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Welcome to Botany for Gardeners This is a class on the science of plant growth,
using world food production, our favorite foods, and backyard gardening as
the framework for study whenever possible. We will look at what plants are made of, how they work,
how they interact with the environment, and where they came from. Most important perhaps, we will think
together about our relationship with plants in order to better understand our
place in the world. Welcome to
PLSOILIN 100 Botany for Gardeners.
I truly hope you enjoy this on-line learning experience. Dates: Offered in January and Summer each
year. (NOTE: there are 15
lessons and 3 “open-book” exams.
See Lesson
Plan for detail. You are invited to do this class at your own pace as
long as it is completed on time).
Check with the Division of
Continuing and Professional Education for information on dates. Instructor:
John M. Gerber, UMass Professor of Plant Sciences Office: 308 Bowditch Hall;
University of Massachusetts Contact: (413)545-5301 or jgerber@psis.umass.edu Web: http://people.umass.edu/jgerber/ Format:
This
class is a lecture format supplemented with a textbook, delivered via a
PowerPoint and Video in an on-line environment. You will have access to the instructor via WebCT Vista,
however I will not be available “24/7”.
I’ve posted many of the videos on You Tube to make them easy to
access. However the longer
videos are only available as downloads from WebCT. Be warned that some of them may take a while to download,
especially if you have slow connections. Each lesson includes a PowerPoint with notes and
most include a required section of the textbook. Exams are all “open-book” but are limited to one
hour. Please see the “sample
lesson” above for an example. Technology: To view the downloadable videos, Windows Media
Player is available on most computers, but if you don’t have it, you can get
it
here for a PC and here
for a Mac. If these don’t work,
try RealPlayer available here. You are NOT required to watch the
videos, and they are not needed to do well on the tests. They are offered to complement and
enrich the course. Finally, to
view the PowerPoints with notes, make sure you have the Adobe Acrobat Reader
(which is available free here). If you have any problems with
technology, please contact the UMass Online Tech Support office for help here. According to UMass Online, in order
to take this course you must: · have access to a personal
computer (Mac or Windows) · be familiar with basic
computer skills · be connected to the
internet · have an e-mail program and
account · have at least a 56 kbps
modem · have a Java capable
browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer) Required Textbook: Capon, Brian. 2005. Botany for Gardeners. Timber
Press, Portland, OR. This book is
available from the UMass Amherst Bookstore Annex, local bookstores, and
sometimes used at www.amazon.com or
other on-line sources. The
older, 1990 edition is just fine and can be purchased on line very
cheaply. Be sure you have a
textbook BEFORE the class begins. Exams and Grades:
Three unit exams will be given during the course. You may use any resource except
another person while you are taking the exam. The exams will be available at any time during the course,
but you will only have once chance to take the exam. Once it begins, you need to complete the
exam in the allowed time.
Grades will be an average of the three exams and will be awarded using
these ranges:
Online Registration:
to take this class online during the winter term, see the Continuing and
Professional Education web page at; https://www.umassulearn.net/
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@2008 John M. Gerber |
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