to hold a “conversation” and debate issues.

➢ Discussion Board
• Discussion postings (10 each) 60
TOTAL: 555

ALL outside assignments must be completed to pass the course.

Assignments must be submitted by 11:59 pm Central Time Zone on the assigned due date.
Assignments and tests will be graded and returned in a timely manner.

The final grade is based on the following:

92 - 100% total points = A

83 - 91% total points = B
73 - 82% total points = C
60 - 72% total points = D
below 60% total points = F
Required Text

• Norman Tyler, et al. Historic Preservation: An Introduction to Its History, Principles, and Practice.

(Second Edition) New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2009. (RENTAL)

• Charles J. Kibert Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery (Third Edition)

New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013. (E-TEXT)

When an E-Textbook is used, it will be provided through Learn@UW-Stout. Students will

not need to purchase or rent a textbook whenever an e-textbook is assigned.
You can find helpful information via RedShelf’s FAQ Help
Page: https://uwstout.redshelf.com/faq/.

Discussion Posts Scoring Guide

Discussion activities are a key component of this course. In each unit, you will engage in
critical discussions with other learners on topics raised in the unit. As the instructor, I will
facilitate the discussions and read the posts but will not respond to every single post. In most
cases, I might share a related idea, redirect if the discussion gets off track, or connect
comments to help explore the topic more deeply. There will be due dates for initial posts and
replies to classmates each week. This will allow enough time for learner-to-learner
interaction. If you have difficulty working with this schedule, contact your instructor prior to the
beginning of the unit.

Points Possible
10-8 7-5 4-3 2-1 0
Meets all of the Is deficient on at Deficient on 2-3 Deficient Did not
criteria outlined least one of the criteria. on most post.
below. criteria below. criteria.
Course Policies
This is a traditional online course consisting of lectures, class discussions, outside readings,
assignments and group work using an online delivery. Material will be available online at D2L and
include web-enhanced activities. Access D2L at https://uwstout.courses.wisconsin.edu/. Pay close
attention to the schedule. The course is divided into units of instruction and there is usually an
assignment with each unit. Activities to reinforce the learning steps are provided and should be
done at the highest level possible. As you accomplish each competency, there will be opportunities
to contact the instructor for feedback.

Course content is organized into five units with each containing an introduction, competencies and
procedures/assignments to follow to complete the unit. The procedures in each unit should be
closely followed. For each unit there are introductory statements, assignments, references, and
discussion questions. There are discussion questions at the end of each textbook reading, which
should be reviewed. PowerPoint slides, recorded lectures and handouts are available in the Content
folder of D2L for each unit.

Attendance

Students should be prepared on all reading assignments. Being enrolled in an online course
requires review of all materials posted in D2L including the slides, handouts and streaming video
class. Without preparation and review, you are missing important information, activities and
experiences that will contribute to meeting the course objectives.

Academic Honesty

Statement from the UW-Stout Dean of Students web site

(http://www.uwstout.edu/services/dean/facultystaff/dishonesty.cfm):

Special Needs

UW-Stout strives for an inclusive learning environment. If you anticipate or experience any
barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please meet with me so that we can
discuss ways to ensure full access. If you determine that additional disability-related
accommodations are necessary please contact the Disability Services office (206 Bowman Hall,
232-2995, http://www.uwstout.edu/disability ).

If you have religious beliefs that entail special requirements affecting this course, please make
your situation known to the Instructor within 14 days after the start of the semester.

Assignments
You are responsible for learning the material covered and all assignments given.

No make-up exams will be allowed unless prior permission of the instructor has been
given or an unusual circumstance has transpired.

Last Updated: May 11, 2018