December13,2015
PLS4950PlantScienceCapstone
Tableofcontents
InstructorContactInfo|CourseDescription|CourseOverview|RequiredReading
|CoursePrerequisites|AcceptableCourseParticipation|CourseGoals|Assessments
|LearningCommunityOverview|Netiquette&DiscussionExpectations|TotalPoints&
Grades|Absences|AcademicHonesty,SoftwareUse,CampusHelpingResources,
ServicesforStudentswithDisabilities|Schedule
InstructorContact
Dr.KimberlyMoore
3205CollegeAve.DavieFL33314
954-577-6328
954-475-4125(fax)
Email:klock@ufl.edu;Skype:kimberly.moore27
Email/phonemessages:studentscanexpectaresponsewithin24hrs.M-Fandwithin72
hrs.onweekends.Mypreferredwayofcommunicatingwithstudentsisusingemail
(klock@ufl.edu).IcheckmyUFemailfrequentlyeverydayandontheweekends.IfI
plantobeoutoftheofficeoroutofemailcommunication,Iwillemailtheclassandpost
anannouncementontheclasswebsite.
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Course(catalog)Description
Studentswillidentifyaproblemortopicinplantsciencesanddevelopaposter
presentationaboutthisproblemortopic.Thiscoursewilldiscussthefollowingtopics:
howtodevelopahypothesis,howtocompleteareliableliteraturereview,the
importanceofpeerreview,andhowtopresentresultsandfindings.
CourseOverview
Thiscourseisdesignedtohelpstudentsidentifyaproblemortopicinplantsciencesand
todevelopaposterpresentationaboutthisproblemortopic.Attheendofthe
semester,studentswillpresentaposteronatopic,issueorprobleminplantscience.
PresentationswillbeinGainesville.
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RequiredReading
Carey,StephenS.2004.ABeginner’sGuidetoScientificMethod,3rdEdition.Thomson
WadswothISBN0-534-58450-0
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December13,2015
CoursePrerequisites
PLS3004CandPLS4941.Oneyearofemploymentexperienceinplantsciencesmaybe
substitutedforPLS4941withinstructorpermission.
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AcceptableCourseParticipation
Thisisanonlinecourse.ThelearningmanagementsystemCanvaswillbeusedand
studentsareexpectedtobecomefamiliarwithusingit.TheweekbeginsonMonday
andendsonSunday.Studentsareexpectedtologintothecoursewebsiteatleastonce
aweek(seeschedule)tocompletetheassignmentsand/orwatchthenarratedlecture
(seecoursegoalsandassignments&assessment).Thecourseincludesreflectionpapers,
discussionsessions,independentwork,peerassessment,andafinalposter
presentation.
AllcoursematerialswillbeavailableviatheCanvascoursewebsite.Studentsare
expectedtoparticipateinonlinediscussions,unlesstheyhaveanexcusedabsence.
Requirementsforclassattendanceandmake-upexams,assignments,andotherworkin
thiscourseareconsistentwithuniversitypoliciesthatcanbefoundintheonlinecatalog
at:https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx.
Studentsareexpectedtoprovidefeedbackonthequalityofinstructioninthiscourse
basedon10criteria.Theseevaluationsareconductedonlineat
https://evaluations.ufl.edu.Evaluationsaretypicallyopenduringthelasttwoorthree
weeksofthesemester,butstudentswillbegivenspecifictimeswhentheyareopen.
Summaryresultsoftheseassessmentsareavailabletostudentsat
https://evaluations.ufl.edu.
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CourseGoalsandAssignments:
Bytheendofthiscoursethestudentshouldbeableto:
1. Definethetermcapstone
2. Evaluatewhatmakesagoodhypothesis
3. Distinguishbetweenreliableandun-reliablereferences/sources
4. Createareliablereferencelist
5. Discussthealternativesolutionstoproposedproblem(s)
6. Discussthevalueofusingpostertemplates
7. Criticallyandpositivelyassessfellowclassmates’work
8. Presentanddiscusstheirfindingsinaposterformat
December13,2015
Assessment
Seeschedulefordates.TheweekbeginsonMondayandendsonSunday.All
discussionsand/orassignmentsneedtobecompletedbytheendofeachweek(Sunday
5pm,Easterntimezone).
