Economic Botany (BIOL 220)

Summer Session I (May 26 – June 29, 2009)

Summer Session II (July 6 – August 7, 2009)

  To help you decide if online learning is right for you, check out our

Online Learning  Suitability Self-Assessment

Take a look at this free, online book How to Succeed With Online Learning.

Reasons to take Economic Botany online this summer

• Gas prices are getting too high and you don’t want to commute to campus to take a summer course.

• You want to take a summer class but don’t want to have to be in Oneonta to do it.

• Trying to weigh whether to work this summer or catch up or get ahead on course work and online classes let you do both.

• You really want to take a class from the comforts of your own home (or your parent’s place).

• Upper level botany course.

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

This course examines the discipline of plant biology that focuses on the study of plants that are economically important to people, including plants that are sources of food, fibers, medicines, gums, insecticides, etc. The course introduces the student to the vocabulary and principles of plant biology. It covers the broad areas of plant taxonomy, anatomy, morphology, physiology, diversity, ecology, and economic importance. Success in this course will depend upon each student's accumulation, appreciation, and application of botanical knowledge.

Prerequisite:  BIOL 101 or BIOL 105 or 200.

The objective is to:

1. Provide an understanding and appreciation of plants. As animals, it is difficult for us to relate to plants, but plants are highly evolved organisms just as well adapted to their life styles as animals are.
2. Encourage careful observation, curiosity and thinking about plants.
3. Discuss the origins of agriculture.
4. Compare and contrast the major plant families used by humans for food.
5. List and describe the major plant textiles and how they are used.
6. Discuss spices, herbs, perfumes, oils, waxes, and other plant products.
7. Describe in detail at least 10 medicinal plants and be able to relate how their compounds work in the human body.
8. Relate several poisonous compounds found in plants and their effects.
9. Describe how plants are used in beverages such as beers, coffee, tea, wine, chocolate, etc.

10. Know the major plant oils, both agriculture and therapeutic, and their histories.

TEXT & REQUIRED MATERIALS 

Simpson, Beryl and Molly Conner-Orozaly. 2001.  Economic Botany – Plants in Our World. 3^rd Edition.  McGrawHill Publishing.  ISBN: 0072909382

Pollan, Michael.  2001.  The Botany of Desire.  Random House Publishing.  ISBN: 0375760393

COURSE PROCEDURES

This course is offered in the liberal arts tradition; thus you are expected to learn a body of facts and concepts.  Topics will be discussed in depth in order that you will have an understanding of the discipline's origins and present diversity. 

Due to the online nature of this course, lectures are offered in two formats designed for different learning styles:

·   PowerPoint slides converted to Adobe (.pdf) format (3 slides per sheet)

·   PowerPoint slides with accompanying voiced lecture by Dr. Ryburn

Online “chat” discussions, as well as office hours, will take place using Angel.  If you are currently not very familiar with Angel, please read the Angel Student Quickstart Guide.

A tentative schedule of course topics is listed below and listed on Angel (Calendar Tab). Lecture notes will consist of introductions to the important facets of economic botany. Reading assignments will be made periodically. You are responsible for all assigned material. Complete assigned readings prior to their discussion in lecture. The material presented in the course can be difficult, but will be easier to understand if you read the book first.

EXAMS, QUIZZES, CLASS ASSIGNMENTS, & GRADING

Quizzes and Assignments:  Quizzes and homework assignments (announced via email and on Angel course page) will be given periodically in online.  These short exercises will cover your knowledge on current topics.  It will be each student’s responsibility to complete the quizzes by the assigned deadline.  No deadline extensions will be made.

Exams:  Three online exams will be given on the following dates. A deadline of two hours will be placed on each exam and must be completed within the time window specified on Angel. Each exam is comprehensive, thus covers all the material presented during the entire semester. Each exam will be worth 100 points.

Summer Session I:

Friday 5 June @ 6:00-8:00pm
Friday 19 June @ 6:00-8:00pm
Monday 29 June @ 6:00-8:00pm

Summer Session II:

Friday 17 July @ 6:00-8:00pm
Wednesday 29 July @ 6:00-8:00pm
Friday 7 August @ 6:00-8:00pm

Format of Exams and Quizzes:  Exams and quizzes alike will include a mix of questions in various formats: multiple choice, identification, short answer, fill-in-the-blank, labeling of drawings or diagrams, and essay.  Identifications represent short answers—generally written as sentence fragments or phrases—that include specific factual information as who, what, when, where, why, how, and the scientific significance of the item.  Each exam and quiz will be evaluated in terms of spelling, grammar, clarity of expression, and creativity, as well as technical expertise.

Policy on Missed Exams: If you are unable to take an exam on the specified date and time, you must contact me prior to the exam or within 24 hours of the date of the exam and provide a valid, documented excuse (doctor's note, arrest report, etc.) as to why you cannot take the exam in order to schedule a make-up. Failure to notify me within 24 hours will result in a grade of zero for that exam. This policy will be strictly enforced.