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

nevil.schultz@rmit.edu.au

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.
1.2. Area, location and/or habitat for collecting are defined.
1.3. Resources to assist in plant location and identification are determined and prepared.
1.4. Equipment required for collecting and preserving specimens is determined and prepared.
1.5. Licences and/or permission to collect specimens are sought from landowner or managing agency.
1.6. Range of likely operating conditions, hazards and difficult/sensitive environments are assessed for impact on collecting and preserving specimens.
1.7. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards associated with plant collecting are identified.
 

Element:

2. Collect plant specimens

Performance Criteria:

2.1. Collecting ethics are observed when selecting specimens for picking.
2.2. Relevant information about the specimen, its characteristics and occurrence is entered into a field note book and location coordinates are noted.
2.3. Specimen collected provides adequate material for identification and preserving.
2.4. Specimens are correctly tagged and stored for later identification.
2.5. Appropriate OHS legislative requirements and work practices are followed.
 

Element:

3. Preserve specimens

Performance Criteria:

3.1. Preservation of specimen is undertaken while still fresh.
3.2. Specimen is cleaned and prepared for preserving according to enterprise guidelines.
3.3. Preserving of specimen carried out using either pressing or drying techniques.
3.4. Dried specimen is mounted and labelled with accurate information from notebook.
 

Element:

4. Identify plant specimen

Performance Criteria:

4.1. Resources are identified and accessed to assist in identification.
4.2. The basic characteristics of a plant are identified and documented.
4.3. Relevant plant key is used to identify plant.
4.4. Plant identity is confirmed against botanical description of species.
 

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 1

    Intro 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 completed
  25 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 Families 

Assessment 1,  Part B National Park Flora Report  

 30 April 6 MayNative Plant Genera Assessment Two  Launch 

 

 13 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 

 3 Jun10 June Quiz Two Covers 29 April - 3 June

 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 Aug 

 Using Biological Keys for Major  Australian Plant Families

   12  AugUsing Biological Keys for Australian Plant Genera and SpeciesWritten Report on Major Plant Collection Progress

 Assessment 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