TheacceptedformatforallassignmentsisMSOfficefiles.Ifthereisamalfunctionwith
theclasssiteorcomputermalfunctionsoccur,assignmentsmaybeemailedorsentvia
fax.Itistheobligationofthestudenttoinformmeofsuchmalfunctionsimmediately.
Inclassassignments(100points)
•
•
•
DiscussionpostsmustbecompletedbySundayat5pmET.Discussionposts
shouldbewellwrittenandaddresstheissueorquestionbeingdiscussed.All
postsshouldbemadewithinintheweekassigned.Discussionswillbegradedon
thequalityandtimelinessoftheresponse(seediscussiongradingrubric
attachmentundersyllabustab).Eachstudentisexpectedtocommentonthree
fellowclassmates’posts.Discussionpostswillbeaccepteduptofourdaysafter
theduedatebutwillbemarkeddownfivepoints.Eachisworth25points.You
willhave4discussions:
1. Introduceyourself
2. Expectationsofthecapstonecourse
3. Hypothesisdevelopment
4. Reliablesourcesofinformation
5. Yourproject
6. Valueoftemplates
Projecttopic:Eachstudentneedstosubmitandhaveanapprovedtopicfor
theirposterpresentation.
Peerreview:Eachstudentwillassesstheworkofoneoftheirpeers.Students
aretousetherubricprovidedbytheinstructortoevaluatetheirpeer’sliterature
reviewaswellasthefinalposterandoralpresentation.Youareexpectedtogive
suggestionsforimprovement(notjusttosayitlooksOK).
Literaturereview:(100pts)
Studentsareexpectedtowriteathoroughliteraturereviewontheirtopic.Each
literaturereviewwillbegradedonthereliabilityofsources.Thereviewshouldstart
withageneralintroductiontotheproblemwithreferences.Whathasbeencompleted
orisknownaboutthistopic,issue,orproblem?Whatisyourhypothesisandwhydo
youfeelthisisvalid?Whatarepotentialsolutionstothisproblem?Thesamerubricfor
thefinalprojectwillbeusedtoevaluateeachliteraturereview.
Self-reflection(100pts)
Eachstudentwillwriteaonetotwopagereflectionansweringthefollowingquestions–
Howdidyourothercoursesprepareyouforthecapstoneexperience?Whatexperiences
December13,2015
orknowledgehaveyouusedfromothercoursestoprepareyourfinalproject?Whathas
beenthemostchallengingpartofthiscourseforyou?
OralPresentation(100pts)
Atthefinalpostersession,youwillgivea5-minutepresentationontheirwork.The
presentationshouldbethekeytakehomemessage.Yourpresentationshouldhavethe
following
• 1to2sentencesaboutyourproblemandwhyitisimportant.
• Yourhypothesis–whatdidyoutest;whatisyoursolutiontotheproblem.
• Takehomemessage.Youneedtosumupallofyourfindingsinto2to3
sentences.Wasyourhypothesisvalidandwhatisyoursupportingdata?
• Thenconcludewithcommentsonthenextsteps-whatwouldcomenext.
Youwillbegradedonthefollowing:
1. Communicationstyle:howwelldidthepresentercommunicatethetopicor
information?
2. Comprehension:wasthepresenterclearandorganized?
3. Inspirationandengagement:didthepresentationinspireyou?
4. Impact:didthepresentationhaveastronginfluenceonyourknowledgeor
perception?
5. Content:wasthepresentationcontentclearandwellorganizedwithinformation
pertinenttothesubject?
ProjectGuidelines:(100pts)
Skillareasthatarebeingevaluated:qualityofpresentation(organizationandoverall
form);validity(accuracy,wastheprojectontopicandwereargumentssupported);
impact(didtheprojectopenupnewpossibilities,wastheproblemsolved);and
sophisticationofknowledge(complexityormaturityofknowledge;didthestudentavoid
naïvemisconceptions).Theattachedrubricwillbeusedtodetermineasatisfactory
gradeforcompletionofthisproject.Eachstudentprojectwillbeevaluatedbya
committeeofthreefacultyfromtheAgronomy,PlantPathology,andEnvironmental
Horticulturedepartments.
1. Defineoridentifyaproblem,issueortopicinplantsciencethatisrelatedto
teaching,research,extensionoryourpracticalworkexperience.
