Class2008Nov14

Class Assignments and Agenda for Week 12, 2008 Nov 14
Class meets from 9:10 - 11:55A in 3214 Jordan Hall on the NCSU Campus. You are free to bring food and drink to this classroom.


 * Objectives**
 * Consolidate big-picture learning and link to properties and figure out how that will go into final session (from class calendar )
 * Identify, outline, assign final written product(s)


 * Things to do before our meeting - please read all items, regardless of team**


 * Goal 1: A summary sheet for each of the three properties using the Temple Flat Rock template ( [|TempleFlatRockSummary.2008.11.09.doc] ), posted near the top of each property wiki page by Thursday 13 Nov noon.**

Please review the regional summary ( [|RegionalSummary.2008.11.10.doc] ) for current thinking on "direct targets" and "public benefit targets." Note that we are developing indicators for both that would be measured at the regional scale. Note also that there are some places where we don't know what success would look like - it's important to document that in your work.

Further note that it's possible to have indicators even if you don't know what success will look like. How? For example, we know that we'd like representative examples of Piedmont ecosystems conserved. We don't know what they all are yet, nor how much of each is needed to be considered conserved. Yet, we do know that the area conserved is going to be an indicator and we can start measuring it. Similarly for TFR, we don't know what proportion of each successional stage we'd like on the outcrop, but we can measure it while we work simultaneously to figure it out.


 * Goal 2: Each team to decide which tool they would like to show at the final presentation, and write up for publication. Be prepared to present these ideas and a rough outline of what it would look like by class on Friday 14 Nov.**

There has been a lot of talk about showing a tool box - it's time for details. For each tool, we need to know how it contributes to our mission - creating measures to answer the question "Are our lands meeting the conservation goals for which they were protected?" We also need a demonstration of how the tool works, to know what the unknowns/uncertainties in use of the tool are, and which of TLC's direct or public benefit target(s) the tool measures. Please bring as much information as you can on Friday, keeping in mind that your ultimate presentation will likely be limited to 15 minutes.


 * Goal 3: Agenda for final presentation - need ideas for interaction - post ideas on Final Seminar wiki page and be prepared to talk on Friday 14 Nov.**

At this point, I believe we will start with a discussion of the regional diagram, linking the direct targets to the public benefits, thinking on regional indicators (attached summary sheet). Then I'd like to talk through the TFR example, making clear the links to direct and public benefit targets and demonstrating the potential measures of success.

After that, I think each team can showcase their ideas in the context of the issues they encountered on their properties. For example, the Berryhill team is talking about scorecards - let's hear about that. The Kuenzler Team brought up the benthic macroinvert ratings, which could be universally applicable to water quality issues - let's talk about that. What I'm looking for are tools that can be applied to a wide range of properties in some uniform way, each tool for some particular direct or public benefit target(s) - linking everything back to those direct or public benefit target(s).

I do not want us to be talking for the whole time. How can we get our audience engaged? Can you please help me think of short activities that will demonstrate (1) the kind of thinking needed to do what we've done (2) how difficult this work is (3) how important it is to have measurable goals and objectives. For example, should we redo something like the initial brainstorm we did of how one might measure success of TLC in fulfilling its mission? Can we "make up" a property and solicit the kinds of questions one would have to ask to tell if conservation were a success?


 * Goal 4: Structure of written products - for TLC and for publication.**

What kind of written report shall we submit to TLC? We all need to participate in this at some level.

What publication products can we produce, and who is interested in working on that? It will not be completed within the confines of the semester (which is completely normal for this approach to teaching), but it would be nice to have a good first draft.

Please think about this for Friday.


 * Goal 5: Change to final presentation date**

December has turned out to be problematic for TLC. Our original date of 12 Dec will work. I plan to get back to you Monday (10 Nov) with a list of other slots during the week of 8 Dec that will work - they will all be either 9-noon or 1-4. Please be ready to respond to a request for your availability, but for now you should hold 12 December 9-noon.

I've posted some alternative times for the final presentation. Right now, default is Fri 12 Dec 9-noon, with the actual presentation running 9:30-11:30.
 * Following added 10 Nov**

In the schedule options presented when you follow the link below, the full 3-hour block is shown for each possible slot, with 30min front and back for preparation and cleanup.

Please make your choices as soon as possible by going to this link - don't forget to include your name!

http://www.scheduleonce.com/MP.aspx?param=VT0tMS5UPTEuTT0zMjU1

Note to Apple users - this doesn't work with Safari (sorry) - use Mozilla/Firefox (free download).


 * Agenda for class session**

9.10 **Preliminaries** (Hess) - Note taker = - Time keeper =

9.15 **Regional Framework**
 * Summary Sheet [|RegionalSummary.2008.11.10.doc]

9.35 **Temple Flat Rock**
 * Diagram [|TFR2008.10.30.pdf]
 * Summary Sheet [|TempleFlatRockSummary.2008.11.09.doc]

9.45 **Little River** - What do you wish to add?

10.05 **Kuenzler** - What do you wish to add?

10.25 **Berryhill** - What do you wish to add?

10.45 **Break**

10.55 **Ideas for interaction during final seminar** - how do we keep our audience actively engaged in a discussion, rather than listening to a lecture?

11.10 **Final seminar agenda**

11.25 **Written products** Need some leadership - Product A: Report to Triangle Land Conservancy
 * Regional conceptualization, with narrative, information about CMP approach, and list of indicators / measures for testing
 * Temple Flat Rock, with narrative and list of indicators / measures for testing
 * Additional lessons learned from other properties - narrative and list of any additional indicators
 * Recommendations for how to proceed

- Product B: Optional, for those interested - article for //Exchange// on what we've done
 * Focused on regional, Temple Flat Rock, and lessons learned
 * Primary messages (proposed)
 * goal definition is critical to measuring success, at all scales (organizational, regional, property)
 * there are processes to do this, developed by larger organizations, that can be scaled to a land trust
 * show what we did as a case study

11.45 **Presentation date** - Friday 12 Dec 9-noon, with presentation 9:30-11:30

11.55 **Adjourn**