Course Title: Collect and classify plants

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2017

Course Code: BIOL5237C

Course Title: Collect and classify plants

School: 174T School of VE Engineering, Health & Science

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5367 - 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

Delivery and assessment plan – BIOL5237C Collect and classify plants

 

Teacher Seb Buckingham– Thursday 9.00am to 12.00pm 

Email: jocesebastian.buckingham@rmit.edu.au

Delivery

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Week No.

Date

Learning activity

Assessment

1.      

6/07/16

Introduction to course

Why plants are important in CaLM

 

DVD- Private Life of Plants – growing.

In Class Assessment

 

2.     

13/07/16

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

 

Plant structure and function

Stomata leaf cells

In Class Assessment

 

3.     

20/07/16

Plant structure and function

Plant families,  Monocots and dicots

Vascular system

In Class Assessment

 

4.     

27/07/16

Plant structure and function

Intracellular

 

In Class Assessment

 

5.     

3/08/16

Plant Biology questions

In Class Assessment

 

6.     

10/08/16

Use a botanical key to identify plants in a Herbarium

How do we collect and preserve a plant specimen?

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

 

 

In Class Assessment

 

7.     

17/08/16

Family Fabaceae (sub- family  Mimosoideae )

In Class Assessment

 

8.     

24/08/16

Family Myrtaceae

 

In Class Assessment

 

 

 

Mid Semester Break, no classes

29 August to 4 Sept

 

9.     

7/09/16

Undertake your own Herbarium Collection

 

In Class Assessment

 

10.  

14/09/16

Field work – Botanic Gardens

In Class Assessment

 

11.    

20/09/16

Family Myrtaceae

Vegetation and plant species survey

(Wonthaggi Field Trip Report)

In Class Assessment

 

12.   

25/09/16-

28/09/16

Wonthaggi Fauna Camp

 

 

13.   

5/10/16

Family: Proteaceae

Family Rutaceae

In Class Assessment

 

14.  

12/10/16

Family Lamiaceae

Family Poaceae

2. Wonthaggi Field Trip Report

15.   

19/10/16

Field work - Maranoa Gardens, Balwyn

In Class Assessment

 

16.  

26/10/16

Practical test in class

3.Herbarium

4. Plant identification Test

 

 

 

Notes:

The above delivery plan is to be used as a guide only and is correct at time of distribution. Sessions may be deferred and/or cancelled.

 


 

Assessment plan

 

In Class (Practical) Assessment consists of activities undertaken in class that are due at the end of class or by the following class (2 marks per worksheet).  This includes hand-in written worksheets, botanical drawings  and observation of your skills in using equipment (microscopes) and plant ID resources. Wonthaggi Field Trip Report to be written on the plant communities and plants identified on the Wonthaggi Field Trip. 1000 words max. A  Herbarium will be made over the course of the Semester. Each individual student is to submit a completed Herbarium. 5 plant specimens.

 

Assessment Number

Title

Due Date

% Mark

1.      

In Class (Practical) Assessment

Ongoing

30%

2.     

Wonthaggi Field Trip Report –vegetation description

15/10/17

25%

3.     

Herbarium

24/10/17, beginning of class, Wednesday

25%

4.     

Plant identification Test

24/10/17, beginning of class, Wednesday

20%

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

None

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to collect and identify plants using taxonomic keys.
It applies to individuals who analyse information and exercise judgement to complete a range of advanced skilled activities and demonstrate deep knowledge in a specific technical area.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

AHCPCM502 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



Details of Learning Activities

In Class (Practical) Assessment consists of activities undertaken in class that are due at the end of class or by the following class (2 marks per worksheet).  This includes hand-in written worksheets, botanical drawings  and observation of your skills in using equipment (microscopes) and plant ID resources. Wonthaggi Field Trip Report to be written on the plant communities and plants identified on the Wonthaggi Field Trip. 1000 words max. A  Herbarium will be made over the course of the Semester. Each individual student is to submit a completed Herbarium. 5 plant specimens.

Learning activities include

worksheets
botanical drawings
microscope work
plant identification activities


Teaching Schedule

 

 

Week No.

Date

Learning activity

Assessment

1.      

6/07/16

Introduction to course

Why plants are important in CaLM

 

DVD- Private Life of Plants – Growing.

In Class Assessment

 

2.     

13/07/16

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

 Plant structure and function

Stomata, leaf cells

In Class Assessment

 

3.     

20/07/16

Plant structure and function

Plant families,  Monocots and dicots

Vascular system

In Class Assessment

 

4.     

27/07/16

Plant structure and function

Intracellular

 

In Class Assessment

 

5.     

3/08/16

Plant Biology questions

In Class Assessment

 

6.     

10/08/16

Use a botanical key to identify plants in a Herbarium

How do we collect and preserve a plant specimen?

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

 

 

In Class Assessment

 

7.     

17/08/16

Family Fabaceae (sub- family  Mimosoideae )

In Class Assessment

 

8.     

24/08/16

Family Myrtaceae

 

In Class Assessment

 

 

 

Mid Semester Break, no classes

29 August to 4 Sept

 

 

 

9.     

7/09/16

Undertake your own Herbarium Collection

 

In Class Assessment

 

10.  

14/09/16

Field work – Botanic Gardens

In Class Assessment

 

11.    

20/09/16

Family Myrtaceae

Vegetation and plant species survey

(Introduction to Wonthaggi Field Trip Report)

In Class Assessment

 

12.   

25/09/16-

28/09/16

Wonthaggi Field trip

 

 

13.   

5/10/16

Family: Proteaceae

Family Rutaceae

In Class Assessment

 

14.  

12/10/16

Family Lamiaceae

Family Poaceae

2. Wonthaggi Field Trip Report

15.   

19/10/16

Field work - Maranoa Gardens, Balwyn

In Class Assessment

 

16.  

26/10/16

Practical test in class

3.Herbarium

4. Plant identification Test

 

 

 

Notes:

The above delivery plan is to be used as a guide only and is correct at time of distribution. Sessions may be deferred and/or cancelled.

 


 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment in this course may include research assignments, written reports, quizzes, field trip work and plant collection & preservation (herbarium)


Assessment Tasks

Assessment Number

Title

Due Date

% Mark

1.      

In Class (Practical) Assessment

Ongoing

30%

2.     

Wonthaggi Field Trip Report –vegetation description

15/10/17

25%

3.     

Herbarium

24/10/17, beginning of class, Wednesday

25%

4.     

Plant identification Test

24/10/17, beginning of class, Wednesday

20%


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Assessment Information

This course is graded in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also utilises graded assessment
CHD Competent with High Distinction (80 – 100%)
CDI Competent with Distinction (70 – 79%)
CC Competent with Credit (60 – 69%)
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded (50 – 59%)
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment

To pass the course you need to pass, on average, each type of assessment (reports, assignments etc.)

  • Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension (see below) will not be corrected.
  • APPLICATION FOR 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 online http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension) at least 24 hours 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.
  • For missed assessments such as tests and field trips- you (& your doctor if you are sick) must fill out a special consideration form. This form must be lodged online with supporting evidence prior to, or within, 48 hours of the scheduled time of the assessment http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration
     

Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentation. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. It also occurs through enabling plagiarism, which is the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work. Please make sure you consider this carefully in completing all your work and assessments in this course and if you are unsure about whether you might have plagiarised, seek help from your teacher. 

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