Course Title: Collect and classify plants
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2014
Course Code: AGRI5021C
Course Title: Collect and classify plants
School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5305 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management
Course Contact: Namrita Kaul
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4309
Course Contact Email: namrita.kaul@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nevil Schultz is the Teacher for this course
9925 4221
Room: 51.07.05
Nominal Hours: 120
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
There are none
Course Description
This unit covers the process of collecting and identifying plants using taxonomic keys and the preserving of plant specimens and defines the standard required to: collect plant specimens; note the location, characteristics and occurrence of specimens at the point of collection; clean, preserve, mount and label plant specimens; use a plant key to identify plants against the botanical description of the species; label preserved specimens.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
AHCPCM502A Collect and classify plants |
Element: |
1.Prepare for plant collecting |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1. Purpose and objectives for collecting range of plants is confirmed. |
Element: |
2. Collect plant specimens |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1. Collecting ethics are observed when selecting specimens for picking. |
Element: |
3. Preserve specimens |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1. Preservation of specimen is undertaken while still fresh. |
Element: |
4. Identify plant specimen |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1. Resources are identified and accessed to assist in identification. |
Learning Outcomes
This is a competency based course with learning outcomes embedded in the competencies
Details of Learning Activities
Learning activities will include the following:
Use of taxonomic guides
Field trips
Group work
presentations
Teaching Schedule
2014 Dates
Collect & Classify Plants
Class DateTopic Prac/Activity AssessmentDate Due11 FebPlant Physiology 1Intro to Course, Field Guides, other requisites for field work.
18 Feb Plant Physiology 2 25 Feb Field Herbarium Collection Techniques Preparation for Anglesea 4 March Anglesea Plant Community ANGLESEA FIELD WEEK Assessment 1, Part A
Field note book 11 March Plant Morphology 1 Vascular Arrangements in Plants 18 March Plant Morphology 2
Botanical Nomenclature
Assessment 1, Part A
Anglesea Plant ID Task Commenced
Field note book
18 March
25 March
Plant Taxonomy1 Phyla Dichotomous keys Assessment 1, Part A Anglesea Plant ID Task completed25 March1 April
Plant Taxonomy 2
Families & Genera
Classifying using dichotomous & other Plant keys 8 April
Classifying Using Plant Keys
15 April Quiz One
Covers 11 Feb - 1 April
Quiz One Easter Break 29 AprilNative Plant FamiliesAssessment 1, Part B National Park Flora Report
30 April 6 MayNative Plant Genera Assessment Two Launch13 May Researching Plant Collection Sites, record key contacts, record of permission to collect plants at a site. 20 May Physical Habitat Types 1 27 May Physical Habitat Types 2 3 Jun
Nomenclature for structural adaptations of plants in Physical Habitat Types 1 & 2
Examination & Identification of relevant specimens
Assessment 2
Plant Collection plan for Wet Sclerophyll site
Quiz Two
10 Jun14 June - 6 July MID-YEAR BREAK 8 JulyAssessment 3 Preparation
OHS, legislation, Codes of practise & Ethics of Plant Collection exercise
15 July Assessment 3 Launchrisk assessment and controls for plant collection 22 July Eucalypts and close relatives Identification of Eucalypts and close relatives using a detailed plant key 29 JulyWattlesWattle Identification 5 AugUsing Biological Keys for Major Australian Plant Families
12 AugUsing Biological Keys for Australian Plant Genera and SpeciesWritten Report on Major Plant Collection ProgressAssessment 3, Part A Progress Report for Major Plant Collection
12 Aug19 Aug Quiz ThreeCovers 23 July - 12 Aug
Quiz Three
19 Aug 26 AugField TripTechniques to Identify urban plants 2 Sept Vegetation Associations in Coastal Sites 9 Sept Identifying Plants in Montane Plant Communities 16 Sept Plant Collection Progress Review & Compilation Advice Session 23 Sept MID SEMESTER BREAK 30 Sept Weed Plant Communities Examine & Identify Local WeedsAssessment 3, Part B
Major Plant Collection30 Sept. 8 Oct Native Grassland Communities Identification of Grasses 15 Oct Remnant Grassland Field Trip 22 Oct Identification of Forbs 29 Oct Quiz Four Covers 2 Sep - 22 OctQuiz Four 29 Oct
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
Field Guide Pocket book: Costermans, L. Trees of Victoria and Adjoining Areas |
References
Costermans, L. Native Trees and Shrubs of South Eastern Australia |
|
Clarke, I. & Lee, H. Name That Flower |
|
Flora of Melbourne, Australian Plants Soceity Maroondah, Inc. |
Other Resources
Logbook
An A5 sized logbook with blank pages should be obtained in the first week of classes. It should be taken and used on all field trips throughout the year. It should be clearly divided into a section devoted to each course in the program.
It is also recommended that course participants obtain a simple 10X pocket hand lens or pocket magnifier for use during the year.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment fo this course may include reports, project work, individual assignments, practical assessment and tests
Assessment Tasks
The overall grade for the year will be one of: CA, CC, CD, CHD, NYC
All assessments must be deemed competent to achieve competency or better for the overall course.
Assessment 1
National Park Flora Report (CA/NYC)
Consists of two components: Part A, Submission of Field Note Book & Anglesea Plant Id task, due 25 March and Part B, National Park Flora report, due 30 April
Assessment 2
Plant Collection Plan for a Wet Sclerophyll Forest, Due 3rd June (CA/NYC)
Assessment 3
Consists of Two Components:
Part A: Major Plant Collection Progress Report. This incorporates a component where negotiation with a land manager to gain permission to collect plants is documented, due 12 August
Part B: Major Plant Collection, due 30th September
This assessment is graded: CHD, CDI, CC, CA, NYC
Assessment 4
Four Quizzes evenly spread across the course on classifying native & exotic plants using field guides, references & plant keys (CA/NYC)
Students must attain at least 50% of the mark on each quiz to be assessed competent for assessment 4
Quiz dates:15 April, 10 June, 19 Aug, 29 Oct
To attain competency in this course, a student must be assessed as competent in all Assessments
Assessment Information
- Extension of time for submission of assessable work- A student may apply for an extension of up to 7 days from the original due date. They must lodge the application form (available on the web http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf ) at least the day before the due date. The application is lodged with the School Admin Office on Level 6, Bdg 51. Students requiring longer extensions must apply for Special Consideration (form available on the Web). For missed assessments such as quizzes- you (& your doctor if you are sick) must fill out a special consideration form. This form must be lodged at the HUB or online with supporting evidence (eg medical certificate), prior to, or within, 48 hours of the scheduled time of any in-class assessment such as a quiz.
- Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension will not be corrected
- If you miss an assessment task due to unavoidable circumstances, you need to follow the procedure of special consideration and apply within the allowed time frame
Assessment Matrix
Element | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Assessment 1
|
X | X | X | |
Assessment 2
|
X | X | ||
Assessment 3
|
X | X | X | |
Assessment 4
|
X | X | X | X |
Other Information
Nominal Hours for the Course: 120 comprising:
58 Hours - Classroom Contact
32 Hours - Evaluation, Research & Completion of Assignments
20 Hours - Field Work
8 Hours - Workplace Visits
2 Hours - out of class student-teacher consultation
Course Overview: Access Course Overview