Updated August 12, 2008

Grading System

 

Please read this entire page carefully!

 

This is a Senior / Graduate level course. This course is rigorous, but will allow you to develop truely markeable skills, and provide the knowledge necessary to easily manage most greenhouses. To be able to effectively manage a greenhouse, you must learn a great deal and be proficient in many skills. Because greenhouse crops often are worth millions of dollars, a single mistake by an untrained or partially trained student can be disasterous. The instructor of this class will not write letters of recommendation to poorly motivated or "partially trained" students. Our industry cannot afford to hire persons not committeed to a good work ethic, attention to detail and persistence in the face of summer weather, rigid scheduling and long hours. In this class, participation and a willingness to commit personal time to your crops is expected. You will be given a Poinsettia crop to grow. Even if the crop dies, you can easily get an A in he lab by being involved, aware, and detail oriented in your crop Journal. You are being judged on work ethic and committment. Example: You must keep a log journal of your crop activities as professionals must do. A sloppy, detailess lab book will be treated as such. Mother Nature does not allow do-overs. There are many, many management openings in our state and in the U.S. for trained students. If you enjoy this area of horticulture, work hard at it, and I'll work equally hard to help you find the kind of career you are looking for.

 

Click here for your very own grade "What if?" speadsheet.

 

The course grade will consist of the following components:

Component	Points	% of Final Grade
Exams-Quizzes	600	60%
Quizzes 12 POP Quizzes, 10 points each, you may drop lowest two. Remember---POP quizzes!!!	100	10%
Exam I (11:15 am, Wednesday,17 September)	100	10%
Exam II (11:15am, Monday, 6 October)	100	10%
Exam II (11:15 am, Monday, 27 October)	100	10%
Exam IV (11:15 am, Monday, 17 November)	100	10%
Exam V (TBA) during Finals Week, Dec 11-17th.) (Check University Schedule)	100	10%
Projects and Experiences	400	40%
Class attendance will be recorded. Laboratory and Classroom Participation is expected and part of the grade. (Field trips are not mandatory but highly recommended!)	150	15.0%
Demonstration Of Skills Learned	50	5.0%
Verbal Crop Evaluation w/ Dr. Thomas & Ms. Lewis	100	10.0%
Crop Production Daily Journal	100	10.0%
Optional Class Activities (See Below)	(45 max)	(5% max)
Total	1000	100%

Grading Scale:(On a Percentage Basis of 1000 Points)

>98	=	A+
>90 to 98	=	A
>88 to 90	=	B+
>80 to 88	=	B
>78 to 80	=	C+
>70 to 78	=	C
>68 to 70	=	D+
>60 to 68	=	D
Less than or equal to 60	=	F

Please take note of the grading system and scale. When warranted, individual assignments will be graded on a curve. However, exam and final grades are not curved and follow the posted scale as written.

Attendance:

This year we have changed over to a manditory attendance policy. You will be scored points for each day attended. Your signature will be required at the beginning of class to recioeve the scores. Excused absences will require notes opr officials documents from Parents, Doctors, etc. If excused, you will recieve points for that day. Please make every effort to attend class.

 

Exams:

Exams will be closed book and you will be tested on your understanding of greenhouse management principles. Exams are cumulative with respect to course material. However, the major emphasis on Exams II, III, and IV will be placed on material covered after the most recent exam. Exams are held first thing when class meets. See schedule for exams. Pleas note that as qwith quizzes, the exam schedule may need to be adjusted due to weather or illness. We will vote as a class to set the new exam date if that happens.

Makeup Exams:

There will be no makeup exams given, unless you notify me before the exam, (voice mail and e-mail offer communications options 24 hours each day; I understand that emergency situations may not allow prior notification by students) and explain why you cannot take the exam when scheduled. You must also provide proper documentation for your absence. All makeup exams given must be taken at a time agreeable to the student and instructor outside of regularly scheduled course hours.

Quiz Policy:

Quizzes will be given as "Pop" quizzes as deemed necessary by the instructor. The purpose of quizzes is to assess if everyone is keeping up, and if lectuire content is being understood. In all fairness, I have put the likely quiz date in the schedule. However, this is subject to change and quizzes may by delayed due to weather (snow or hurricanes) illnesss or other issues beyond out control. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of the class. Quizzes will cover information and reading assignments covered since the last quiz. No makeup quizzes will be given, but students do get to drop their two lowest quiz score prior to final grade averaging. Quizzes are a fact of life!

Class Exercises:

These will be assigned as various topics are discussed. They will involve simple summaries of activities, in-lab problem solving, and use of computer calculation models for heating, cooling, and cost analysis scenarios. The deadline for turning in an exercise is the end of the next lecture. Some of the class periods will be utilized for local field trips to commercial greenhouse enterprises. It is important for students to have as much contact with "the real world" as possible, and touring with a critical eye is an excellent way to gain an appreciation for greenhouses. You will be required to fill our field trip release forms. Usually lunch is provided, but under certain circumstances you may need to bring around $15.00 to cover lunch and any snacks. Cameras are encouraged, but digital photos will be made availabe after each trip.

