Course Syllabus
Course: NR 2425
Division: Natural Science and MathDepartment: Natural Resources
Title: Wildland Plant Identification
Semester Approved: Summer 2024
Five-Year Review Semester: Spring 2029
End Semester: Spring 2030
Catalog Description: This course introduces general principles of identifying and classifying plants. Students will also learn the basic ecology and uses of wildland plants. Emphasis is given to 200 common North American wildland plants.
Semesters Offered: Fall
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
Justification: This course serves as an introduction to the larger field of plant taxonomy and ecology. It is an elective course for students interested in nature or who want to know more about the flowers and other plant life around them. It is particularly helpful for those in Elementary Education, Natural Resources and Agricultural areas. It is a requirement for those earning an AAS in Natural Resources at Snow College. This class is designed to transfer to other universities. This class will also prepare students for plant identification contests through the Society for Range Management.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will learn basic plant anatomy that is needed to identify plants. Students will be assessed through identification quizzes, midterm exam, final exam, plant notebook
Students will learn the use of dichotomous keys in identification. Students will be assessed through identification quizzes, midterm exam, final exam, plant notebook
Students will learn the characteristics and how to identify up to 200 wildland plants. Students will be assessed through identification quizzes, midterm exam, final exam, plant notebook
Students will learn the scientific names, common names and taxonomy of up to 200 wildland plants. Students will be assessed through identification quizzes, midterm exam, final exam, plant notebook
Students will learn the ecology and uses of up to 200 wildland plants. Students will be assessed through ecology and uses quizzes, midterm exam, final exam, plant notebook
Content:
- Basic plant anatomy that is needed to identify plants.- Use of dichotomous keys in identification.- Characteristics and identification of 200 wildland plants.- Scientific names, common names and taxonomy of 200 wildland plants.- Ecology and uses of 200 wildland plants.- This course teaches students how diverse plants are, how they can be used in diverse situations and how to identify diverse ecosystem functions by the plants that are present.
Key Performance Indicators:
Identification Quizzes 40 to 60%
Ecology and Uses Quizzes 15 to 30%
Plant Notebook 5 to 10%
Mid Term Exam 10 to 20%
Final Exam 10 to 20%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
North American Wildland Plants current ed.
James Stubbendieck, Stephan L Hatch and Neal M Bryan
Pedagogy Statement:
In this course students will learn how to identify plants by using preserved mounted specimens, specimens in the field and from drawing. Students will be able to visually see characteristics as they learn about them. Students will also learn about the ecology and uses of plants. This course teaches students how to look at plants in different ways such as sight, touch, taste and smell. This should help students to use different ways of learning plants that will fit their learning style in the best way.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 24
Optimum Class Size: 24