Understanding Plants - Part I: What a Plant Knows

San Jose State University via Coursera

Overview

Delve into the intriguing world of plant life with "Understanding Plants - Part I: What a Plant Knows," a course that offers a deep dive into the sensory and perceptual experiences of plants. Offered by San Jose State University and available on Coursera, this course bridges the gap between the marvel of plant diversity from historical insights to the latest scientific research. Whether it's understanding how plants perceive colors, respond to touch, or even process their surroundings, this interdisciplinary course reveals the astonishing parallels between plant senses and human senses.

From Darwin's fascination with plant biology to the quirky narratives of films like Little Shop of Horrors, our curiosity about plant life is endless. This course aims to satisfy this curiosity by exploring the basic principles of plant biology, introducing learners to the scientific method, and encouraging a profound questioning of life and our place within the natural world. Participants will learn about plant capabilities, from distinguishing up from down to reacting to environmental cues, such as the presence of predators or the effects of music.

Structured around three main objectives, this course will first introduce students to the diverse senses of plants, including sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste, and balance. It aims to familiarize students with biological research and the scientific method. Lastly, it encourages a broader contemplation of life and what it means to be human. For those captivated by the subject and seeking further exploration, the follow-up course, Fundamentals of Plant Biology, offers an in-depth continuation of this fascinating topic.

Completion of this course with academic success may qualify students for academic credit, requiring passing an academic exam on campus. For registration and more information on the exam, visit https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/registration. Moreover, the grades obtained from this course might be eligible for application towards certain degree programs, detailed further at https://go.tau.ac.il/b.a/mooc-acceptance.

Educators interested in integrating this course into their curriculum are encouraged to explore the Academic High School program, with more information available at https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/online-highschool. Enroll in this course to embark on a comprehensive journey through the secret life of plants and discover the profound connections that bind us to the natural world.

Categories include Environmental Science and Epigenetics, making this course an essential exploration for anyone seeking to understand more about plant life and its broader implications on ecological and genetic studies.