DAAP students turn coursework into published book

In pairs, students will engage in research and examine specific issues to address the urban environmental concerns of San Juan, using a real-world database and a limited budget. Having a tight budget encourages students to problem solve and make rational decisions based on research and reason. “I wanted to design a course that would not only teach students how to conduct research but also broaden their understanding of the world,” says Edelman. 

Edleman has immense experience working, living, and teaching internationally. He has resided in places such as Switzerland, Thailand, the Netherlands, and many other countries. He seeks to inspire students to explore beyond their surroundings and immerse themselves in other cultures. Through this course, he will guide students on how to research their topics and effectively plan solutions to solve real-world issues in developing countries.

His previous classes examined cities in the Philippines, Thailand, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. At the end of each semester, students' work is published into a book. He also publishes the book in the native language of the country they explored. Each student's name will also be featured in the chapter they contributed to. “For almost all students, this is their first time being featured in a publication,” says Edelman. He has had more than 150 students take this course, with all having their work published.  

Every year, he selects a city to focus on for that semester, based on whether he has previously visited, so he can answer any questions or concerns students may have during their research and planning process. He also makes an effort to cover a variety of locations by selecting cities from different countries and continents.  

Edelman chose San Juan for students to research this semester because nearly 45% of the population is below the poverty line. Also, he selected a city in Puerto Rico since many of the students may not know Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. He wants students to recognize how accessible it is to travel to Puerto Rico and discover ways to address the poverty and environmental issues in a country that follows U.S. laws.  

“I hope this course awakens students' curiosity about the world and helps them understand that there is a vast amount to discover,” says Edelman. He urges students in this course to broaden their horizons and learn from the world around them.