Explore

The City and You: Find Your Best Place

Approx. 18 hours to complete

Save Course

Go to Course

Course Summary

This course explores the relationship between the city and the individual, providing insights on how to find the best place to live based on personal preferences and lifestyle.

Key Learning Points

Learn how to evaluate cities based on various factors such as cost of living, cultural amenities, and job opportunities.
Understand the impact of urban planning and design on the quality of life in a city.
Discover how to identify and prioritize personal preferences when choosing a place to live.

Learning Outcomes

Evaluate cities based on personal preferences and lifestyle
Understand the impact of urban planning and design on quality of life
Identify key factors when choosing a place to live

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic understanding of urban environments
Interest in exploring different cities and lifestyles

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Self-paced
Online
Video lectures
Quizzes
Assignments

Similar Courses

Sustainable Cities
The Future of Cities

Related Education Paths

Related Books

Description

Welcome to The City and You: Find Your Best Place. I'm excited to have you in the class and look forward to your contributions to the other learners in our community.

This free course will provide the knowledge and the tools needed to understand what cities do, why they matter, the forces shaping the greatest wave of urbanization in history, and how to pick the right place for you. The course will also help you develop critical thinking skills. We'll accomplish this by providing evidence of the importance of cities, and why and how they matter to you. Then we’ll ask you to apply what you’ve learned in an exercise which will help you assess your own community and find your best place. This course is accessible and open to anyone who is interested in learning more about cities and the ways they affect our lives. It is organized around five key modules: (1) Why Cities Matter, (2) A World of Cities, (3) The Creative City, (4) The Divided City and the New Urban Crisis, and (5) How to Find the Best Place for You. After completing the course, you will be able to: (1) Identify why cities are the drivers of economic prosperity; (2) Explain the drivers and implications of fast-growing urbanization worldwide; (3) Outline the key characteristics of a creative and innovative city; (4) Describe the social divides and challenges facing cities and the solutions cities are using to address them; and (5) Recognize the trade-offs of staying in your current city versus moving, and identify the best place for you and your family to live. Of course the world has changed a great deal since I developed this course. The Global COVID-19 Pandemic is affecting cities, businesses and people around the world. It is something I have been writing about and working with mayors, city managers, economic developers, urban leaders and communities across the globe. I have put together a new module on Cities and the Coronavirus to help you better understand the ways in which the Covid-19 crisis is impacting cities and how you can best understand and deal with that. I’d like to wish each and every one of you good luck as you get started on this journey. I hope you enjoy the course!

Outline

Why Cities Matter
Introduction to the Covid-19 Module
Course Overview - The City and You (Instructor Video)
What The City and You is About & How It Will Benefit You (Instructor Video)
Why Cities Matter (Instructor Video)
Richard Florida Week 1 Follow-up - Cohort 1
Richard Florida Week 1 Follow-up - Cohort 2
Richard Florida Week 1 Follow-up - Cohort 3
Richard Florida Week 1 Follow-up - U of T Alumni Edition
Course Syllabus
What Makes for a Great City
Triumph of the City
Jane Jacobs - Who Changed the Way We Think About Cities
Optional Activity: Living Atlas
Pause and Reflect: Should You Stay or Move?
Why Cities Matter

A World of Cities
A World of Cities (Instructor Video)
Opportunities & Challenges of Global Cities (Instructor Video: includes discussion of the exercise for this week)
Richard Florida Week 2 Follow-up - Cohort 1
Richard Florida Week 2 Follow-up - Cohort 2
Richard Florida Week 2 Follow-up - Cohort 3
Richard Florida Week 2 Follow-up - U of T Alumni Edition
The World is Spiky
Planet of Cities
Urbanization Without Growth
The Problem of Global Slums
Why Cities Matter in the Developing World
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Population Density Map
Pause and Reflect: Tell Us about Your Global City
A World of Cities

