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BI2PW2: Plant World
Module code: BI2PW2
Module provider: School of Biological Sciences
Credits: 20
Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)
When you'll be taught: Semester 2
Module convenor: Professor Julie Hawkins, email: j.a.hawkins@reading.ac.uk
Module co-convenor: Dr Jonathan Mitchley, email: j.mitchley@reading.ac.uk
Pre-requisite module(s):
Co-requisite module(s):
Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):
Module(s) excluded:
Placement information: NA
Academic year: 2024/5
Available to visiting students: Yes
Talis reading list: Yes
Last updated: 21 May 2024
Overview
Module aims and purpose
This module aims to increase students’ appreciation and understanding of the fungi, lichens and land plants (mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and flowering plants). The aim is to deepen students’ knowledge of this diversity, including how taxonomists identify, classify and name plants and fungi, and how plant and fungal diversity is assessed in the field. Students will study the plant-fungal symbioses that more than 80% of land plants benefit from, to appreciate that whilst all life depends on plants, almost all plants depend on fungi. Students will deepen their understanding of plants habitats and plant ecology, reproductive biology and plant evolution through the use of carefully-chosen examples. Practical skills will be developed in the field and the laboratory, including setting up and analysing microcosm experiments. A visit to one of the following - Oxford Botanic Gardens/Royal Botanical Grdens, Kew or the Natural History Museum - will be scheduled in week 4.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:Â
- Use botanical nomenclature, and have a working knowledge of plant and fungal classification and understand the processes of taxonomyÂ
- Develop observational skills, to describe and identify plants, lichens and fungi Â
- Understand the roles of fungi and symbioses in ecosystemsÂ
- Develop familiarity with field botany and mycologyÂ
- Demonstrate knowledge of plant habitats and plant ecology, reproductive biology and plant evolutionÂ
- Set up a microcosm experiment, including inoculating of host plants, and recording and interpreting effects of fungal-plant interactionsÂ
Module content
- Plant taxonomy and diversityÂ
- Fungi, lichens and plant-fungal relationships Â
- Meetings with plants – oak, bracken, mistletoe and vanilla orchid. Â
- Plant identification and field botanyÂ
Structure
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, lab-based practicals, fieldwork. Â
Study hours
At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.
 Scheduled teaching and learning activities |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Lectures | 11 | ||
Seminars | |||
Tutorials | |||
Project Supervision | |||
Demonstrations | |||
Practical classes and workshops | 19 | ||
Supervised time in studio / workshop | |||
Scheduled revision sessions | |||
Feedback meetings with staff | |||
Fieldwork | 10 | ||
External visits | 6 | ||
Work-based learning | |||
 Self-scheduled teaching and learning activities |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Directed viewing of video materials/screencasts | 5 | ||
Participation in discussion boards/other discussions | |||
Feedback meetings with staff | |||
Other | |||
Other (details) | |||
 Placement and study abroad |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Placement | |||
Study abroad | |||
 Independent study hours |  Semester 1 |  Semester 2 | Ìý³§³Ü³¾³¾±ð°ù |
---|---|---|---|
Independent study hours | 149 |
Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.
Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.
Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.
Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.
Assessment
Requirements for a pass
Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.
Summative assessment
Type of assessment | Detail of assessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of assessment | Submission date | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Practical skills assessment | Test in laboratory in exam conditions | 50 | 3 hours | Semester 2, Teaching Week 9 | |In the laboratory, students will use keys, write descriptions and recall knowledge about plants they have met during the module. |
Written coursework assignment | Individual report, set in Week 1 | 30 | Table, 20 items | Semester 2, Teaching Week 6 | The report will describe the botany, taxonomy and biology of plants encountered by the students in day-to-day life; a table will be submitted. |
Written coursework assignment | Report describing microcosm experiment: set up in lab in Week 5, data collected in Week 10 | 20 | 1,500 words, not including references, figures, tables and the figure/table captions | Semester 2, Teaching Week 12 | Presentation, interpretation and discussion of microcosm experiment data. |
Penalties for late submission of summative assessment
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:
Assessments with numerical marks
- where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
- the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
- where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.
Assessments marked Pass/Fail
- where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.
The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.
Formative assessment
Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.
Practice practical test, week 9, 2 hours. Â
Reassessment
Type of reassessment | Detail of reassessment | % contribution towards module mark | Size of reassessment | Submission date | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Set exercise | Set exercise | 50 | During the University resit period | ||
Written coursework assignment | Botany, taxonomy and biology of plants | 30 | During the University resit period | ||
Written coursework assignment | Microcosm report | 20 | During the University resit period |
Additional costs
Item | Additional information | Cost |
---|---|---|
Computers and devices with a particular specification | ||
Required textbooks | ||
Specialist equipment or materials | ||
Specialist clothing, footwear, or headgear | ||
Printing and binding | ||
Travel, accommodation, and subsistence |
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.