Dendrology, the study of trees, involves learning the names, characters, habits, habitats and ranges of trees. But it is much more. Over the course of the semester, together we will engage with systematics, morphology, phenology, ecology, biogeography, and natural history of trees. We will use all our senses to experience the lives of the trees that form the foundation of forest ecosystems. To do so we will get outside and get to know the trees we pass each day on campus, streets and in forests and fields. We’ll also get to know some shrubs and lianas (woody vines). We will read, listen, discuss, ponder and puzzle in and out of class meetings. You will have many different kinds of opportunities to demonstrate learning from traditional quizzes and exams to tree field guides, a tree journal and reflections on readings or experiences. Through it all we will gain new appreciation for trees as amazing creatures and forests as complex, interconnected systems. This will lay the foundation for conservation and sustainable stewardship of forests here and elsewhere.
Students in this course will be graded based on:
In-class activities, pre-work, formative learning (20%).
A mix of graded and ungraded activities serve to encourage active participation in the course, provide feedback to staff on progress in learning, and offer opportunities to reflect on learning.
Tree journal (10%).
You will keep a journal documenting observations of an individual tree in a place that is accessible and where you feel safe. As part of this activity you will spend 30 minutes each week ‘sitting’ and getting to know the tree. These ‘tree sits’ will form the basis of weekly journal entries. Each week will have a prompt to help guide reflection.
Project based learning (10%).
Over the course of the semester there will be four small project based learning activities including Family/Genus ID, Field guide page, and Tropisms.
Identification quizzes + lab final (30%).
Each week (excluding week 1) will include an Identification Quiz in which the student is expected to recall and record the Family, Genus, species, and common name of various species of trees and shrubs. Different styles of quizzes may take place along with memorization, including team quizzes, flash card quizzes, and quizzes using dichotomous keys.
In-class written exams (30%).
There will be three in-class exams. You will be able to bring one double-sided page of notes to each exam. Each exam will be worth 10%. None of the exams will be cumulative.