Course:GEOG350
| Guidelines | Create Your Book Chapter | Previous Book Chapters | Help and Resources |
| 'GEOG350 Urban Worlds ' | |
|---|---|
| |
| Course Info | |
| Instructor: | Dr. Siobhán Wittig McPhee |
| Book Index | |
| Help and Resources | |
Welcome to the project space for the GEOG 350 Vancouver Urban Geography Wiki Project:
Tackling Wicked Problems Through Design Thinking
Cities are complex systems where social, economic, environmental, and political forces interact in ways that defy simple solutions. Vancouver—often celebrated as one of the world's most livable cities—simultaneously faces profound challenges: housing affordability crises, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, climate adaptation, neighbourhood change, and social inequality. These are not problems to be "solved" in any conventional sense; they are wicked problems that require new ways of thinking.
This assignment asks you to engage with Vancouver's urban complexity using Design Thinking—a human-centred approach to problem-solving developed in design fields and now widely applied to social and urban challenges. By combining rigorous geographical analysis with Design Thinking methodology, you will produce wiki chapters that are both academically sophisticated and practically relevant.
Your wiki chapter should explicitly acknowledge the wicked nature of your chosen urban challenge. This means: identifying multiple stakeholder perspectives, recognizing competing framings of the problem, acknowledging uncertainty and limitations in proposed solutions, and avoiding the trap of presenting one "correct" answer.
Sample Topics (Connected to Course Themes)
These examples illustrate how course themes can be developed as wicked problem investigations. You are not limited to these topics:
- Housing & Displacement: How might we address housing affordability in Vancouver while avoiding displacement of long-standing communities?
- Reconciliation & Urban Space: How might we reimagine Vancouver's public spaces to reflect Indigenous presence and sovereignty?
- Climate Adaptation: How might Vancouver's waterfront neighbourhoods prepare for sea level rise while maintaining community character?
- Digital Divides: How might smart city technologies serve all Vancouverites rather than exacerbating existing inequalities?
- Public Space Contestation: How might we balance competing uses of Vancouver's public spaces (recreation, protest, commerce, shelter)?
- Ecological Urbanism: How might Vancouver enhance urban biodiversity while meeting housing and transportation needs?
Assessment Criteria
Your wiki chapter will be evaluated on the following criteria (detailed rubric on Canvas):
| Criterion | Description | Weight |
| Wicked Problem Engagement | Demonstrates understanding of wicked problem characteristics; acknowledges complexity, competing perspectives, and uncertainty | 15% |
| Design Thinking Process | Evidence of empathy work, clear problem framing, creative ideation, and iterative refinement | 15% |
| Critical Analysis | Goes beyond description to analyze political, economic, and social forces; applies course concepts | 20% |
| Local Data & Evidence | Effective use of Vancouver-specific data; quality of visualizations and spatial analysis | 15% |
| Ideas for Urban Action | Evidence-based proposals that acknowledge trade-offs and complexity; avoids oversimplification | 15% |
| Writing & Presentation | Clear structure; precise terminology; compelling argumentation; proper citations | 15% |
| Collaboration & Process | Effective group collaboration; engagement with peer feedback; reflection on process | 5% |
Final Note: Embracing Uncertainty
Working with wicked problems can be uncomfortable. You may feel frustrated that there's no "right answer" or that your analysis raises more questions than it resolves. This is not a weakness of your work—it's a sign that you're engaging authentically with urban complexity. The best wiki chapters will be those that help readers understand why Vancouver's urban challenges are so difficult, not those that pretend to have solved them. Your contribution to this open textbook will help future students, researchers, and citizens think more clearly about the city we share. Good luck, and enjoy the process of discovery!