Plant Biology

This 3-week intensive botany course is designed as an introduction to the evolution and diversity of land plants. Weekly lectures will survey the major groups of the Plant Kingdom including bryophytes, seedless vascular plants, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. During synchronous class time, students will review lecture material and study questions to reinforce learning of topics including plant evolution and diversity, life cycles, growth and development and physiology. In virtual labs, students will examine the form and function of plant organs, cells, and tissues though self-guided activities centered around the textbook (Raven and Eichhorn, Biology of Plants, 8th ed) which contains high quality microscope images of plants. Weekly open-book exams will help students to practice and gain mastery of the material covered.

Students will learn to recognize 25 common native plants of the Pacific Northwest through faculty-led virtual plant walks and participation in an online biodiversity project in iNaturalist. This course fulfills the botany prerequisite for more advanced field-based and taxonomy focused programs such as, The Fungal Kingdom, Field Plant Taxonomy and Field Ecology.

The course will be taught 100% remotely. To be successful in this course, students will need access to reliable high-speed internet and a computer. Students can expect our remote teaching to be a blend of ~3 hours a week of synchronous (scheduled) using Zoom and 18-20 hours a week of asynchronous work using Canvas, YouTube and observations of plants in local natural areas using iNaturalist. Faculty will offer alternative assignments if conditions or illness prevent students from accessing our synchronous (scheduled) meetings.