Course Title: Collect and classify plants
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2020
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
Seb Buckingham jocesebastian.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
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
Learning activities include:
worksheets
botanical drawings
microscope work
plant identification activities
field trips
Teaching Schedule
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
The required text book that must be purchased at the beginning of Semester is:
Costermans, L. F. 2009, Native trees and shrubs of south-eastern Australia, Reed New Holland Sydney
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 1. In Class Practical (Week 16)
Assessment 2. Wonthaggi Field Trip Report (Week 14)
Assessment 3. Herbarium (Week 16)
Assessment 4. Plant identification Test (Week 16)
Assessment Matrix
Other Information
Assessment Information
This course is graded in accordance with competency-based assessment
CA Competency Acheived
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
To pass this course you need to achieve a satisfactory result for all assessments. Students may be given additional opportunities to demonstrate competence.
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 should be emailed to the Program Coordinator (namrita.kaul@rmit.edu.au). 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, 5 days 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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