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University of Alberta
Faculty of Agricultral, Life and Environmental Sciences Department of Agricultral, Food and Nutritional Science
AFNS 601 –A4
Graduate Seminar Course in Plant Science Course outline, Fall 2017
Instructor: Dr. Cameron Carlyle, Office: 4-10H Agriculture/Forestry, Phone: 780-492-2546, E-mail: [email protected] Dr. Habibur Rahman, E-Mail: [email protected]
(Please include AFNS 601 in the email subject) Seminars: Tuesday (14:00 - 15:20 hrs), Room GSB 559 Course weight: 1*
Office hours: By appointment.
Course description This seminar course covers a variety of research areas in the discipline of Plant Science. Through participating in this seminar series, you will not only get exposed to the extended area of your research, but you will also be exposed to many other areas within your broadly defined discipline. Acquiring knowledge from a broader area is extremely important in your professional development.
Course objective The graduate student seminars are designed to improve student
communication skills, advance their skills of understanding and analyzing the research results of other researchers, and provide a forum for discussion of various research topics. This seminar course focuses on the following aspects.
Improvement of your communication skills
Improvement of your interaction with other professionals
Extending your knowledge in related disciplines
Keeping updated with current issues/events
Develop ability to provide constructive criticism
Requirements MSc students must enrol for one semester (usually in their second year) and PhD students for two semesters (usually in first and third year). Seminar presentations will be delivered by the graduate students in the course and invited speakers.
If the schedule allows, a PhD student must give two seminars during each of the two semesters he/she is registered (one seminar in each semester). An MSc student must give at least one
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seminar during the semester he/she is registered, but two may be required depending on class size and composition.
The topic of the seminars will be discussed in the first class.
The schedule of talks will be determined in the first class.
Students should submit their seminar topic by September 23rd. Students should consult with their supervisor and/or the instructor with regard to the selected topic.
Abstracts All students must submit a summary (abstract) of the seminar presentation at least 8 DAYS prior to the scheduled seminar date. The abstract will be distributed by email to two other class members who will edit and critique the abstract using “track changes” in Microsoft Word, then return it to the author within 2 days. The presenter will use these comments to revise their abstract and post it on eClass 5 days prior to the seminar. The summary should include a title and be between 200-300 words. Each student will review at least two abstracts during the course. Please be sure to cc: [email protected] on all email
correspondence between students regarding abstract development and revision- this allows me to evaluate the original abstract, its revision and the editing and comments provided by
reviewers.
Posting the abstract on eClass prior to the seminar is important as it will enable students who are unfamiliar with the topic to do some background reading.
The seminar presentation will be followed with a question/answer and review of the presentation to provide constructive feedback.
Chairing and setting up the room All students must chair a seminar. The chairperson will be responsible for introducing the speaker, inviting and accepting questions from the audience, keeping the presenter to the predetermined time limit and thanking the speaker.
The chairperson and speaker should meet, either at an earlier date or 15 min before the seminar, to ensure that the chairperson gets the required information for presenting the speaker.
Alternatively, the speaker and chairperson could communicate by e-mail to provide the information.
Text books There is no text book
Evaluation and grading The seminar course will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
i) Class attendance: A registered graduate student must attend at least 75% of the classes during the semester.
ii) Submission of seminar topic and abstract by the due date.
iii) Use of allotted time for presentation: 15 – 20 minutes iv) Chairing a session: Must chair a minimum one session
v) Participation in class discussion: All registered students need to participate in discussion and complete evaluations of all presentations that they attend.
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vi) Evaluation of the seminar: The quality of the seminar will be evaluated by the instructor.
The students giving the seminar must make an appointment with the instructor and get
feedback on the seminar; otherwise the student will not be considered as having completed the course.
All students will use the evaluation sheet to provide feedback to other students. This provides an opportunity for students to practice providing constructive criticism. Scores on these evaluations will not influence the success of a student in the class.
The seminar course will be graded as Pass or Fail. Failure in any one of the above-mentioned evaluation criteria will constitute FAIL.
The Grade will be assigned at the end of the semester.
Presentation format All presentations should be in Power Point format. Those wishing to use other formats (e.g. Prezi) are responsible for ensuring the format can be presented (i.e. bring a laptop with the appropriate software).
Cell phone/smart phone policy The use of cell phones, laptops, or smart phones, etc. during class is not allowed.
“Code of student behaviour”
“All students at the University of Alberta are subject to the Code of Student Behaviour, as outlined at http://www.ualberta.ca/~unisecr/policy/sec30.html. Please familiarize yourself with it and ensure that you do not participate in any inappropriate behavior as defined by the Code.
Key components of the code include the following statements.
30.3.2(1) No Student shall submit the words, ideas, images or data of another person as the Student’s own in any academic writing, essay, thesis, project, assignment, presentation or poster in a course or program of study.
30.3.2(2) c. No Student shall represent another’s substantial editorial or compositional assistance on an assignment as the Student’s own work.”
Academic integrity “The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect.
Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in
suspension or expulsion from the University.” (GFC 2003).
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2017 AFNS 601- Plant Science Tentative Class Schedule September 5 Course overview, introductions September 12 How to give a presentation September 19 How to write an abstract September 26 Student “mock” presentations October 3 Student “mock” presentations October 10 Student “mock” presentations October 17 Student presentations
October 24 Student presentations October 31 Student presentations November 7 Student presentations
November 14 No Class: Remembrance day and Reading week November 21 Student presentations
November 28 Student presentations December 5 Student presentations