The Creative City
The Creative City (Instructor Video)
Technology, Talent and Tolerance in the Creative City (Instructor Video)
How Cities Spur Creativity (Instructor Video: includes discussion of the exercise for this week)
Richard Florida Week 3 Follow-up- Cohort 1
Richard Florida Week 3 Follow-up- Cohort 2
Richard Florida Week 3 Follow-up- Cohort 3
Richard Florida Week 3 Follow-up - U of T Alumni Edition
Creativity and Cities
Global Startup Cities
The Urban Tech Revolution
The Geography of Innovation
Optional Activity - UNESCO Creative Cities Network
Innovation
Pause and Reflect: Your Creative City
On the Creative City

The New Urban Crisis
The New Urban Crisis (Instructor Video)
Gentrification and the Divided City (Instructor Video: includes discussion of the exercise for this module)
Richard Florida Week 4 Follow-Up- Cohort 1
Richard Florida Week 4 Follow-Up Cohort 2
Richard Florida Week 4 Follow-Up Cohort 3
Richard Florida Week 4 Follow-up - U of T Alumni Edition
Why America's Richest Cities Keep Getting Richer
How Expensive Housing is Stifling of Creativity of Cities
The Divided City
Confronting the New Urban Crisis
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Wealth Divides
Pause and Reflect: The Divides and Challenges of Your City
The New Urban Crisis

Cities and the Covid-19 Crisis
How the Coronavirus will Reshape Cities
Reinforcing Existing Divides
How Cities can Reopen After the Covid-19 Pandemic
The Geography of Coronavirus
The Coronavirus Class Divide in Cities
How Our Cities can Reopen After the Covid-19 Pandemic
Webinar - How are Cities Preparing to Reopen in the Context of Covid-19?
Optional Activity - How has the Current Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Cities?

Find Your Best Place
Find Your Best Place (Instructor Video)
Use the Place-Finder Tool to Find Your Best Place (Instructor Video: includes discussion of the final assignment)
Richard Florida Final Remarks
Richard Florida Week 5 Follow-up and Final Remarks - Cohort 1
Richard Florida Week 5 Follow-up - Cohort 2
Richard Florida Week 5 Follow-Up Cohort 3
Richard Florida Week 5 Follow-up - U of T Alumni Edition
How to Love the Place You Live
On How to Choose the Place That Is Best for You
Peer Assignment Option: Story Map Tour

Summary of User Reviews

The City and You: Find the Best Place course on Coursera has received positive reviews for its comprehensive content and engaging teaching style. Many users appreciated the focus on practical applications of city planning and design.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

practical applications of city planning and design

Pros from User Reviews

Comprehensive content
Engaging teaching style
Practical applications of city planning and design
Interactive course materials
Accessible for beginners

Cons from User Reviews

Some technical issues with the online platform
Limited opportunities for interaction with instructors
Not enough emphasis on social equity in city planning
Could benefit from more case studies and real-world examples
Lack of depth in certain topics

Recommended for you

SAP ABAP Training - in Plain English

ABAP for absolute beginners - No Programming knowledge required ** Disclaimer ** -   I do NOT do Live Training. I am NOT associated with SAP....

Save Course

HTML5 Geolocation in Action: Build 7 HTML5 Geolocation Apps

Learn to Use HTML5 Geolocation API, Google Maps API, Directions API & Places API to Build HTML5 GPS-Based Applications ***Quizzes, Practice Exercises and 7 Unique Location-Aware Applications are Included***...

Save Course

Affiliate Marketing Secrets: Earn Big Reviewing Products

How To Review Products As An Affiliate Marketer By Sharing Your Opinion Are you looking to make some money and replace your job?...

Save Course

Time Management & Increase Productivity (+ Free EBook)

Master Time Management and Productivity Techniques Successfully. Use Time Management to Reduce Stress and Achieve More. COURSE + FREE EBOOK INCLUDED Do you struggle with work/life balance?...

Save Course