| Effective Term: | 2024/20 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Australian Flora |
| Unit ID: | SCENV2101 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (SCBIO1001 or SCENV1001 or SCENV1002) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | (ENVGC2712) |
| ASCED: | 050901 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
| This unit addresses essential characteristics of the Australian flora and plant communities. The unit includes an introduction to plant ecology and plant physiology, with a focus on Australian examples, that will give students a functional understanding of the processes influening plant communities, and the problems they face in the modern world. Students will develop skills in identifying and classifying plants. The unit aims to get students `thinking like a plant`, giving them a fresh perspective on Australia`s unique flora, and the challenges in managing plant populations and communities. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| Placement Component: No |
| Supplementary Assessment: |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | |  | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Define and describe the major Australian vegetation communities, and the plant families and adaptations which characterise these communities. |
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| K2. | Apply the terminology used to describe the tissues, morphological structures and reproduction strategies of the plant kingdom. |
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| K3. | Develop broad knowledge of the ecological interactions of plants that influence their function and persistence in the landscape. |
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| K4. | Describe the origins of Australian flora and the major contemporary environmental factors influencing it. |
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| K5. | Describe and discuss the threats facing Australian plant communities. |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Develop skills in plant identification of the Australian flora. |
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| S2. | Prepare plant material for dissection, and be able to interpret those sections. |
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| S3. | Describe the morphological features of plants, and relate these to plant function. |
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| S4. | Distinguish and characterise significant families and other taxa of Australian angiosperms. |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Apply knowledge of botanical keys to identify Australian native and introduced plants. |
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| A2. | Apply knowledge of ecological interactions to develop appropriate natural resource management plans in urban areas, native vegetation and modified landscapes. |
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| A3. | Design and implement vegetation surveys that are approriate for their intended purpose. |
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| Unit Content: |
The unit content can classificed into three main areas of investigation: (1) Some essential plant biology and physiology, (2) the classification and phylogeny of the Australian flora, (3) the ecology of Austrlain plant populations and communites.
Topics may include:
1. Introduction to the Australian flora and its evolution.
2. Botanical terminology.
3. Ferns and fern allies; Gymnosperms.
4. Introduction to Angiosperms; important families in the Australian flora.
5. Monocot families.
6. Photosynthesis and its ecological consequences.
7. Pollination ecology.
8. Seed ecology.
9. Plants and fire.
10. Plant life history strategies.
11. Grazing ecology; plant defences.
12. Plant biogeography.
13. Threats to Australian plant communities. |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | Learning outcomes
(KSA) | Assessment task
(AT#) | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Not applicable | LT3 | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative | Not applicable | LT3 | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving. | S3, A2 | LT1, LT3, LT4 | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities. | S1, A1 | LT3 | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | K3, K4, K5, A2, A3 | LT1, LT4 |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1-K5 | Quizzes, including early intervention task | Online quizzes | 20-30% | | 2. | K2, K3, S1-S4, A1 | Herbarium assignment | Submitted plant collection | 15-25% | | 3. | K2, S1-S4, A1-A3 | Practical class assessments and participation, including field trip. | Assessments include in-class submissions, on-line quizzes, and completion of pre-practical tasks. | 15-30% | | 4. | K1-K5, S1, S4 | Final test | Online test | 15-25% |
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