2. Describetheproblemandreasonsforitsimportance.Useliterature(and
data)tosupportyourargument.
3. Proposeandsupportpotentialand/orprobablesolutionstothis
problem/issue.
4. Self-reflection:Describehowyouwillusetheknowledgegainedfromthis
project/experienceinthefuture.
5. Presentyourfindingsasaposter(MandatorypresentationinGainesvilleon
dateTBA)
December13,2015
LearningCommunityOverview
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Consideryourselfamemberofacommunity.Acommunityisagroupof
individualswhoworktogethertosupportacommongoalorinterest.
Treatallcontributionsmadebyothermemberswithrespect.
Keepanopenmind.
Askforhelpwhenyouneedit.
Assistotherswhenpossible.Sharequestionsandideaswiththerestoftheclass.
Havepatiencewiththetechnology.
Respectdiverseopinionsandviewpointsofeachmemberinthecommunity.
Contributeregularly.
Allpostingssharedwithinthiscommunityshouldreflectacceptablecontent
standards.Youareexpectedtousediscretionandifaskedyouwillbeexpected
todemonstratehowyourcontentsupportsthefocusofthiscommunity.
Studentparticipationonaweeklybasisisanessentialaspectoftheonline
courseprocess.Allstudentsareexpectedtodotheworkassigned,notifythe
instructorwhenemergenciesarise,andmakeupmissingassignmentsnolater
thanfourdaysaftertheyaredue.
Ifatanytime,youfeelthatanyofthesegroundruleshavebeenviolatedbya
memberofourcommunity,youareencouragedtobringyourconcerndirectly
andimmediatelytotheinstructor.
Modified4-25-2010fromwww.learningwithoutwalls.com
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Netiquette&DiscussionExpectations
Netiquette(shortfor"networketiquette"or"Internetetiquette")isasetofsocial
conventionsthatfacilitateinteractionovernetworks,rangingfromUsenetandmailing
liststoblogsandforums(asdefinedbyWikipedia).
AdaptedfromRulesofNetiquette(http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html)
1. Rememberthehuman.Neverforgetthatthepersonreadingyourmailor
postingis,indeed,aperson,withfeelingsthatcanbehurt.
2. Adheretothesamestandardsofbehavioronlinethatyoufollowinreallife.
3. Knowwhereyouareincyberspace.
4. Respectotherpeople’stimeandbandwidth
5. Makeyourselflookgoodonline.Checkgrammarandspellingbeforeyoupost.
Knowwhatyou'retalkingaboutandmakesense.Donotpostflame-bait.
6. Shareexpertknowledge.
7. Helpkeepflamewarsundercontrol.Flameisapersonalattack.Itispossibleto
disagreewithoutattackingtheperson.Useemoticonsandacronymstoconvey
emotiontoavoidmisunderstanding.
8. Respectotherpeople’sprivacy.
December13,2015
9. Don’tabuseyourpower.
10. Beforgivingofotherpeople’smistakes.
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TOTALPOSSIBLEPOINTS&GRADES =500pts
ForinformationoncurrentUFpoliciesforassigninggradepoints,see
https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx
A
(470-500points)
A-
(450-469points)
B+
(430-449points)
B
(415-429points)
B-
(400-414points)
C+
(380-399points)
C
(370-379points)
C-
(350-369points)
D+
(330-349points)
D
(315-329points)
D-
(300-314points)
E
(0-299points)
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AbsencesandMake-UpWork
Requirementsforclassattendanceandmake-upexams,assignmentsandotherwork
areconsistentwithuniversitypoliciesthatcanbefoundat:
https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx.
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AcademicHonesty
AsastudentattheUniversityofFlorida,youhavecommittedyourselftoupholdthe
HonorCode,whichincludesthefollowingpledge:“We,themembersoftheUniversity
ofFloridacommunity,pledgetoholdourselvesandourpeerstothehigheststandards
ofhonestyandintegrity.”Youareexpectedtoexhibitbehaviorconsistentwiththis
commitmenttotheUFacademiccommunity,andonallworksubmittedforcreditatthe
UniversityofFlorida,thefollowingpledgeiseitherrequiredorimplied:"Onmyhonor,I
haveneithergivennorreceivedunauthorizedaidindoingthisassignment."
