Instructional Staff

Instructor: Dr. Ed Jensen

Phone: 737-2519
Office: Peavy Hall 140
Office Hours: TU and TH 10:00-12:00; otherwise by appointment or drop-in.

Lab Assistant: varies by term

What You Will Learn in These Courses
(Goals and Objectives)
 
Goal 1: You will learn to use tree-related literature to answer common questions about trees.  Note: the intent is to prepare you to become a life-long learner about trees.

• You will develop a technical vocabulary (about 150 terms) that will allow you to read descriptive literature on the identification, structure, and classification of woody plants.
  
• You will be able to use plant keys to identify trees and shrubs with which you are unfamiliar.
  
• You will learn to use common forestry references to answer specific questions about trees of North America.
• You will learn to write about trees, using common conventions of plant-based literature.

Goal 2: You  will become familiar with the principal forest trees of North America.

• You will be able to name, identify, and correctly spell the common and scientific names of 45 common tree-bearing genera native to North America

Goal 3: You will become familiar with the trees and shrubs of Pacific Northwest forests.

• You will be able to name, identify, and correctly spell the common and scientific names of 45 common tree species native to the Pacific Northwest.  For each species, you will be exposed to ecology and natural history, range, and principal historical and current uses.
• You will be exposed to 20-30 common shrubs native to the Pacific Northwest and will be able to key them to genus and species. (Due to time constraints imposed by a 10-week term, the emphasis is on exposure and keying).

Goal 4: You will become familiar with forest regions of the world. (Note: this helps internationalize the curriculum)

• You will be able to name and locate the principal terrestrial biomes of the world (forested and non-forested).  In addition, you will know the principal species and associations, important ecological attributes, and human uses within those areas.

Note: only FOR 241 students are tested over this material.

Goal 5: You will become familiar with the structure and function of woody plants.

• You will be able to describe the structure and function of the principal organs and tissues that comprise woody plants.
  

Note: only FOR 241 students are tested over this material.

Course Activities

Lectures: Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00-9:50 in Peavy 242
The Lectures are the same for both FOR141 and FOR241. They cover three major topics: 1) Trees of North America, 2) Structure and Function of Trees, and 3) World Biomes. Expectations are different for each class, however. FOR241 students will have two in-class exams covering these three major lecture topics (see class schedule for dates). FOR141 students will not be tested over lectures, but a portion of your grade (about 7%) will be based on attendance.

Labs: Tuesday or Thursday from 1:00-3:20 in Peavy 104
Labs are identical for FOR141 and FOR241. They will be conducted outdoors in all types of weather, so please come prepared. Most labs consist of guided walks around campus. In labs you will learn to identify the most important forest trees of North America, and nearly all of the forest trees of the Pacific Northwest, from their leaves or needles, flowers or fruit (depending on season), and twigs and bark (to a limited extent). You will also learn both their common (English) and scientific (Latin) names. If time permits, we may spend one lab on PNW shrubs.

Recitation (Lab Exams): TU and TH between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm in PV 104
Lab exams occur indoors during Recitation periods on the days indicated on the class schedule. Although you are assigned to a particular REC period, you may take the exam any time during the exam period (4:00 pm -8:00 pm—but plan on finishing by 8:00 pm). Exams are an important part of the learning process in this class. As a result, they may be re-taken in order to achieve the grade you want (only one exam may be taken in a given day, however). Low scores will not count against you; only your highest score will count. Each exam is different. Details concerning lab exams will be discussed in class as each exam approaches.

Class Project:
Although much of your time in these classes is spent stuffing information into your brains, another goal is to help you learn to use resources that will assist you in your effort to learn about plants as you proceed through life. The class project will familiarize you with several extremely useful resources—details will be discussed in class.

Honor System

The College of Forestry operates according to an Honor Code developed by its students in the 1960's and reaffirmed every few years since then. In essence, the Code states that students are expected to do their own work—neither seeking aid from, nor giving aid to, fellow students. If the open testing system used in these two courses is to work, EACH STUDENT MUST AGREE TO ABIDE BY THIS CODE. In accordance with this Code, I would ask that you not share information about lab exams with other students who intend to take the exam later during the same testing period. Students who violate the Honor Code will be penalized.