During Covid-19
This course is run in an atypical format. Although run in Semester 2 we provide lectures and some tutorial content delivered as online content prior to the 1 week face to face period during the first week of the mid-semester break (this year starting 21 Sept 2020). This was followed by 3 weeks 'tutorials' to support the students development of major project. The fundamental of the course is the face to face is hands on learning - laboratory and field based - in the practice of identifying plants, both informal (field base) and formal (lab based) final results being evaluated in a technically authoritative manner, augmented by additional lecture/tutorial content during this period.The specific outcomes for this course are difficult to achieve without students having access to microscopes in the laboratories, and plant material that is able to be explained to the students in detail to understand what they are looking at. To achieve the outcomes in 2020, with a minimum of lab and field time, we are restructuring the available lab time and space during the scheduled face-to-face period in the mid-semester break (ie starting 21 Sept 2020). We propose to deliver laboratory classes, complying with COVID conditions in Braggs laboratories and field components, again based on COVID conditions compliant activities in walking distance to the northern end of North Tce campus.Our 2020 proposal is:

During Covid-19

This course is run in an atypical format. Although run in Semester 2 we provide lectures and some tutorial content delivered as online content prior to the 1 week face to face period during the first week of the mid-semester break (this year starting 21 Sept 2020). This was followed by 3 weeks 'tutorials' to support the students development of major project. The fundamental of the course is the face to face is hands on learning - laboratory and field based - in the practice of identifying plants, both informal (field base) and formal (lab based) final results being evaluated in a technically authoritative manner, augmented by additional lecture/tutorial content during this period.The specific outcomes for this course are difficult to achieve without students having access to microscopes in the laboratories, and plant material that is able to be explained to the students in detail to understand what they are looking at. To achieve the outcomes in 2020, with a minimum of lab and field time, we are restructuring the available lab time and space during the scheduled face-to-face period in the mid-semester break (ie starting 21 Sept 2020). We propose to deliver laboratory classes, complying with COVID conditions in Braggs laboratories and field components, again based on COVID conditions compliant activities in walking distance to the northern end of North Tce campus.

Our 2020 proposal is:

1.All lectures will be converted to online content if not already developed in this mode - including the content usually given during the
face-to-face week.
2. All tutorials will be converted to online content including the content usually given during the face-to-face week, some of this content will be delivered post face-to face to provide follow-up reinforcing content that also prepares the students for their final major project work.
3. We will develop in-lab work that is readily completed following COVID-19 restrictions and lab availability. We will also record the labs during the week if students are unable to attend and propose that they find similar plant material to observe although they may need to be directed in gaining access to appropriate material.Typically we take students to natural bush sites close to the city (Anstey Hill) or within easy travel distance (Aldinga Scrub and Onkaparinga reserve).

During this year's course we will utilise sites such as the Botanic Gardens, Botanic Park and along the Torrens with permission from landholders. This will enable walking from campus and social distancing.

The course content may include the following topics:
1. Botanical nomenclature, the principles of systematics and taxonomy (including historical context)
2. Species concepts versus species identification (including historical and theoretical context and its practical application).
3. Modern taxonomic techniques.
4. The role of the herbarium and other research infrastructure such as botanic gardens, seed banks and databases.
5. Fundamentals of plant characters used for modern taxonomy; morphology, anatomy, cytology, DNA characters. Detailed
plant character analysis; leaves, flowers and fruits.
6. Spotting characters for major groups including iconic Australian flowering plant groups, weeds and globally important
plant families.
7. Evolutionary systematics of vascular plants including adaptation and congruence in plant characters.
8. Advanced plant biodiversity; plant-animal co-evolution, adaptation gradients, the influence of plasticity,
applied uses of plant biodiversity, ethnobotany.

Practical classes include developing skills in the recognition of plant structures for use in taxonomic identification, the use of taxonomic identification key and other resources, analysis of plant characters for assessment of variability, the description of plant community structure and to assess conservation status of plant species.

The recommended texts assigned to this course are:
 
Plant Systematics, Second Edition, by Michael G. Simpson ISBN: 978-0-12-374380-0
 
It's Blue With Five Petals by Ann Prescott ISBN: 978-0-64-659298-5
 

Assessment task	Type of assessment	Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes	Hurdle   Yes or No	Outcomes being assessed / achieved	Approximate Timing of Assessment
Quizzes	Formative & Summative	15%	No	1,3	Week 39
Practical Assessment	Formative & Summative	15%	No	2,3,4	Week 42
Project	Formative & Summative	20%	No	1,2,3,4,5	Week 44
Mid-term test	Summative	25%	No	1,2,3,5	Week 39
Final Test	Summative	25%	No	1,2, 3	Week 45

None

1. Quizzes (15%)

Four quizzes testing the skills
in plant identification the students have gained will be held, during practical sessions of the intensive mode period of the course (online). The total for these quizzes will be 10% of their final grade (each quiz is worth 3.75%). These quizzes include assessment of the ability of student to not only observe and describe the unknown plant specimens they will need to identify but the correct taxonomy applied.

2. Practical Assessment (15%)

The practical assessment will replace group presentations and be based on the hands on activities conducted during the face to face week. Alternatives are being identified for those unable to attend but lack of equipment at home identified as problem for inspecting plants for use in formal identification keys.

3. Project (20%)

The project has been down-weighted as it usually represents the individual and group work based field collections in native bushland which will not be possible this year. A revised major project scope has been devised where the students can achieve good outcomes using virtual resources following demonstrations during the face to face training.

 4.  Mid Term and Final Tests (50%)

Mid-term  test (25%)

Mid-semester test has been increased in value due to additional online content to be completed prior to the face to face training activities.

Final test (25%)

Final test remains the same and assesses content across the course.

If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply.  A penalty of 10% of the value of the
assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.