This is a page for conveying homework assignments for Practivistas Dominicana Appropriate Technology courses from May 24th to July 5th, 2014. Assignments are due before class starts on the day denoted below.
Tentative calendar
Week 1 - May 26, 2014
1 - lunes
Topics covered: US and Program introductions, Experiences in country so far, Getting around, Cultural norms, Syllabus design, Paperwork, A little about AT, Group Introductions (uno a uno)
1 - martes
Topics covered: Appropriate Technologies (ppts y paginas), Appropedia
- Assignments due
- Read Mundane Science article and Appropedia pages:
1 - miércoles
Topics covered: Microhydro and Appropriate Technology
- Assignments due
- read the notes at Jottings on appropriate technology on differing definitions of Appropriate Technology.
- Make/update your Appropedia user page
- Add one relevant construction, renewable energy, appropriate technology, or engineering word to Practivistas Dominicana/vocabulary
1 - jueves
Topics covered: Charcoal, AT examples
- Assignments due
- Read:
- Microhydro power
- http://www.microhydropower.net/ - Check out their case studies (under the resources pull down window). Avoid their theory sections.
- http://www.homepower.com/basics/hydro/ - Great basics of microhydro from Home Power magazine.
- Assignments due
- Find and record a photo and location for each of two local example ATs from Santo Domingo in groups of four
- For each of the two topics, answer the following, preferably in Spanish:
- Brief description such as type and application.
- Location (address or coordinates)
- Justification as Appropriate Technology based on a definition of AT.
- Issues with its appropriateness based on a definition of AT.
- Notes, such as phone number, if applicable.
- For each of the two topics, answer the following, preferably in Spanish:
- Post your AT examples to Practivistas Dominicana/AT Gallery. You might want to wait until after you do your userpage for more instructions on how.
1 - viernes
Topics covered: El Limón fieldtrip
1 - sabado
Topics covered: El Limón fieldtrip
Week 2 - June 2, 2014
2 - lunes
Topics covered: Microhydro, AT
- Assignments due
2 - martes
Topics covered: Microhydro, Community meetings, La Yuca Meeting in the evening ... cancelled meeting
- Assignments due
- Calculate power and inefficiency from the El Limon data:
- Q=110 GPM
- Hdynamic=385 ft
- I=27A
- V=227V
- Calculate total energy delivered (assuming the P we found was the average P) per day
- To town
- per household
- Describe the El Limon system with pictures, diagrams, art, etc. If you work in a team, state so explicitly and make it wonderful.
- Read http://sgp.undp.org/download/SGP_DominicanRepublic2.pdf, http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/technology/2010/8/11/36616/Jarabacoa-village-gets-two-micro-hydroelectric-stations and HSU Chiapas micro hydro feasibility study.
- Optional - do this problem set on unit conversion.
2 - miércoles
Topics covered: Las Malvinas work trip, all afternoon to evening
- Assignments due
- Recalculate Pnet for the MH system from class today, but using 3" pipe
- Qmax=200GPM
- Hstatic=43 ft
- run=280ft
- %take=0.5
- e=0.83
- Calculate Pmax (very easy) and compare to Pnet2.5 (from class) and Pnet3 (from #1)
- Calculate everything about the El Limon system, including:
- Hstatic (working your way backwards)
- e
- Pmax
- Assuming there are just a few of each fitting and no M/F adapters
- Add one word related to Practivistas to Practivistas Dominicana/vocabulary
2 - jueves
Topics covered: Projects, Ghetto2Garden, La Yuca visit at 6pm.
2 - viernes
Topics covered: Project selections, Literature review, More sustainable construction
- Assignments due
- Top 3 project picks
2 - sabado
RESEARCH! Minimum of 8 hours. Due by midnight.
2 - domingo
Las Malvinas community meeting.
