UNIV 349-01

Global Experience - Dominican Republic

Education and Ecotourism in the Dominican Republic

Spring 2017 - 3 credits

Overview

This course and study tour works in collaboration with an NGO in Angostura, Dominican Republic, to apply technical expertise from faculty and students at Clarkson to solve local problems in a rural upland community. Our task is to respond to the needs analysis provided by the NGO to improve efficiency of operation, cost effectiveness, and sustainability of local developmental initiatives. In 2015, we focused on cook stove technology and explored a community–based micro-hydroelectric power system. In 2017, we will be developing a marketing campaign, web-pages, and data management system to support the community’s ecotourism initiative, and troubleshooting their computer systems and information technology infrastructure.

The course involves preparatory work during the semester of spring 2017 and a two week service trip to Angostura in the Dominican Republic in May (tentatively May 16-29). Through Education First, we are collaborating with a local NGO to identify development challenges that will effectively use the range of engineering, science, social science and business skills of our Clarkson faculty and students.

During the spring semester, 2017, we will be meeting weekly to learn about the community and the context of the project and begin working in teams to develop solutions to the specific problems that we have been provided. Our task is to assist in the development of information technology and content for the community’s ecotourism enterprise and to develop computer infrastructure and educational resources for local schools. We may also identify other projects according to the needs of the community and the interests of the class over the coming months.

This year will build on our experiences with a similar service learning course in the spring of 2015 where we collected data about the impact of existing cook stove technology on indoor air quality.

Instructors

Jon Goss 2101 Price Hall 268-2320 jgoss@clarkson.edu	Jeanna Matthews 389 Science Center 268-6288 jnm@clarkson.edu

Times

Class Times (Tentative): Monday 11-12:15 (Price Hall Classroom, Price 2001)

Trip Dates: May 16 - May 29 2017

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course and study tour students will demonstrate:

Critical understanding of environmental sustainability and social justice

Increased capacity for teamwork and problem-solving

Recognition of the responsibilities of local, national, and global citizenship

Appreciation of social and cultural diversity

Ability to adapt to an unfamiliar context

Critical reflection on overseas experience

EF College Study Tours

Our Trip Details
EF College Study Tours Enrollment Booklet

Links to Angostura Ecolodge

Ecoangostura.com

Dominican Treasures site

Facebook page for Angostura lodge

Rancho Angostura

CDCT

Texts/Sources

The Peace Corps Welcomes You to the Dominican Republic. . The Peace Corps (n.d.).

The Dominican Republic: A National History, Frank Moya Pons

Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook and Dictionary

Eric Paul Roorda, Lauren H. Derby and Raymundo Gonzalez (2014) The Dominican Republic Reader: History, Culture, Politics. Duke University Press.

Sean Harvey (2011) The Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic. Rough Guides.

Documentaries

Black in Latin America: Haiti and the Dominican Republic: An Island Divided

Pre-Trip Activities

Attend weekly pre-trip sessions
Readings, reactions/questions/discussion
Contributions to project design and planning
1 power point presentation elaborating on the topic of the day/aspect of Dominican history/culture/economy of your choice (10 minutes)
Master some basic Spanish

During-Trip Activities

Individual essay/diary during the trip (each person responsible for 1 day to describe major events/reactions suitable for posting in a blog + everyone record personal thoughts/highlights each day)
Project deliverables
Everyone should have a notebook for taking notes; You will turn in at the end of the trip but I will try to return it to you before we split up back in US

Post-Trip Activities

Trip report, project experiences
Final project deliverables
Powerpoint with pictures/recollections/summary (contribution to group powerporint)
Individual essay on what was most meaningful to you, what was surprising, what lessons you will carry forward with you into your career and life from the experience

Grade Breakdown

15% Pre-trip Group Discussions/Class Activities/Homework/Readings/Quizzes
15% Individual Presentation
30% Final Group Project (Design, Presentations, Writeup, Evaluation of Self and Peers)
20% Individual Trip Reports and Contributions to Group Blog
20% Active Participation in Trip Activities and Projects

Tentative Syllabus

Date	Topic	Other Notes
Monday 1/16	First class meeting, A few notes about preparing for travel (passports, immunizations, registering/paying for trip)	CDC Health Information for Travelers to the Dominican Republic Travel Clinic (Clinic is held two times a month by Appointment) Duolingo EF College Study Tours Enrollment Booklet
Monday 1/23	Evaluation of Angostura web site Look at inspiring examples Brainstorm goals for the course Project teams Possible presentations	Some other inspring sites: Catarata Lodge Piedra Blanca Sarinbuana Eco Lodge Moko Lodi
Monday 1/30	Dominican History (Jeanna)
Monday 2/6	Ecotourism (Jon Goss)	Richard Denman (n.d.) Product development, marketing and promotion of ecotourism: summary report. The Tourism Company. Tinelle D. Bustam and Taylor Stein, How to Develop a Marketing Plan for Your Ecotourism Business. IFAS Extension, University of Florida. Antonis B. Petropoulos (2009) Marketing Ecolodges in an Ecological, Ethical & Effective way . International Ecotourism Club. Andy Drumm and Alan Moore (2205) An Introduction to Ecotourism Planning, Volume l . The Nature Conservancy. Andy Drumm and Alan Moore (2205) An Introduction to Ecotourism Planning, Volume 2 . The Nature Conservancy.
Monday 2/13	Basic Spanish lessons, Current news and issues in the Dominican Republic, Relations with the US, Immigration Discuss ideas for everyone's powerpoints (Jeanna)	BBC News Dominican Republic Country Profile Immigrants from the Dominican Republic in the United States 2/2015: Thousands of Dominicans Woke Up This Week Without Citizenship in Any Country The Economist: Dominican Republic A popular president Mr. Vice President, All in Not Well in the DR
Monday 2/20	Work on projects Detailed questions to send to hosts
Friday 2/27	Documentary: Black in Latin America (Jeanna)
Monday 3/6	Proposals for presentations due
Monday 3/13	Work on projects
Monday 3/20	Spring break
Monday 3/27	Work on projects
Monday 4/3	Presentations: History and Development of the Dominican Economy (Matthew), Sociohistorial analysis of Angostura and the DR (Daniel), Flora and Fauna of the DR (Lexie) Break into groups to practice Spanish
Monday 4/10	Presentations: Landmarks in the DR (Nicole) Agricultural Economy (Maura) International Relationships (Trinity/Anise) Ecocertifications (Kristin)
Monday 4/17	Project Status updates Website draft? Cookbook draft? Geo-caching/Trail mapping?
Monday 4/24	Presentations: Dominican Food (Ben) Survival Spanish Quiz	Must pass survival Spanish quiz before end of semester
TBA	Final exam slot, Any final presentations, Last chance Survival Spanish quiz, Review of the basics, Dominican dinner (?), More Merengue/Bachata lessons (?), Trip logistics review/discussion
Tuesday 5/16	Fly to Santo Domingo
5/29	Return to the US