K-12 Landscape Architecture Education

Arnaldo Cardona

Description

This curriculum guide is designed to help learners develop critical thinking skills from engaging in interdisciplinary activities while in the natural environment. The lessons are divided by grade level. You will find lessons for students to develop skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) as well as in Social Studies, Language Arts, Writing and Art. These learning experiences will help students gain awareness of their environment, enabling them to see the world in a more holistic way.

Informations

• Publié par: Gatekeeper Press
• Date de parution: 30 septembre 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781662913631
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

K-12 Landscape Architecture Education
Published by Gatekeeper Press
2167 Stringtown Rd, Suite 109
Columbus, OH 43123-2989
www.GatekeeperPress.com
Copyright © 2021 by Arnaldo D. Cardona
All rights reserved. Neither this book, nor any parts within it may be sold or
reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including
information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from
the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in
a review.
The cover design and editorial work for this book are entirely the product of the
author. Gatekeeper Press did not participate in and is not responsible for any
aspect of these elements.
ISBN (paperback): 9781662913624
eISBN: 9781662913631
Table of Contents
Introduction
1
Chapter 1:
A Rationale for Landscape Architecture as a Central Theme
3
Chapter 2:
Pedagogical Concepts Used in the Design of This Curriculum Guide
11
Chapter 3:
K-12 Interdisciplinary Learning Experiences Using Landscape
Architecture as a Central Theme
25
Chapter 4:
Landscape Architecture Education at the Higher Education Level
83
Chapter 5:
Career Discovery Outreach
93
Chapter 6:
Implementing a Landscape Architecture Education Program at
Institutional Levels
101
About the Author
110
Bibliography
112
Appendix 1: Artifacts from Nature
114
Appendix 2: Rules
115

Dedication
While working on my thesis for my degree in Art & Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, I had the opportunity to elicit and discuss several educational issues with someone who was a teacher, principal, science coordinator and administrator at district level. After many conversations about defining education, she replied, “Education is a change of attitudes. When you become a teacher, you will understand.” She added, “You cannot teach if you do not change the attitude of your students first.” It took me 30 years as an educator to realize how right she was. These thoughts have resonated with me when designing curricula; I ve always tried to design learning experiences that are relevant to the learners lives. I therefore dedicate this book to that teacher who helped me discover what education really is - Teresa de Jesus Rivera, my mother.
I cannot forget the next most influential professor in my life, Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs. She made me realize how important an interdisciplinary approach is in creating more powerful learning experiences. She empowered me as an educator and for that I will always be grateful.
Special gratitude also goes to Adriano Roges and Irene Diaz, who inspired me to pursue studies in Architecture and Landscape Architecture. It is also important to acknowledge the opportunity that Myrta Rivera and Patrick V. Timpone gave me by hiring me as Middle School Coordinator while working at New York City Public Schools. Then, I cannot finish without mentioning Lisa Jennings from ASLA. Thank you for letting me participate in activities that promote K-12 education in Landscape Architecture.
Finally, I would like to dedicate this work to all the educators that will implement the learning activities presented in this book. I hope that, through this book, you can help your students see the world in a more holistic way.

