Primary teacher education

Activity type

Discipline biologiche ed ecologiche

SSD

BIO/07

Year

4th year

Semester

2nd semester

CFU

4

Hours distribution

24 classroom hours, 12 laboratory hours

Lecturers

LINA FUSARO

Activity type

Discipline biologiche ed ecologiche

SSD

BIO/03

Year

4th year

Semester

2nd semester

CFU

3

Hours distribution

24 classroom hours

Lecturers

LAURA VARONE

The objectives are to: provide basic knowledge of botany in order to understand plant structure and
functioning; provide basic elements to recognize the key feature of major plant groups of the Italian
flora, focusing on the most common wild species and on species that compose the urban flora;
understand the importance of plants in human life, focusing on their role in feeding; provide the
know-how to carry out educational laboratory activities to be implemented in the classroom and in
the field (school gardens and botanical gardens). Upon completion of the course, students will be
able to have independent judgment, communicative skills and learning ability concerning: the
concept of plant organism and the relationship between structure and function, the plant species
identification by the use of analytical keys and interactive apps, the role of plants in human nutrition,
practical lab activity planning. Development of basic ecological and geological skills, aimed at the study of complex realities, in
order to quantitatively analyze natural ecological systems, agroecosystems and urban systems by
integrating knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. This not only with the
objective of acquiring a thorough basic theoretical knowledge, but also for application in the context
of the environmental reality that is affected by anthropogenic changes, through a rigorous
quantitative analysis of environmental problems at national and global scale.
At the end of the course, the student will acquire making judgments, communication skills and
understanding in relation to the concept of ecosystem and the relationship between structure and
function, the complexity of the ecological processes and the analysis and monitoring of the main
interactions between the physic and biotic component of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. These
skills will be acquired also by means of laboratory and field activities.

Module: Plant biology
Development of basic ecological skills aimed at studying complex realities, to analyze natural systems, agroecosystems and urban systems through the integration of mathematical, physical, chemical, and biological knowledge. Knowledge and understanding of the basic topics are preparatory for acquiring the skills necessary to deal with environmental education in nursery and primary schools, to know how to read and interpret the environmental reality modified by man in a scenario of change global and climatic, to stimulate examples of active and aware citizenship.
At the end of the course, the student will acquire independent judgment, communication skills, and learning ability about the concept of ecosystem and the relationship between structure and function, the complexity of ecological processes, and the analysis and monitoring of the main interactions between the physical component and biotics of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, also through group activities for the creation of teaching units and worksheets for teaching ecology.



Module: Ecology and territory
The Course's objective is to provide basic knowledge to understand the organization and functioning of plants, the mechanisms underlying plant nutrition and assimilation, the evolutionary importance of the flower, the plant response to environmental stress factors, the importance of plants for society especially for their role in improving the environmental quality. At the end of the course, the student will acquire independent judgment, communicative ability and learning ability with reference to the concept of plant organism, the structure / function relationship of plant organs, and the plant capacity to reproduce and persist, respond to stress factors and to provide environmental benefits to society.

Applying knowledge and understanding
- Knowing how to use specific terminology.
- Knowing how to identify the measurement methodologies according to the specific objectives to be achieved in the field of plant ecology.
- Knowing how to recognize the structural and morphological characteristics of plant organs
- Knowing how to analyse the root, stem, and leaf functioning

Making judgements
- Acquire critical judgment on the plant functioning also in relationship to its development environment
- Acquire analytical skills for the deepening and applicability of the knowledge learned

Communication skills
- Knowing how to communicate during the oral exam clearly and fluently the learned concepts

Learning skills
- To learn the specific terminology
- To Logically connect the acquired knowledge
- To identify the most relevant topics of the subjects covered

Module: Plant biology
Basic knowledge of geography, chemistry, and biology.


Module: Ecology and territory
Basic knowledge of Biology

Module: Plant biology
Man and nature. Environmental education in a changing world. Ecology and its definitions. Levels of biological organization. Ecosystem concept. Physical environment. The climate. Soil and pedogenesis. The aquatic environment. The terrestrial environment. Ecology of populations and communities. Interaction between species: Intra and interspecific competition, coexistence. Concepts of habitat, ecological niche. Biodiversity. Biogeographic zones and Biomes. Biogeochemical cycles (carbon, hydrological). Impact of human activities on ecological systems. Climate and global changes: air, water and soil pollution; greenhouse effect and climate change. Land use change. Urban ecosystem. Global sustainability. Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services.


