What do planners do? We will begin exploring this question by considering how mainstream professional planning organizations in Canada (CIP), United States (APA) and the United Kingdom (RTPI) speak to it. We will also consider the perspective of the primary planning educator organization in North America (ACSP). In preparation please read the material posted on the web sites listed in the Readings below. Some of the material goes beyond what is needed for addressing this specific question but we will be drawing on it in our evolving discussions through this class and those in coming weeks.
While doing these readings think about how they relate to the preparation that you are asked to do for initiating discussion in this session, as laid out in the Agenda below.
CIP (take a quick look at the home page to see what the site provides and then focus firstly on links below)
APA (take a quick look at the home page to see what the site provides and then focus firstly on links below)
RTPI (take a quick look at the home page to see what the site provides and then focus firstly on links below)
1. Range of interests among students in the class
In preparation for this session please think about what answer you would give at this stage of your planning studies to each of the four following questions. If you are uncertain about your career ambitions then select one that would be among those of higher interest based on what you know from your experience to date and after reading the web pages. Bring your prepared answers to the class.
2. Differing perspectives on what planners do
As articulated by each of the mainstream planning practitioner and education organizations, what differences particularly strike you in their perspectives on what planners do ?
After class you might want to summarize your views on your future desires and aspirations in becoming a planning practitioner in your initial web pages
Give me a sentence on your information form, such as "working on building the stock of social housing, for a municipal government agency in a medium-size community in the interior of BC". I will collate these and post them without attribution so everyone in the class gets a sense of the diversity of interests.