Itisassumedthatyouwillcompleteallworkindependentlyineachcourseunlessthe
instructorprovidesexplicitpermissionforyoutocollaborateoncoursetasks(e.g.
December13,2015
assignments,papers,quizzes,exams).Furthermore,aspartofyourobligationtouphold
theHonorCode,youshouldreportanyconditionthatfacilitatesacademicmisconduct
toappropriatepersonnel.Itisyourindividualresponsibilitytoknowandcomplywithall
universitypoliciesandproceduresregardingacademicintegrityandtheStudentHonor
Code.ViolationsoftheHonorCodeattheUniversityofFloridawillnotbetolerated.
ViolationswillbereportedtotheDeanofStudentsOfficeforconsiderationof
disciplinaryaction.FormoreinformationregardingtheStudentHonorCode,pleasesee:
http://www.dso.ufl.edu/SCCR/honorcodes/honorcode.php.
SoftwareUse
Allfaculty,staffandstudentsoftheuniversityarerequiredandexpectedtoobeythe
lawsandlegalagreementsgoverningsoftwareuse.Failuretodosocanleadto
monetarydamagesand/orcriminalpenaltiesfortheindividualviolator.Becausesuch
violationsarealsoagainstuniversitypoliciesandrules,disciplinaryactionwillbetaken
asappropriate.
CampusHelpingResources
Studentsexperiencingcrisesorpersonalproblemsthatinterferewiththeirgeneralwellbeingareencouragedtoutilizetheuniversity’scounselingresources.TheCounseling&
WellnessCenterprovidesconfidentialcounselingservicesatnocostforcurrently
enrolledstudents.Resourcesareavailableoncampusforstudentshavingpersonal
problemsorlackingclearcareeroracademicgoals,whichinterferewiththeiracademic
performance.
• UniversityCounseling&WellnessCenter,3190RadioRoad,352-392-1575,
www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc/
CounselingServices
GroupsandWorkshops
OutreachandConsultation
Self-HelpLibrary
TrainingPrograms
CommunityProviderDatabase
• CareerResourceCenter,FirstFloorJWRU,392-1601,www.crc.ufl.edu/
ServicesforStudentswithDisabilities
TheDisabilityResourceCentercoordinatestheneededaccommodationsofstudents
withdisabilities.Thisincludesregisteringdisabilities,recommendingacademic
accommodationswithintheclassroom,accessingspecialadaptivecomputerequipment,
providinginterpretationservicesandmediatingfaculty-studentdisabilityrelatedissues.
StudentsrequestingclassroomaccommodationmustfirstregisterwiththeDeanof
StudentsOffice.TheDeanofStudentsOfficewillprovidedocumentationtothestudent
December13,2015
whomustthenprovidethisdocumentationtotheInstructorwhenrequesting
accommodation
0001ReidHall,352-392-8565,www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/
StudentComplaints
Eachonlinedistancelearningprogramhasaprocessfor,andwillmakeeveryattemptto
resolve,studentcomplaintswithinitsacademicandadministrativedepartmentsatthe
programlevel.Seehttp://distance.ufl.edu/student-complaintsformoredetails.
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December13,2015
TentativeSchedule–
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Week of
Topic and Assignments
Due Date –
5 pm Eastern Time
Module1
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Jan4
Introduction
Lecture 1 – Introduction to the course and
expectations
Jan11
Read Chapter 1 - Science
Discussion - Introductions
Jan10
Discussion – Capstone expectations
Jan10
IdentifyaProblem
Lecture 2 – Problems in research, teaching
and extension
Read Chapter 2 - Observation
Discussion – What makes a good hypothesis?
Jan17
Topic for poster
Jan17
Jan18
Onlineclassmeeting(Mandatory)
Read Chapter 3 - Proposing Explanations
Jan25
LiteratureReview
TBA
Lecture 3 – How to perform a literature review
Lecture 3a – Using the UF library
Read Chapter 3 – Proposing Explanations
December13,2015
Week of
Topic and Assignments
Due Date –
5 pm Eastern Time
Discussion – Reliable vs. un-reliable sources
Jan31
Start working on literature review for project
Feb1
Defendtheimportance
Lecture 4 – Answer the question so what?
