This
year’s Capstone Urban Sustainability Project (CUSP) is off to a good
start with a bright and lively class of students
and exciting new features to the course (GG465). For the first class
students started getting to know each other, were introduced to research
journal writing, and engaged in their first team-building exercise.
While the students might not have known exactly what to
expect coming into the class, they left with a promise of a kind of learning
they have never experienced before. The students will be forming consulting
teams and responding to a real Request for Proposals from the City of
Cambridge. Because the class will be working in a group for a full year, the
course began with time spent getting to know each other through peer interviews
and team activities. The consulting groups will be solving real problems for
the City of Cambridge and gaining the kind of experiential learning that is
exclusive to the C3 Innovation Labs (C3IL), a multidisciplinary partnership
within the Laurier Faculty of Arts.
One of the benefits of being a part of the GG465 CUSP
course is that the students have access to the new C3IL Open Workspace in the
Purpose Lab, which is a bright and inspiring space for those involved in the
newly formed C3IL. It is just one of the perks of being a part of this unique
partnership. While getting to know the space and each other, the students were
split into four teams and completed a Lego building challenge that highlighted
the team members’ leadership and communication skills. The groups were quite
engaged in replicating the Lego statues that their instructor, Dr. Bob Sharpe
had assigned as their first challenge. Students left the class feeling hopeful
and excited about forming groups and tackling the Request for Proposals that
will be coming in the next few weeks.
Keep an eye out here for more updates on the CUSP class
as the semester moves along. Exciting things are on the way and we can’t wait
to share it with you.
