Knot Your Typical Weed
Author(s)
Abstract
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is an invasive plant that can be very hard to eliminate. This PowerPoint-driven case study briefly describes this plant and asks students to identify possible solutions for its control when a homeowner discovers it growing next to his house. The case was designed for an introductory college course, either a general biology course or a plant biology course, and while it can be used as a regular case, it was actually written to assess the students' ability to solve a problem and write an analysis. If you teach with cases, shouldn't you test with cases as well?
Objectives
- To test the ability of students to solve a real plant problem that they are probably not familiar with.
- To better understand problems posed by invasive plant species and the difficulties involved in their control.
Keywords
Fallopia japonicum; Japanese knotweed; Polygonum cuspidatum; invasive species; weed controlTopical Areas
N/AEducational Level
High school, Undergraduate lower divisionFormat
PDF, PowerPointType / Methods
Analysis (Issues)Language
EnglishSubject Headings
Biology (General) | Science (General) | Botany / Plant Science |
Date Posted
9/8/2015Teaching Notes
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Teaching notes are intended to help teachers select and adopt a case. They typically include a summary of the case, teaching objectives, information about the intended audience, details about how the case may be taught, and a list of references and resources.