Course Title: Plant Diversity

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Plant Diversity

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BIOL2270

City Campus

Undergraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016

BIOL2270

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

BIOL2344

Open Learning Australia

Non Award

171H School of Science

Distance / Correspondence

 OUASP3UG19,
OUASP3UG21,
OUASP3UG22,
OUASP3UG23

Course Coordinator: Dr Tien Huynh

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7124

Course Coordinator Email: t.huynh@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 223.1.68

Course Coordinator Availability: Email for appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

 

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed following course/s before you commence this course.

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.


Course Description

This course introduces you to the classification and identification of algae and (lower and higher) plants. The aim of the course is to provide depth of knowledge in plant identification for future employment in agricultural, horticultural and environmental areas. You will finish able to identify plants using appropriate techniques.

You study the various non-flowering plants (algae, mosses, liverworts, ferns, conifers) and the flowering plants (monocotyledons and dicotyledons). Structure and function are related to ecology and evolution. You learn about life cycles, structure, function and reasons for importance of these very different plants. You also learn how to identify the organisms using the various keys and pictorial guides available.

Whilst the topics will be arranged to suit seasonal availability of practical material, the course will cover the importance, terminology and structure, classification, reproduction and ecology of the groups in lectorials, practicals or field trips, as follows: algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms (monocotyledons, dicotyledons). Learning material will focus on structure, reproduction and identification of major plant groups. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes at Level 7 in BP229BISC Bachelor of Science (Biological Science)

1. Understanding science

 1.1 You will demonstrate a coherent understanding of biological sciences by articulating the methods of science and explaining why current biological knowledge is both contestable and testable through further inquiry.

2. Scientific knowledge

2.1 You will exhibit depth and breadth of biological knowledge by demonstrating well-developed understanding of biological sciences.

3. Inquiry and problem solving

3.1. You will be able to critically analyse and solve problems in biological sciences by gathering, synthesizing and critically evaluating information from a range of sources.

3.4. You will be able to critically analyse and solve problems in biological sciences by collecting, accurately recording, interpreting, and drawing conclusions from scientific data.

5 Personal and professional responsibility

5.1 You will be accountable for individual learning and scientific work in biological science by being an independent and self-directed learner.

5.2 You will be accountable for individual learning and scientific work by working effectively, responsibly, ethically, and safely in an individual or team context.

 


At the end of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Define characteristics, importance and applications of plants in agriculture, horticulture and environmental ecology
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of taxonomy and classification to identify unknown plants to genus or species level
  3. Recognise and identify relevant structures for vegetative growth and reproduction for the purposes of classification, identification and industrial applications


Overview of Learning Activities

 

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course


Overview of Learning Resources

 

The prescribed text for this course is:

Judd WS, Campbell CS, Kellogg EA, Stevens PF and Donoghue (2016). Plant Systematics – A Phylogenetic Approach (current edition). Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers, USA. ISBN: 987-1-60535-389-0

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1 - Field Trip Report 1
Weighting: 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3

Assessment Task 1 - Field Trip Report 2
Weighting: 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3

Assessment 2 - Practical Reports
Weighting: 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.