Introduction
To Educators
This curriculum guide is designed to help educators implement lessons using concepts in thematic instruction, interdisciplinary curriculum design, critical thinking/Bloom s Taxonomy, collaborative lesson planning, integration of Stan-dards of Learning, integration of literacy skills and integration of core curriculum disciplines.
The information presented in this guide is designed to benefit:
•
Student s cognitive skills
•
K-12 Art, Mathematics, Science, Technology and STEAM educators
•
Trade/Vocational Teachers
•
Landscape Architect-Educators
•
Educators at Non-Profit Educational Institutions
•
School Administrators
•
Parents
In addition, the guide will present scholars with further research opportunities to study how interdisciplinary skills (besides making connections between disciplines) can be a tool for students to apply problem-solving methods to solve real-life situations.
The lessons presented can be implemented during:
•
the course of the regular school schedule
•
art and/or trade/vocational subject time
•
club time or after-school programs
•
summer programs
•
online distance-learning
Arnaldo D. Cardona
2
Some of the lessons presented were designed to be delivered in the classroom; however, they may also be implemented outside the classroom if allowed by school administrators. The concept of using outdoor space as a classroom is part of the approach promoted in this guide. Videos on how to implement each lesson can also be done using the students backyards or homes as their hands-on workshop.
To School Administrators
Ongoing training and staff development are crucial to help teachers perform at their best. How can school administrators empower teachers and motivate them to try new approaches? The answer is through promoting the educational concepts of Interdisciplinary Curriculum Design and Critical Thinking.
These concepts, when taught within the framework of the mandated curriculum, can help both students and teachers see learning experiences in a more connected way. As a former staff developer, I discovered that teachers perform better when they have ownership of what they teach, using their creativity. Also, when they collaborate with other teachers, their motivation increases as a result. One of the philosophies of cooperative learning is that students learn from other students – just as teachers learn from other teachers.
School administrators, by providing staff development opportunities to teachers in the area of interdisciplinary curriculum design using critical thinking, will enable educators to create more connected learning experiences. This will help students learn through direct discovery rather than being lectured to.
This guide may help school administrators give more flexibility to teachers when implementing reading and math programs, and see interdisciplinary curricula (in this case, based on the theme of Landscape Architecture) as a way to create more complete learning experiences.
Chapter 1:
A Rationale for Landscape
Architecture as a Central
Theme

5
K-12 Landscape Architecture Education
Why Landscape Architecture for Interdisciplinary
Curriculum Design?
Frederick Law Olmsted designed Central Park in New York City. He was the first to call himself a “Landscape Architect” and is the father of the landscape architecture profession. A landscape architect specializes in designing outdoor spaces.
In the same way that drawing, painting and sculpture are seen as art forms, landscape architecture can also be seen as an art education discipline. It can also be seen as the most interdisciplinary of all arts, and as an ideal medium for curriculum design.
Landscape Architecture can:
•
be an ideal theme to develop skills in STEM
•
enable meaningful design connections between disciplines
•
engage more community members to become part of the learning
experience
•
help teachers teach complex concepts in an easier way
•
promote awareness of the natural and built environments
•
promote the use of hands-on experiences
•
promote the development of entrepreneurial skills in learners
•
provide a wide range of high-order thinking skills and learning
experiences
This curriculum guide is designed to help learners develop critical thinking skills from engaging in interdisciplinary activities while in the natural environment. The lessons are divided by grade level. You will find lessons for students to develop skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) as well as in Social Studies, Language Arts, Writing and Art. These learning experiences will help students gain awareness of their environment, enabling them to see the world in a more holistic way.
Arnaldo D. Cardona
6
Definition of Terms
In order to understand the differences between landscape architecture as a theme for instruction and as a career, the following definitions may help clarify some terms that are used throughout this guide.
Education in Landscape Architecture: The courses of study that provide the knowledge and skills to design, execute and supervise landscape architecture proposals and projects. This may occur in K-12 settings or in higher education institutions that offer degrees in landscape architecture. (Wikipedia, 2021)
Interdisciplinary Curriculum: A curriculum-design approach that makes connections between different disciplines by using a common theme.It helps students see their learning experiences in a holistic way instead of in isolation. (Jacobs, 1989)
Landscape Architecture: The art and practice of designing the outdoor environment, especially designing parks or gardens together with buildings and roads. (Oxford University Press, 2021)
Landscape Architecture Education: The study of applications, behaviors, cognitive processes and problem-solving skills involved in the field of landscape architecture design. In curriculum design it can be used as a theme to develop interdisciplinary learning experiences and in the field of art education should be incorporated as another art discipline. (Author, 2021)
S.T.E.M.: An abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This term is typically used when addressing educational policy and curriculum choices in schools to improve competitiveness in these disciplines. (Wikipedia, 2020)
7
K-12 Landscape Architecture Education
Is Landscape Architecture Also
Multidisciplinary?
The profession of landscape architecture is connected to skills from many other professions, usually working as design teams. Landscape architecture can be seen as one of the most multidisciplinary of all design disciplines. For this