The BIOL 113 pathway to success

Kevin GouldSchool of Biological Sciences

Match these famous faces to their professions:

1. Physicist Chemist Microbiologist Botanist

2. Botanist Physicist Chemist

Microbiologist

3. Microbiologist Physicist Chemist Botanist

4. Chemist Botanist Microbiologist Physicist

BIOL 113 - BIOLOGY OF PLANTS

Pathways to Success

Two goals:

1) Appreciation of relevance of plants

2) Higher cognitive thinking

Use of narrative to illustrate relevance

When you eat a potato, you are eating a:

1. Root

2. Bulb

3. Seed

4. Stem

5. Bud

6. Flower

Interactive teaching to promote deeper learning

What cell type is indicated by the arrows?

1. Sclerenchyma

2. Parenchyma

3. Collenchyma

4. Metaxylem

5. Phelloderm

6. I don’t know

Why does rangiora have a mat of hairs only on the underside of its leaves?

1. Temperature regulation

2. Water conservation

3. UV-B protection

4. Defence from herbivores

5. Mineral absorption

6. Water repellence

Design a plant

You are in Uluru National Park in Australia….

Draw or describe the features of a plant that is ideally suited for survival in the habitat

“…I just want to say thanks for changing the course. I failed this paper last year, probably because I hated plants and found it really boring. When I'm not interested in something it's very hard for me to learn, and I was dreading having to do it again this year…

… But this year it's so much better. I actually enjoy coming to the lectures, and I feel like I've learnt more in the last few weeks than what I did during the whole semester last year…

… I've become really interested in plants and I finally understand your enthusiasm for botany (last year I just thought you were crazy)…

… BIOL113 has gone from being the course I hated the most last year to my favourite class this year…”