Week 3 - June 9, 2014
3 - lunes
Topics covered: Earthen construction, Projects
- Assignments due
- Team project page with:
- Opportunity definition or Objective
- Research (at least 8 hours per team member)
3 - martes
Topics covered: Microhydro quiz, Field work
3 - miércoles
Topics covered: field work
- Assignments due
3 - jueves
Topics covered: Heat, Temperature, Insulation, Thermal Mass, Energy
- Assignments due
3 - viernes
Topics covered: Alternative solutions, Timeline, Budget, Thermal mass
- Assignments due
3 - sabado
Topics covered: Project fieldwork
Week 4 - June 16, 2014
4 - lunes
Topics covered: Natural building, Earthen Ovens, Frustration and community projects, finding next steps, engaging
- Assignments due
- Criteria added to project page
- Timeline added to project page
- Heat needed to maintain the temperature daily in BTU/day.
- Using the following assumptions:
- Wall: 14 ft2*oF*hr/BTU
- Window: 0.9 ft2*oF*hr/BTU
- Door: 2.3 ft2*oF*hr/BTU
- Roof: 35 ft2*oF*hr/BTU
- Avg Tout: 36 oF
- Avg Tin: 70 oF
- Room: 14' x 20' x 12' (tall)
- 3 Windows: 3' x 2'
- 1 Door: 8' x 3'
4 - martes
Topics covered: Budget, Power and Energy, Electricity
- Assignments due
4 - miércoles
Topics covered: Field work, Natural building quiz
- This was the presentation from when we started the building topic - http://prezi.com/ypv9igvujnba/more-sustainable-construction/
4 - jueves
Dia de Corpus Cristi
4 - viernes
Topics covered: Electricity
- Assignments due
- Read Electricity basics
- Budget added to project page
- Find an error in HowStuffWorks Hydropower (no more than 30 minutes. Bring in on a scrap of paper.)
- Complete a electrical energy audit for your house (US, RD, wherever).
4 - sabado
Topics covered: Project
Assignments due:
- Project update on Appropedia
Week 5 - June 24, 2013
5 - lunes
Topics covered: Electricity and Solar, Appropriate Technology
- Assignments due
- Add a budget to your project page.
- Start describing your solution and building process using photos. Consider using Template:How_to like at How to build Geared-Up From the Feet-Up and Poly Pod Instructions.
- Start storyboarding your video
- Read http://rael.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/old-site-files/1997/Kammen-Dove-Mundane-Science-1997.pdf
- Make sure that you have added at least one useful link per team and one vocabulary word related to appropriate technology per person at HSU_Dominicana/shared_resources.
- Complete the electricity homework (email me if you did not receive a copy). PS Don't forget to complete the home energy audit from last week.
5 - martes
Topics covered: Solar
- Assignments due
- Solar sizing
5 - miércoles
Topics covered: Solar lab
- Assignments due
Find:
5 - jueves
Topics covered: Rainwater
- Assignments due
5 - viernes
Topics covered: Rainwater
- Assignments due
Week 6 - June 30, 2014
6 - lunes
Topics covered: Presentations, Finishing up, Rainwater
- Assignments due
- Appropedia page design
6 - martes
Topics covered: Lots more appropriate technology
- Assignments due
6 - miércoles
Topics covered: Presentation and Appropriate Technology - Prepare for Thursday's presentation
- Assignments due
- Practice presentations
6 - jueves
Topics covered: Presentations at Cultural Center of Spain
- Assignments due
- Printout of presentation (6 slides per page)
- Digital version of powerpoint
6 - viernes
Topics covered: Feedback 9am, Final quiz 12pm, Family get together 2pm, Las Malvinas presentation 4pm
- Assignments due by Saturday, July 6th, Midnight PST
- Final quiz
- Final writeup
- This is your completed Appropedia page.
- Final peer evaluation
- Please grade yourself and your teammates on your project.
- Make one short paragraph for each person (including yourself). State the letter grade deserved and be thorough on your justification. Your final project grades are affected by this peer evaluation.
- Please also include any program/project feedback that you are comfortable with me sharing openly.
- Email it to me, with the subject "Practivistas: YOUR NAME-Peer Evaluation" (replacing the ALLCAPS).
- Final video
- As discussed, a short (1 to 5 minutes) video that is some combination of inspirational and instructional (how to make and or maintain). You can pick the combination that suits your project best, or make separate shorter videos for each.
- On windows try the built-in Movie Maker, or the free and simple FreeMake, or the free and complex/full featured Handbrake.
- Thank you notes
- You do not need to turn these in to me. If you have emails of people you would like to thank, please do so before Saturday.