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 |
4/07/16 |
Introduction to course Why plants are important in CaLM
DVD- Private Life of Plants – growing. |
In Class Assessment
|
|
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
|
|
18/07/16 |
Plant structure and function Plant structure and function, photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration
|
In Class Assessment
|
|
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 |
|
1/08/16 |
Using online tools and introduction to online tools Use a botanical key to identify plants in a Herbarium |
At home Quiz/Practical. |
|
8/08/16 |
Design your own Survey and Herbarium OH&S, Codes of Practice and Legislation related to plants |
|
|
15/08/16 |
Preserve Plants Undertake your own plant classification using identification tools |
|
|
22/08/16 |
Undertake your own Herbarium Collection
|
|
|
|
|
Mid Semester Break, no classes29 August to 4 Sept |
|
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 |
|
19/09/16 |
Family Fabaceae, (sub-family Faboideae) Family Fabaceae (sub- family Mimosoideae ) |
In Class Assessment
|
|
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