Welcome to the fields of botany and zoology. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the biodiversity of plants, animals and fungi. Students are given a solid grounding in the vast diversity of multicellular organisms and their evolutionary lineages. Biol1009 is an essential prerequisite for students wishing to pursue plant and/or animal sciences. It is also an excellent, engaging, "free standing" course for those studying in other areas of science, or in non-science degrees. The lecture component focuses on the fundamentals of plant and animal structure and the evolution of complexity. It also addresses current research issues such as responses of plant species and populations to climate change. Each practical class is designed to provide our students with an opportunity for hands-on learning about key features of structure and function in a range of animal and plant taxa.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Gain skills necessary to recognise taxonomically distinct lineages of living organisms.
2. Be able to identify relationships between structure and function.
3. Be able to describe the evolutionary history of various living animals and plants.

Research-Led Teaching

The lecturers are all top researchers in the topic they teach and draw on their own plus other cutting edge research during their teaching in this course. Students are given the opportunity to experience enquiry-oriented learning during the practical classes, providing an introduction to active participation in research.

Additional Course Costs

None

Examination Material or equipment

None

Required Resources

The Practical notes will be progressively made available in the course wattle site prior to each scheduled practical class in order for you to print it to bring to every class. You must print and bring the hard copy because electronic devices cannot be used during the laboratory work. You will also need to wear a lab coat, shoes that fully cover your feet and for some pracs safety glasses will be required.

Reece et al.’s Campbell's Biology latest Edition: Australian Version is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (It is also the prescribed textbook for BIOL1003 and BIOL1004). You will have a very hard time in the course without accessing a text book and if you are interested in continuing in Biology, you will also find it useful in future years. PLEASE NOTE: that if you do not want to purchase the book, there will be some copies available for short term loan from Hancock library.

Recommended Resources

Recommended student system requirements 

ANU courses commonly use a number of online resources and activities including:

• video material, similar to YouTube, for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and photo/scan for handwritten work
• home-based assessment.

To fully participate in ANU learning, students need:

• A computer or laptop. Mobile devices may work well but in some situations a computer/laptop may be more appropriate.
• Webcam
• Speakers and a microphone (e.g. headset)
• Reliable, stable internet connection. Broadband recommended. If using a mobile network or wi-fi then check performance is adequate.
• Suitable location with minimal interruptions and adequate privacy for classes and assessments.
• Printing, and photo/scanning equipment

For more information please see https://www.anu.edu.au/students/systems/recommended-student-system-requirements

Staff Feedback

Students will receive feedback in the forms of written comments, verbal comments, answers to questions, feedback to the whole class, to individuals and groups.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Referencing requirements

Students will be guided on referencing in the class room and through help documents made available through wattle if applicable. Biol1009 uses the Harvard style of referencing and using citations

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture days/times: Mon 8am-9am, Tues 10am-11am and Thurs 8am-9am Lectures take place in every week of semester at the RN Robertson Lecture Theatre 46E. Your practical classes will run be held on: Tues 2-5pm, Wed 2-5pm or Thur 2-5pm in the Gould labs (B116) and/or ground floor labs in the Science Teaching and Learning Building (B136) (check timetable for the venue for each). You must always come to your allocated prac class time unless prior temporary changes have been approved by the convener. Students must keep to their day of choice because there is a limit on student numbers, equipment and samples for each practical slot. If you have any problems with attendance contact the course coordinator as soon as possible (best before the scheduled prac). We are sure you will learn a lot from this course and we hope you enjoy the journey with us. Please note Lecture topics are general content guidelines only Week 1 - week start date (Mon Jul 25th) Lecture Topics: Mon: Evolution and Systematics (SK) Tues: Vertebrates (SK) Thurs: Vertebrates (SK)	PRACTICAL CLASSES ARE COMPULSORY The schedule for each of the compulsory classes for the course is shown below Please note that practical classes will be held in two different labs throughout semester.
2	Week 2 - week start date (Mon Aug 1st) Lecture Topic: Vertebrates (SK) No prac class
3	Week 3 - week start date (Mon Aug 8th) Lecture Topic: Vertebrates (SK) Prac class: Microscopy and small organisms Laboratory Rm 107, Ground Floor Gould Building B116: 2-5pm	Prac attendance is compulsory. Assessment task due.
4	Week 4 - week start date (Mon Aug 15th) Lecture Topic: Vertebrates (SK), Invertebrates (MA and DR) No prac class
5	Week 5 - week start date (Mon Aug 22nd) Lecture Topic: Invertebrates (DR) Prac class: Vertebrate dissection (Fish) Laboratory Rm 107, Ground Floor Gould Building B116: 2-5pm	Prac attendance is compulsory. Assessment task due.
6	Week 6 - week start date (Mon Aug 29th) Lecture Topic: Invertebrates (DR) Prac class: Invertebrate dissection (Snail) Room T3: Ground Floor Science Teaching and Learning Building B136: 2-5pm	Prac attendance is compulsory. Assessment task due.
7	Week 7 - week start date (Mon Sept 19th) Lecture Topic: Plant Diversity (MB) No prac class	Mid semester exam proposed for this week but date/time TBA by the examinations office
8	Week 8 - week start date (Mon Sept 26th) Lecture Topic: Plant Diversity (MB) Prac class: Plant Diversity Laboratory Rm 107, Ground Floor Gould Building B116: 2-5pm	Prac attendance is compulsory. Assessment task due.
9	Week 9 - week start date (Tues Oct 4th) Lecture Topic: Plant Diversity (MB) No prac class
10	Week 10 - week start date (Mon Oct 10th) Lecture Topic: Introduction to Fungi (CL - Monday 10th Oct) Lecture Topic: Plants in a changing world (OA) Prac class: Plant physiology and function Laboratory Rm 107, Ground Floor Gould Building B116: 2-5pm	Prac attendance is compulsory. Assessment task due.
11	Week 11 - week start date (Mon Oct 17th) Lecture Topic: Plants in a changing world (OA) No prac class
12	Week 12 - week start date (Mon Oct 24th) Lecture Topics: Plants in a changing world (OA) No prac class

