Course Description

This is a graduate level course that assumes that you have primary responsibility for your own learning. I invite you to consider knowledge a shared resource, and like other common resources, it is one that can be nurtured with common cause or abused when responsibility is disregarded. We will devote in-class time to building shared expectations and norms to meet your own and your classmates’ highest aspirations for learning with and from one another.

This class integrates theory and practice from the first session. The primary learning tools will be readings, class discussions, simulations, and interaction with classmates and invited guests. Your primary requirements to take advantage of these opportunities are attention, initiative, risk and hard work!

Requirements

Ongoing shared journal as blo and two synthesis essays. (30%). Active class participation (30%). A group report and presentation concerning recommendations for addressing a complex issue involving multiple stakeholders and publics (40%).

Readings

Judith E Innes, David E Booher. Planning with Complexity: An Introduction to Collaborative Rationality for Public Policy. E. F. Dukes and K. Firehock. Collaboration: A Guide for Environmental Advocates [free]. E. F. Dukes, M. Piscolish, J. Stephens. Reaching for Higher Ground in Conflict Resolution: Tools for Powerful Groups and Communities. [free loaner copies available for the duration of the class]