PSSC 274: Greenhouse Management
PSSC 274: Greenhouse Management
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Course Description
Course Description
This course is a survey of the greenhouse crop production industry, emphasizing fundamentals for management practices. Greenhouse environmental control methods (i.e. heating, cooling, humidity, light, and CO2); production systems; substrates; irrigation, and fertilization are the main topics. Production practices of some ornamental and vegetable crops will be discussed.
Course prerequisites: PSSC 101 (Introduction to Plant Science)
This is a required course in the BS of Plant and Soil Sciences, and has a lab component.
Course Modality & Design
Course Modality & Design
The lecture part of this course is offered online synchronous and the lab sections are in-person at the University farm Greenhouses.
Attendance is expected and required in online lectures and in-person labs. It is counted through polls and quizzes for online lectures; and doing the assigned jobs for in-person group lab works.
The course content is organized in weekly folders in the Blackboard.
The key principles of the course are readings, lecture videos and lab activities; located in each weekly folder.
Sample Blackboard Design
Sample Blackboard Design
Students Engagement
Students Engagement
Elements of student engagement include:
Creating multiple choice questions from course material
Discussion boards and surveys
Class discussions in breakout rooms
Creating scientific videos
Group projects
Presentation of their case study to the class
Student-student peer-review
Business card (end of the semester)
Assessment of Student Learning
Assessment of Student Learning
Quizzes. There will be possible quizzes without any previous notice. The quiz will cover the preceding or ongoing lectures and lab materials. If you miss a quiz or poll, there is no way to make it up unless you have a really great reason. Best to email me beforehand.
Exams. The exams (two mid-terms and one final) consist of questions and problems derived from lectures, labs, quizzes, polls, readings, discussions, and assigned problems during the course. Exams may include (but not be limited to) multiple-choice, true-false, matching, problem-solving, and short-answer questions. Missed exams count as Zero. Make-up exams are by arrangement and will be granted only for documented emergencies.
Presentation. There will be a greenhouse crop report presentation by each group of 3 students during the determined 2 or 3 last weeks of the semester. The presentation format will be PowerPoint, limited to 30-35 minutes plus 10 min Q & A. PowerPoint file (as .ppt or .pptx) must be uploaded in the Bb to get credit. See the guidelines at the end of this syllabus.
Project. There will be a project due on December 4th. Specific projects will be assigned to the students (in groups of 6 persons) and discussed in more detail in the class. Missing the due date to upload the relevant files in the Bb, count as Zero. Additional information will be provided in the class.
Class & lab Participation. It is expected and required in online lectures and labs. Students are advised to turn on their cameras during the online zoom classes. It is strongly recommended to remove or change the background (located in Zoom > Choose Virtual Background) for privacy purposes. Regular attendance is necessary for your success in this class. Students are not allowed to join and leave during class and lab sessions. Any student who leaves before class dismissal will receive a zero on that week’s class/lab attendance. Lab points cannot be made up.
Technology & Tools
Technology & Tools
A computer, reliable internet access, webcam, microphone, and speaker/headphone are essentials for attendance and activities in this course.
Students need to attend the Zoom classes with their name since all polls, quizzes, attendance, etc., will be automatically collected, counted, and credited.
Poll everywhere, whiteboard, polls, discussion boards, Kaltura media, i-clicker (in-person classes), etc. are used.
All exams are online and graded automatically, gives immediate feedback.
Connections to the Professional Field
Connections to the Professional Field
In one of the lab sections of this course, students will learn about different responses of plants to production methods through experiment. In this particular activity students compare different plants growth and development in straw bale culture system.
This professional production method is for growing plants without dependency to the soil. Suitable for locations with low quality soils.
Training in Course Design
Training in Course Design
I completed Go Virtual Summer, QLT, and recently
completed Active & Experiential Learning workshop.
I registered to attend NACTA (the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture) annual conference.
I am implementing the following features into my all courses.
Go Virtual Summer was basically about online class management using Blackboard, Zoom and associated features such as whiteboard, breakout rooms, Kaltura media, etc.
QLT workshop encouraged me to organize my course more organized, implement new ideas such as peer-review activity, discussion boards, introductory ice breakers, video recording assignments, course navigation video, etc.
NACTA annual conference is a great set of meetings that I always come away with ideas and new information on efficient and successful teaching in the filed of agriculture.
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