Tutorial Registration

Register on wattle

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Assessment tasks (x5)	30 %	*	*	1,2,3
Mid Semester exam	35 %	23/09/2022	10/10/2022	1,2,3
End of Semester exam	35 %	14/11/2022	01/12/2022	1,2,3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Practical Class attendance is a requirement for passing this course and also for being allowed to sit each assessment. Therefore you must attend them. An assessment task is to be sat at the completion of each of 5 practicals If you do not attend the class, you will not be permitted to sit the related assessment task and you will not receive any marks for that practical. An equivalent procedure will be made available for students who have verified reason for only being able to attend remotely.

Examination(s)

The two exams (mid- and end of semester) are worth 35% each. The pass mark for the course (assignments and exams) is 50%. Students must obtain at least 40% in their combined exam marks to pass the course. Students who gain a mark over 50 overall but gain less than 40% in the exams (combined) will fail the course or be offered a supplementary exam (depending on their final score - see the rules for Supplementary exams under ANU Policies)

To pass the course you must:

• Submit the assessments which are only available during each practical. There are 5 assessments across the semester - each is worth 6% (= 30% total contribution towards the final grade percentage)
• Get a mark of > 40% for the combined exam marks.

Please note, that where a date range is used in the Assessment Summary in relation to exams, the due date and return date for mid-semester exams indicate the approximate time frame in which the exam will be held; the due and return date for end of semester exams indicate the approximate timeframe in which the exam will be held and the date official end of Semester results are released on ISIS. Students should consult the course wattle site and the ANU final examination timetable to confirm the date, time and venue of the exam.

Assessment Task 1

Assessment tasks (x5)

An assessment task is to be sat at the completion of each of 5 practicals as described at the end of the prac notes for each class (each assessment is worth 6% of your total mark). You will be advised at the start of each prac of the details for each assessment task. If it’s a quiz, it will commence at around 4.40pm and take 15-35 minutes. No early quizzes are allowed and they cannot be rescheduled to another time/day. If you do not sit the assessment task, you will not get any marks for that practical. Prac attendance is a requirement for passing this course and also for being allowed to sit each assessment. Therefore you must attend them. An equivalent procedure will be made available for students who can only attend remotely.

Due: Usually on the day of practical attendance

Returned: Next lab class

There are 5 tasks due over the semester. It is intended that the marked tasks will be returned within 2 weeks after submission. Further details can be found on the Course Wattle site.

Assessment Task 2

Mid Semester exam

Theory exam on sections of course that are covered prior to the semester break. It will be a mixture of short answer and multiple-choice questions.

Due: Mid Semester exam period

Returned: As soon as the whole classes exams can be marked (usually within 3 weeks from sitting it)

Please check the course Wattle site and the ANU Examination Timetable to confirm the date, time, style and location of the mid semester exam.

Assessment Task 3

End of Semester exam

Theory exam on sections of course that are covered after the semester break, plus a couple of capstone challenge questions that will enable your application of major concepts that were covered through out semester. It will be a mixture of short answer and multiple-choice questions.

Due: End of semester exam period

Returned: When semester grades are released

The date range in the Assessment Summary indicates the start of the end of semester exam period and the date official end of semester results are released on ISIS. Please check the ANU final Examination Timetable http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable to confirm the date, time, style and location exam.

Rubric

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Hard Copy Submission: will usually be submitted before leaving the class

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Student work will be returned during classes or can be collected from the RSB Teaching and Learning counter as advised (check with Juliey first). Electronic submissions will be made available through wattle.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Not permitted

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students