 

 

Crop Journal:

Each student will be required to submit a crop journal of their greenhouse production activities. Completed journals are due the week prior to the Final Exam. Keeping records of greenhouse activities is a primary work skill in this industry. See the crop journal description section on this web site. This is essential to your grade! Don't put it off!

 

 

Assignment Deadline Policy:

Late assignments (excluding tardy assignments due to excused absences) will be assessed a 10% penalty during the first 24 hours following the deadline, 20% during the second 24 hour period, 30% during the third 24 hour period, etc. For example, if an assignment is due by 10:00 AM on Wednesday, October 7 but is turned in at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, October 7, the maximum possible score for the assignment would be 90% of the assignment value. If the assignment were not turned in until 9:00 AM on Friday, October 9, the maximum possible score for the assignment would be 80% of the assignment value. The same assignment turned in at 10:30 AM on Friday, October 9 would have a maximum possible score of 70% of the assignment value. It is in your best interest to submit a completed assignment prior to its deadline. Teaching assistants are not allowed to waive this policy so don't ask them to.

 

 

Extra Credit Assignments For 2005:

Each year I try to provide opportunities for students whom have time, interest or academic need to do extra credit projects throughout the semester. I understand that not everyone takes exams well. If you are interested, keep in mind that each activity relates to greenhouse management, and adds to the course curriculum support materials. This is not busy work, rather, a contribution to the future of your fellow students. Ideally, these are activities you do in your free time. Many will be work assignments in the greenhouses. This work is not intended to substitute for an exam or be used so that one can escape attending class on quiz days. Extra credit projects must be personally approved by Dr. Thomas and a sign up sheet signed by the student. The TA will monitor your work as the semester progresses. If you do not complete the assignment or cannot finish the work, no credit points will be given. Most assignments last about three work periods of about 3 hours each. It is suggested that you attempt to do extra credit early in the semester, and plan to finish before midterm, to free up time for final exams and projects. Extra credit points will be added to the final grade at the end of the semester. Again, this is 100% voluntary. You are not required to take on an extra credit project to get an "A" in the class.

 

Projects for the 2006 Fall Class:

 

1. Weekend Watering, and Greenhouse Work Experience: Volunteer to work at the Riverbend greenhouse on a particular weekend, for a total of 6 hours. The work would include watering, fertilizing, cleaning, painting, taking out the garbage, sweeping floors, checking environmental controls, planting seeds and potting up yound plantsplants. You will recieve 45 points for one weekends work. Limit 1 weekend assignment per student. for a max of 45 points. You are expected to check the greenhouse Saturday and Sunday, but how you spread out the time during those two days is up to you. You will be required to make a log of your work, and get your assignments from Dr. Thomas prior to the weekend you work.

 

2. Class Handout Resource Library Project: Students will scan and transform into PDF any articles and handouts Dr. Thomas has identified as important for class. PDF files are easy to make, but require some computer time. These PDF files will be posted on the class web page for all students to read as needed. (Work can be done on your own at home if you have a scanner, or in Dr. Thomas's office if you do not.).

 

3. Greenhouse Equipment Installation We have a new greenhuse that we can use for class activities this year. The greenhouse is built, but we need to have some students help finish assembling our weather station, video streaming unit, and other electronic systems. No experience is required, but your work schedule must be flexible.. If you are thinking about running a greenhouse, here's your chance to learn how to plan out and put these things together. (Evenings and perhaps Saturday mornings as the group decides)

 

4. Tropical Plant Rejuvination: We need two to three students to repot and label the plants in the upper range for Hort 3130, Tropical Plant ID. This will include propagating, repotting, trimming, pruning, and cleaning and reorganizing the tropical house. This is classic Botanic Garden greenhouse work. (Work can be done on your own, or in a group during the day, or on non-football game Saturdays).

 

5. Greenhouse Management Video Project: If you are interested in working with state-of-the-art digital video, we would like to have students document what we do in class laboratories, field trips and optional activities to post on the web, and for the departmental website. This could include student testimonials about the course near the end of the term. Participation by students in the actual video must be 100% voluntary. I would like to limit the number of students working on the video to two or three. Some experience in video would be helpful.

 

 

Senior Honors:

Hort 4050 has been approved as a UGA Honors Program Class. Eligible students should see Dr. Thomas to work out an honors project or activity worthy of earning an "with honors" designation at graduation. You may chose a project listed below, or define your own project. This should be done at the very beginning of the semester...in writing!. After "Drop-Add "week it will not be possible to accomodate your request this semester. Please see your academic advisor about the UGA honors program requirements. These honor projects will require a written component, albiet it can be a computer spreadsheet product, a website construction or a formal report / scientific research papers per ASHS publication Guidelines. Dr. Thomas will provide the necessary raw materials and electronic equipment withing reasonable limits. Greenhouse bench space will br provided for crop production projects at the Riverbend Teacher Training Facility.

 

Possible Honors Projects:

Greenhouse Weather Station Installation and Integration (Supervisory role)

 

Greenhouse Video Streaming Installation (Supervisory role)

 

Asclepias Restoration Crop Production Research (Supervisory role)

 

Greenhouse Water Conservation - Water Use Profile Study

 

 

 

 

 

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