HORT 217

Lecture Methods

Lecture presentations will be made using slide shows projected using LCD. Students can expect to see images of living plants which may include the overall form, color, and texture of leaves, flowers, fruits, bark, fall foliage; as well as examples of proper use in the landscape. Line drawings may also be shown that provide clear diagrams of important features like leaf margins, leaf and flower bud morphology, flower and fruit structures, and well as overall plant form. Lectures will also include textual notes that emphasize important characteristics for discussion.

Rather than focusing on a list of raw facts, the lectures and other instruction will emphasize plant material distinctives and problem solving skills associated with plant selection. Students will be taught the art of plant selection and given ideas for how it should be approached, methods for learning new plants and identifying unknown plants, and case studies that demonstrate how new landscape plant knowledge is discovered.

Importantly, the lecture notes will not be followed rigidly. For example, not all plants listed on the plant group lists will be covered thoroughly in lecture (although each plant will be introduced in the plant walks). Lectures will highlight the most relevent information to help students understand important concepts.

Students will be responsible on exams and quizzes for a comprehensive understanding of each plant on the weekly plant group lists. Nevetheless, exams and quizzes will emphasize material presented in lectures, lecture notes, and plant walks. Since this class is so laboratory (and also information) intensive, students should explore multiple reference sources to double check (cross-reference) information about each plant studied.