Module: Ecology and territory
Module 1 (3 hours) Distinctive characteristics of plants: role of plants in the classification of living beings, evolutionary path of plants from water to land, modular organism concept.
Module 2 (2 hours) Plant cell: general characteristics of the cells, distinctive characteristics of plant cell (wall cell, plastids, vacuole).
Module 3 (4 hours) Notes on plant histology: elements of growth and differentiation of plant cells, meristematic tissues and adult tissues.
Module 4 (4 hours) Plant organs: structure, morphology and function of root, stem and leaf.
Module 5 (3 hours) Notes on plant transportation and nutrition: xylematic water and solute transport; phloem translocation; nutrient uptake.
Module 6 (2 hours) Notes on plant assimilation: photosynthesis
Module 7 (4 hours) Plant reproduction: vegetative and sexual reproduction; reproduction in the angiosperms; flower elements; inflorescences; pollination; embryo development; seed germination mechanisms; fruit development; seed dispersal.
Module 8 (2 hours) Plant response to environment: plant adaptation to environmental stress factors; plant role in mitigating environmental pollution.

Module: Plant biology
Testi consigliati

Smith R. L. , Smith T. M.: “Elementi di Ecologia”, PEARSON, 2007.

Biologia, Vol.6 L’ecologia. David Sadava David M. Hillis H. Craig Heller Sally Hacker. Zanichelli. Quinta edizione italiana. (questo testo base va integrato in modo sostanziale con le slides fornite durante il corso).


Testi per approfondimento

Insegnare e apprendere le scienze della vita nella scuola primaria e del primo ciclo. Anna Perazzone. Editore: Mondatori Università.

Metodi e strumenti per l’insegnamento e l’apprendimento della biologia. E. Padoa – Schioppa. Editore EdiSES


Module: Ecology and territory
David Sadava, David M. Hillis, H. Craig Heller, Sally Hacker - Biologia, Vol. 4. La Biologia delle Piante, Zanichelli

Module: Plant biology
N/D
Module: Ecology and territory
Lesson PDFs are available to students. For some of the topics covered in class, the teacher can also provide didactic material (lecture notes), scientific and informative material. The material is made available in a Google Drive folder that the teacher shares with the students enrolled in the course, both attending and not attending.

Module: Plant biology
Lessons will be held at Villa Mirafiori on Thursday morning. The exercises will be held in the afternoon to facilitate students who work given the mandatory attendance.


Module: Ecology and territory
The course is organized through classroom-taught lessons allowing the development of the educational objectives. Through the lessons, made by using slides projected, the student learns the fundamental knowledge of the discipline and the elements to make critical evaluation on organization and function of plants, on their role in improving the quality of the environment. Classroom-taught lessons are carried out giving specific attention to interactive dialogue between the teacher and students.

Module: Plant biology
Attendance is highly recommended for the course and is mandatory for lab credit.


Module: Ecology and territory
Although the lesson attending is optional, it is encouraged as in the classroom students are actively involved in the critical discussion of the topics covered. Moreover, in order to underline the connections between the various parts of the program, during each lesson there are continuous references to topics covered in previous lessons.

Module: Plant biology
The evaluation will occur by evaluating the frequency and acquisition of the reasoning patterns typical of ecological thinking, through peer discussion during lessons, discussing together the teaching unit as a laboratory activity, and the final exam. The oral exam will focus on the indicated program with the verification of the acquisition of the ability to translate acquired ecological concepts into explanations suitable for primary and nursery school students.


Module: Ecology and territory
Interview on the topics covered in class aimed at evaluating their understanding as well as the judgment and critical analysis skills of the student.

Module: Plant biology
Carbon cycle; Ecosystem Services; Global and climate change


Module: Ecology and territory
To describe the fundamental stages of the evolution of terrestrial plants
- To explain the differences between herbaceous plants and woody plants
- The photosynthesis explained to a child
- The recognition of the different types of leaves on a macroscopic basis
- The function and main characteristics of the flower

Module: Plant biology
N/D
Module: Ecology and territory
N/D