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, the evolution of complexity and systematics. 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. Make observations of the internal and external morphology and physiology of both real organisms and models to interpret structure and function, current habitat and evolutionary history.
3. Be able to describe the evolutionary history of various living animals and plants.
4. Perform basic laboratory skills including light microscopy and identification of both plant and animal anatomy using real specimens

Research-Led Teaching

The lecturers are all globally respected and active researchers in the topics they teach. They 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 a challenging introduction to active participation in research.

Additional Course Costs

None

Examination Material or equipment

None

Required Resources

Purchase of one hard copy practical manual is required (cost $10-$15). Students are expected to bring this hard copy practical manual with them to every practical class 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). PLEASE NOTE: that you do not have to purchase the book: there are numerous copies available for short term loan from Hancock library. Alternatively each lecturer may recommend texts and provide links. Wider reading is expected and will benefit your studies, however you are not expected to purchase any texts unless you would like too.

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

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 12pm - 1pm, Tues 1pm - 2pm and Wed 1pm - 2pm. See MyTimetable for venues. 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). You must always come to the class you allocate yourself too unless you have been granted prior approval by the convener to attend a different session. We need to know and manage numbers for each class because there is a limit on space, equipment, and samples for each practical slot. If you have any problems with your attendance schedule, 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 that the following Lecture topics are general content guidelines only Week 1 - week start date (Mon Jul 22nd)Lecture Topics: Evolution and Systematics, Invertebrates (MA)	Afternoon Classes ARE COMPULSORY, because there are assessments to be completed during each. The schedule for each of the compulsory classes for the course is shown below
2	Week 2 Lecture Topics: Invertebrates (MA)Workshop Class: Quiz Systematics and Invertebrates (during afternoon class: in person): 2-3pm	In person assessment task to be completed.
3	Week 3 Lecture Topics: Invertebrates (MA)Prac class: Microscopy and small organismsLaboratory Rm 107, Ground Floor Gould Building B116: 2-5pm	In person assessment task to be completed.
4	Week 4 Lecture Topics: Vertebrates (SK)Workshop Class: Quiz Invertebrates (during afternoon class: in person): 2-3pm	In person assessment task to be completed.
5	Week 5 Lecture Topics: Vertebrates (SK)Prac class: Invertebrate dissectionLaboratory Rm 107: Ground Floor Gould Building B116: 2-5pm	In person assessment task to be completed.
6	Week 6 - Lecture Topics: Vertebrates (SK)Prac class: Vertebrate dissectionLaboratory Rm T3: Ground Floor Science Teaching and Learning Building B136: 2-5pm	In person assessment task to be completed.
7	Week 7 - Lecture Topics: Fungi (CL) and Plant Diversity (MB)Workshop Class: Quiz Vertebrates (during afternoon class: in person): 2-4pm	In person assessment task to be completed.
8	Week 8 - Lecture Topics: Plant Diversity (MB)Prac class: Plant DiversityLaboratory Rm 107, Ground Floor Gould Building B116: 2-5pm	In person assessment task to be completed.
9	Week 9 - Lecture Topics: Plant Diversity (MB)No afternoon class
10	Week 10 - Lecture Topics: Plants in a changing world (OA)Prac class: Plant physiology and functionLaboratory Rm 107, Ground Floor Gould Building B116: 2-5pm	In person assessment task to be completed.
11	Week 11 - Lecture Topics: Plants in a changing world (OA)No afternoon class
12	Week 12 - Lecture Topics: Plants in a changing world (OA)No afternoon class

Tutorial Registration

Register on wattle

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Assessment tasks (x5)	30 %	1,2,3,4
Assessment Task 2 includes a series of three quiz-based assessment tasks	30 %	1,2,3
End of Semester exam	30 %	1,2,3
Written homework assignment(s)	10 %	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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Skills website. 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 end of semester exam is worth 30% each. Students must obtain at least 40% in their combined quiz theory assessment and end of semester exam marks to pass the course. Students who gain a mark over 50 overall but gain less than 40% in the combined standalone quiz/exam assessments 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 60% task marks obtained from remaining quizzes and end of semester exam.

Assessment Task 1

Assessment tasks (x5)

An assessment task is to be sat during the completion of each of 5 practicals as described at the end of the prac notes for each activity (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 is a final 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.

Due: Usually on the day of practical attendance

Returned: Next lab class. There are 5 lab-based 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

Assessment Task 2 includes a series of three quiz-based assessment tasks

Quiz assessments based on revision of lecture content during the scheduled workshop classes, in the form of a mixture of short answer and multiple-choice questions.

Returned: As soon as the whole cohort's quizzes can be marked (usually within 3 weeks from sitting them).

Assessment Task 3

End of Semester exam

Theory exam of course content, including 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.

Assessment Task 4

Written homework assignment(s)

These will take the form of written replies to Qs or topics proposed for critical review from major topics

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

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). Please keep a copy of tasks completed and returned 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 approval for extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Student work will be returned during classes or can be collected from the RSB Teaching and Learning counter as advised. 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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students