Lecture 4a – Importance of Peer Review
Read Chapter 4 – Testing Explanations
Literature Review due to your classmate
Feb7
Module2
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Feb8
Peerreview
Complete peer review of your classmates
literature review
Feb15
SolutionsandOutcomes
Feb14
Lecture 5 – Solution and outcomes
Read Chapter 5 – Establishing Causal Links
Discussion – Share your topic and outcomes
Feb21
Feb22
One-on-onemeetingswithDr.
Moore(phoneconference)
Progress report
Literature Review
Feb29
Feb28
Feb28
SpringBreak
December13,2015
Week of
Topic and Assignments
Due Date –
5 pm Eastern Time
Mar7
PresentationsDo’sandDon’ts
Lecture 6 – What not to do
Read Chapter 6 - Fallacies
Discussion – Value of templates
Mar14
Mar13
Self-reflection
Self-reflection question
Mar21
Mar20
Projectwork
Module3
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Mar28
PracticeOralPresentation
Peer review class mates project
Apr4
Revisionsofposter
Posters due to Dr Moore for printing
Apr11
Presentprojecttoclass-Gainesville
Apr10
Meet in Gainesville for Poster presentations
Apr18
Wrapupanddiscussionabout
course
Apr15
December13,2015
PlantScienceCapstone
Criteria
Excellent(5)
Verygood(4)
Good(3)
Un-acceptable(2)
Failure(1)
Qualityof
Presentation
(x5)
Strongevidenceof
preparation,
organization,and
enthusiasmfortopic.
Writingisfocused,
concise,andhasa
clearfluent
progressionofideas.
Literatureiscited
correctly.
Thereisevidenceof
preparation,
organization,and
enthusiasmforthe
topic.Thestudent
clearlylinksevents
andrelationshipsand
thereisnobreakin
progression.Thereis
asenseof
completeness.There
areafewminorflaws
incoherencebutthe
studentuseseffective
vocabularyand
sentencestructure.
Mostoftheliterature
iscitedcorrectly.
Thestudentdescribes
theproblemand
providesreasonsfor
itsimportance.An
adequateamountof
informationisgivenin
support.Thestudent
providesdetailsto
supportideas.
Thereissome
indicationof
preparationand
organizationbutmay
containsomeflaws.
Theprojectis
coherentand
somewhatfocused
withsome
progressionofideas,
althoughallaspects
ofthetopicmaynot
becovered.Sentence
structureisgenerally
correct.Some
literatureiscited
correctly.
Evidenceof
preparationand
organizationis
lacking.Thedelivery
andsentence
structureare
understandablebut
containmanyerrors.
Thereisalackof
coherenceandsome
responseshaveno
connectiontothe
problem.Mostofthe
literatureiscited
incorrectly.
Thereisnoindication
ofpreparationor
organization.
Deliveryisdifficultto
followandresponses
donotstayontopic.
Thereisnoliterature
cited.
Thestudentdescribes
theproblembut
supporting
informationisnotas
strongasa4or5.
Thestudentstates
theproblembutfails
todescribeitoradd
supportingdataor
information.
Thetopicisunclear
andthereisno
supportinformation
Thestudentprovided
effectiveand
interestingsolutions
totheproposed
problemthatwere
novelaswellaswell
supportedand
defended.
Thestudentprovided
plausiblesolutionsto
theproposed
problemthatwere
supportedand
defended.
Ifsolutionsare
presented,theyare
notplausibleand
supported/defended.
Nosolutionsare
presented.
Thestudents
providedsome
solutionstothe
proposedproblem
buttheyarenotas
wellsupportedand
defendedasa4or5.
Thestudentwas
insightfulwithcutting
edgesolutionstothe
problem.
Thestudentwas
proficientwith
adequatesolutions.
Thestudentwas
competentwith
solvingtheproblem.
Thestudentdoesnot
directlyaddressall
aspectsofthe
problem.
Thestudentdidnot
completethe
assignment.
Validity
(x5)
Thestudent
accuratelyandclearly
describesthe
problemandprovides
strongreasonsforits
importance.Specific
literatureanddata
aregiveninsupport.
Thestudentprovides
specific,relevant
detailstosupport
ideas.
provided.
Impact
(x5)
Sophisticationof
Knowledge
(x5)