Course Title: Collect and classify plants

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2016

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

 

 Seb Buckingham

jose.buckingham@rmit.edu.au

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 Confirm the purpose and objectives for collecting a range of plants

1.2 Define the area, location and habitat for collecting

1.3 Determine and prepare resources to assist in locating and identifying plants

1.4 Determine and prepare equipment required for collecting and preserving specimens

1.5 Obtain licences or permission to collect specimens from landowner or managing agency

1.6 Assess the range of likely operating conditions, hazards and difficult or sensitive environments for impact on collecting and preserving specimens

1.7  Identify work health and safety hazards associated with plant collecting, assess risks and implement controls

Element:

2. Collect plant specimens

Performance Criteria:

 

2.1 Observe collecting ethics when selecting specimens for picking

2.2 Enter into a field note book relevant information about the specimen, its characteristics and occurrence and note location coordinates

2.3 Confirm the specimen collected provides adequate material for identification and preserving

2.4 Tag and store specimens for later identification

2.5  Follow appropriate work health and safety requirements and work practices

Element:

3. Preserve specimens

Performance Criteria:

 

3.1 Preserve specimen while still fresh

3.2 Clean and prepare specimen for preserving

3.3 Preserve specimen using either pressing or drying techniques

3.4  Mount dried specimen and label with information from notebook

Element:

4. Identify plant specimen

Performance Criteria:

 

4.1 Use the relevant plant key to identify plant

4.2 Identify and document the basic characteristics of a plant

4.3 Confirm plant identity against botanical description of species

4.4  Document plant identity on label


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

 

Week No.

Date

Learning activity

Assessment

  1.  

4/07/16

Introduction to course

Why plants are important in CaLM

 

DVD- Private Life of Plants – growing.

In Class Assessment

 

  1.  

11/07/16

The Plant Kingdom Introduction to plant biology. Classification of living things. Plant taxonomy and nomenclature

Plant families,  Monocots and dicots

In Class Assessment

 

  1.  

18/07/16

Plant structure and function

Plant structure and function, photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration

 

 

In Class Assessment

 

  1.  

25/07/16

How do we collect and preserve a plant specimen?

What are the key things we look at to identify a plant?

Other Assessment

Task 1 – Plant Biology Assignment

  1.  

1/08/16

Using online tools and introduction to online tools

Use a botanical key to identify plants in a Herbarium

At home Quiz/Practical.

  1.  

8/08/16

Design your own Survey and Herbarium

OH&S, Codes of Practice and Legislation related to plants

 

  1.  

15/08/16

Preserve Plants

Undertake your own plant classification using identification tools

 

  1.  

22/08/16

Undertake your own Herbarium Collection

 

 

 

 

Mid Semester Break, no classes

29 August to 4 Sept

 

  1.  

5/09/16

Plant anatomy – flowers, fruits and seeds

In Class Assessment

 

12/09/16

Plant anatomy, including leaves, stems and roots

In Class Assessment

 

  1.  

19/09/16

Family Fabaceae, (sub-family  Faboideae)

Family Fabaceae (sub- family  Mimosoideae )

In Class Assessment

 

  1.  

26/09/16

Field work - Wonthaggi Camp

Wonthaggi Camp

3/10/16

Family Asteraceae

Family Rutaceae

In Class Assessment

 

6/10/16

Field work – Botanic Gardens

In Class Assessment

 

10/10/16

Family Myrtaceae

Family:Proteaceae

Assessment 1 – Wonthaggi Field Trip Report

17/10/16

Family Lamiaceae

Family Poaceae

Assessment 6 -

Botanical drawings

 

20/10/16

Field work - Maranoa Gardens, Balwyn

In Class Assessment

 

24/10/16

Practical test in class

Assessment 5 -

Plant identification Test

 

Assessment 2 – Herbarium

 

 

 

 

 


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


Overview of Assessment

Assessment fo this course may include reports, project work, individual assignments, practical assessment and tests


Assessment Tasks

 

Assessment

Due Date

Weighting

In Class Assessment

This consists of activities undertaken in class that are due at the end of class or by the following class.  This includes both hand-in written work and observation by staff.

As per Teaching Schedule

10%

Other Assessment Task 1 – Plant Biology Assignment

25/7/16 via Turn It In on Blackboard

20%

Assessment 1 – Wonthaggi Field Trip Report

Field trip report to be written on the plant communities and plants identified on the Wonthaggi Field Trip. 1000 words max.

10/10/16 via Turn It In on Blackboard

10%

Assessment 2 – Herbarium

A  Herbarium will be made over the course of the Semester through group activity. Each individual student is to submit a completed Herbarium. There will also be peer to peer assessment of the Herbariums.

24/10/16, beginning of class, Monday

20% - Teacher Grade

5% - Peer to Peer Grade

Assessment 5 -

Plant identification Test

24/10/16, beginning of class, Monday

15%

Assessment 6 -

Botanical drawings

17/10/16, beginning of class, Monday

20%

 


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview