Course Format & Philosophy

There will be several different types of activities in the labs.

We will have commercial slides which cover basic aspects of the subject matter. We will also have various plants from Hawaii and the tropics which we will analyze via hand sections and staining. We will help you section and stain difficult specimens, especially during the first few labs. Each student will have one special task to complete in each lab. He/she will use the TV/Microscope to display a specimen to the class and briefly explain its  anatomy. This will be a little daunting at first. However, you will quickly see that this is a form of collaborative interaction, as we are helping each other to gain knowledge about unknown specimens. You won't be on trial, although you may feel like you are!!!  It will help you gain self-confidence. Yes Drill Sargent!!!

It is important, however, to make it clear that each student will be responsible for completing all of the lab assignments.

That doesn't mean that you have to make sections of everything, but you should look at everything. I will let people know if a student has a really good section so that everyone can look at it, and you will see how well other students have done from their TV presentations.  We will help you   with really difficult ones. I  think that it is important to learn how to analyze anatomical features of unknown plants, like those that grow here. You will quickly see that many if not most plants do not have "textbook" anatomy.  However, you will be able to understand the anatomy of novel plants!!!!!

The lab tests will be 25% from commercial slides and 75% from plants that we analyze in the lab.

You do not need to remember the names of these plants, however, I do try to use a few plants to illustrate many different structures, and you will become familiar with their names.  This should give you some depth of knowledge as well as some breadth. Observation is often the first step in developing a research problem.  Anatomical  observations can lead to ecological, physiological and even molecular hypotheses.

We will expose you to several different types of microscopy which you can use in your class project. You will also learn photomicroscopy. We will also teach you how to use the freezing microtome to make uniform 20 - 50m sections. Once you have some slides we will show you ho to digitize  and modify them with computer programs.

Identification Tests

There will be four lab tests during the semester. I use photographic slides of specimens we examined in the lab to ask specific questions about their anatomy. These will be given at the beginning of designated Labs. I will try to have them correspond with the lecture schedule. I usually give overview slides to help with orientation. There are usually 50 questions on each exam. They deal with material covered since the previous exam.  Example Questions can be accessed from the
Plant Anatomy Home Page or by clicking the words Example Questions!

Each will be worth 100 points. Total = 400 Points.

You will need to pass several critical tests before we set  you free on the equipment. If you fail the initial test, you will receive a low grade and will need to take the test again until you pass. This will be easy if you read my detailed instructions, work with the TA and do a few dry runs. The actual exam will be taken with the TA or the Prof.

You can look at your handouts while you take the exam. However, this should not be the first time you have done so!!!!

There will be a definite time limit for each of these!!!!

Each of these will be worth 40 points for a total of 200 points.

The Grand Total of Lab Points = 600

Lab Handouts

I will give you lab handouts with black & white illustrations.
You will need a Three-ring binder for your lab handouts.
You can obtain a CD from me which has color illustrations.

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