COURSE OBJECTIVES, INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS AND GRADING

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. distinguish 150 landscape trees in the class and in the field
2. choose trees suitable for different landscape situations
3. apply proper terminology with respect to tree anatomy
4. apply the binomial system of nomenclature as applied to trees
5. understand the basics of plant classification as applied to trees

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:

There are three methods of instruction used in this course:
1. Online lecture notes with questions for you to research and answer in order to reinforce
    your understanding of the lecture material.
2. Identify and photograph trees at Washington Park in Burlingame, California. By working
   with tree material, you will learn how to use an identification key. You will also learn,
   through actual use, different aspects of tree anatomy and terminology used to identify
   trees. For each tree you identify, I will send you information about that tree. you will
   combine the information I send with your photographs to create a page for that tree.
   When you combine the pages of all the trees, you will have a portfolio of trees to help
    you identify trees and select trees for landscape uses.
3. Visits to local retail nurseries to see what type of plant material is used locally. You will
    also photograph and research information about each tree. You cannot use species you
    identified at Washington Park, but you can use cultivars of species identified at
    Washington Park. If you identify Betula pendula at Washington Park and find it at the
    nursery you cannot use it, but if you find Betula pendula 'Dalecarlica' in the nursery you
    can use it.You will combine the photograph with your information to create a page for
    that tree. These pages can be added to your portfolio.

When you are finished with the class, you will have an understanding of the syllabus topics as well as a portfolio with information about trees we grow in the San Francisco Bay area. The photographs you take will help you identify the trees, and can also be used to show clients if you are designing landscapes.

GRADING:

1. There are 23 questions for you to research and answer in the lecture notes. Each correct answer is worth 6 points for a total possible 138 points. Please submit answers for each topic as you complete the topic - please don't send all 23 answers at once.

2. Each of the 59 trees you identify and photograph at Washington Park is worth 3 points for a total of 177 points - please don't send all 59 trees at once.

3. Each of the 90 trees you locate, photograph and research from a local nursery is worth 3 points for a total of 270 points - please don't send all 90 trees at once.

4. The total possible points for the class is 585. Your grade is based on a straight percentage: 100-85% (585 - 497 points) = A;  84-75% (498 - 439 points) = B;  74 - 65% ( 440 - 380 points) = C;  64-55% (381 - 322 points) = D; and 54-0% (321 - 0 points) = F.

To get started, go to the Course Syllabus page and from there go to the first topic, The Plant Kingdom - an overview. Follow the syllabus topics from the top down to get the information in a logical sequence. You can also jump around in the syllabus just to explore or review particular topics. Once you have completed the lecture note portion, which I anticipate will take 2 to 3 weeks, you can bring the Washington Park Tree Key to Washington Park and start identifying and photographing the trees there. Concurrently, you can start visiting local nurseries to work on that aspect of the course. If you are going to complete the Washington Park and nursery portion in 15 weeks, you will have to send me 10 plants a week.