On-line quizzes are keyed to the material provided each week and are open for two weeks (less in the last weeks of term). They are intended to pace you, providing incentive for weekly learning. The quizzes are designed to check that you have done the reading and understood the concepts associated with each weeks' learning. As items of continuous assessment, each quiz is of small ‘value', but understanding each week’s material will lead to better assignment and exam scores!

For each quiz: there is no time limit; and one re-attempt of a quiz is allowed but not required. There is a 20 minute enforced time period between attempts. The highest grade of the two attempts will be used in assessment. Questions are generally multiple choice but include matching of terms and calculations. The questions in each quiz are taken from a question bank, so you may not get the same questions the second time you take the quiz. All quizzes must be attempted.

The quizzes cover understanding of technical terms and concepts. Questions may be in multiple choice, matching term or calculation answer formats. Answers will be automatically marked as correct or incorrect.

The 'Making Sense of Plant Processes' assessment item is meant to check and demonstrate your progress in various plant topics covered in the unit to the point of submission of the assignment.

This assessment item is comprised of a number of tasks, including calculations and descriptive/interpretive short answers. It will cover material presented in Weeks 1 - 10. The specific questions will be posted on the Moodle site by the end of Week 2. Start this assessment right away and keep on top of it....do not wait for the last week to do it!

Please submit your answers in a Word document (doc, docx or rtf). PDF documents will not be accepted. You can perform calculations or draw figures by hand and insert them as images (e.g., jpegs) in the Word document. If you don’t have a scanner – take a photo on your mobile phone, or use SnagIt or similar (remember to attribute your sources). Please consider redrafting your calculations for clarity before photographing/scanning them.  Also (although obvious, its an issue each year) remember to number your answers (keyed to questions).

For calculation based tasks, marks are awarded for:

1. A statement of the principle and key relationship (20%);

2. Clear step by step calculations, with explanation and unit analysis (60%);

3. The correct numerical answer (20%).

For descriptive/interpretative tasks cite and reference relevant supporting information and interpret it in the context of your response to the question asked. Marks are awarded for:

1. The quality of the background review, including a definition of the topic (30%);

2. The discussion of this information in context of the question asked (50%);

3. The clarity of English expression, spelling, grammar, accuracy of referencing, appropriate length (20%).

Two practical reports (1000 words each, excluding references, figure captions, tables and title page) are required in the format of a scientific paper or technical report. Each will describe one of the experiments undertaken at residential school. The choice of the exercises undertaken during Residential School to be used in the reports will be discussed during the School. These reports will each 'stand alone', but should be submitted as one document (with one section for each report).

Please submit your answers in a Word document (doc, docx or rtf). PDF documents will NOT be accepted. You can perform calculations or draw figures by hand and insert them as images (e.g. jpegs) in the word document. If you don’t have a scanner – take a photo on your mobile phone. You must make sure we know what question you're answering by putting the question number in front of the text. Please consider redrafting your calculations for clarity before photographing/scanning them.

This assessment item involves a written response to a series of questions drawn from each topic covered in the unit in an examination type format. Students will access the questions on-line and will have 3 h to complete the task, to be undertaken within the nominated 24 h period. This is an 'open book' format.  Submissions can be handwritten or typed, but please ensure legibility. 

Each sub-question of the assessment will have an associated mark. Please allocate your time proportional to the mark.  Responses will be assessed in context of the demonstration of understanding of terms and concepts, to the level covered in the coursework of the unit.