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The resources listed here are the results of preliminary work on the tutorial and have not been updated to reflect the final product.

Instructional Context

Target Learners

Adults and teens who garden, grow houseplants, or just enjoy nature and want to learn more about plant taxonomy and what plant names tell us.

Instructional Objectives

After completing the course, learners will be able to

Sketch the history of plant taxonomy
Recall taxonomic principles
Apply knowledge of gardener's Latin to predict features of a plant based on its Latin binomial
Evaluate the value of nomenclature for plant life

Instructional Method

After watching a video and reading about the history of plant taxonomy, learners fill in a timeline of the major events in the history of plant taxonomy. After viewing a presentation with audio and reading about taxonomic principles, learners create their own reference card of taxonomic principles. After lessons in taxonomic Latin, learners predict the plant that a Latin binomial describes; lessons in taxonomic Latin include an audio presentation on pronunciation, a video presentation on the basics of Latin as used in botanical names, a reference guide to helpful vocabulary, and a video demonstration at a garden. Learners read articles or watch videos that present a philosophical claim about plant nomenclature to form an opinion on the value of nomenclature for plant life.

Storyboard

Images