Course Title: Collect and classify plants
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2013
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
+61 3 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. |
Element: |
2. Collect plant specimens |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1. Collecting ethics are observed when selecting specimens for picking. |
Element: |
3. Preserve specimens |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1. Preservation of specimen is undertaken while still fresh. |
Element: |
4. Identify plant specimen |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1. Resources are identified and accessed to assist in identification. |
Learning Outcomes
This is a competency based course with learning outcomes embedded in the competencies
Details of Learning Activities
Use of taxonomic guides such as current field guides & manuals, Determination of Taxonomic Hierarchies, Observation & Recording of Physiological Adaptations and Plant Anatomy, Describing and Recording the Fine & Gross Structure of Plants in the Laboratory,
The use of on-line & CD ROM identification tools, Describing plants and plant groups using nomenclature rules, Compilation of a Glossary of Plant Anatomy Terms, Development of Identification Skills Using Field Guides, Use of Standard Plant Keys & Random Access
Keys, Classifying Plant Specimens in the Laboratory, Identifying Plant Specimens in the Field, Estimating Risks in the workplace & field when identifying and collecting plants (OHS), Use of suitable Personal Protective Equipment when collecting plants. Using &
documenting oral communication to negotiate permission to collect plants, Research legislation covering the protection of plants, The employment of safe practices in finding, storing and collecting plants, Selecting and using appropriate plant collection equipment,
Practicing plant hygiene principles in handling and collection of plants, Collection of Plants on Private Land and/or Crown Land, Preserving & Storage of Plant Specimens, Compilation of Field Herbaria, Design and Compilation of Workplace Herbaria.
Teaching Schedule
2013 Dates
Collect & Classify Plants
Class DateTopic Prac/Activity AssessmentDate Due12 FebPlant Physiology 1Intro to Field Guides, other requisites for field work.
19 Feb Plant Physiology 2 26 Feb Field Herbarium Collection Techniques 5 March Anglesea Plant Community ANGLESEA FIELD WEEK 12 March Plant Morphology 1 19 March Plant Morphology 2 Vascular Arrangements in Plants Assessment 1 Plant Collection Preparation Project due 21 March
28 March- 3 April
MID SEMESTER BREAK 9 April Plant Taxonomy 1 - Native Plant PhylaPlant Keys 1
The Use of Simplified Plant Keys
16 April Plant Taxonomy 2 - Native Plant Families
Plant Keys 2
Random Access & On-line keys
23 April Plant Taxonomy 3 - Native Plant Genera Assessment 2 National Park Field Herbarium Report 25 April 30 April Quiz 1 in-class Covers 9 -23 April Asst 4(1)
30 April
7 May Research Plant Collection Sites, Record Contacts, Document communication seeking permission to collect plants at a site. 14 May Physical Habitat Type 1 Plants in Arid Zones 21 May Physical Habitat Type 2 Temperate Plants 28 May Physical Habitat Type 3 Rainforest 4 June Quiz 2 in-class Covers 14 - 28 May Asst 4(2) 4 Jun11 June
Assessment 3 Preparation OHS legislative requirements and Codes of Practice exercise hazard identification and 17 June - 7 July MID-YEAR BREAK 9 JulyAssessment 3 PreparationOHS & Ethics of Plant Collection exercise 16 July Assessment 3 Launchrisk assessment and control calculation 23 July Eucalypts and close relatives Identification of Eucalypts and close relatives using a detailed plant key 30 JulyWattlesWattle Identification 6 AugUsing Biological Keys for Major Australian Plant Families
13 Aug Revision for Quiz 3Assignment 3 Major Plant Collection Progress Report 20 Aug Quiz 3 in-classCovers 23 July - 6 Aug Asst 4(3) 20 Aug 27 AugField Trip Using Plant Keys to Identify Urban Plants 3 Sept Vegetation Associations in Coastal Sites 10 Sept Identifying Plants in Montane Plant Communities 17 Sept Final Review of 24 Sept MID SEMESTER BREAK 1 Oct Weed Plant Communities Assessment 3 3 Oct 8 Oct Native Grassland Communities 15 Oct Remnant Grassland Field Trip 22 Oct Revision for Final Quiz 29 Oct Quiz 4 in-class Covers 3 Sep - 8 Oct Assessment 4 finalised Quiz 4(4) 29 OctLearning 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
Assessment 1
Plant Collection Preparation Project (CA/NYC)
Assessment 2
National Park Field Herbarium Collection and Field Report (CA/NYC)
Assessment 3
Major Assignment: Workplace Reference Herbarium. This incorporates a component where negotiation with a land manager to gain permission to collect plants is documented. 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)
Assessment Matrix
Element | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Assessment 1
|
X | X | ||
Assessment 2
|
X | X | X | |
Assessment 3
|
X | X | X | |
Assessment 4
|
X | X | X | X |
X indicates coverage in that assessment. A Detailed Matrix that maps Assessments onto Performance Criteria in each element for this course will be lodged in the SLPS CALM Program log.
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