Following the curriculum workshops, we have stepped into the next phase of the Arborversity Horticulture Training Program: crafting the curriculum framework! As we begin developing this curriculum, we are seeking your feedback to ensure that the content we develop accurately represents the needs of public garden professionals. Thank you!

Please refer to this list of learning objectives related to basic botany and botanical concepts (also repeated in the questions, below). To develop these learning objectives, we referred to information provided in the workshops regarding common tasks, challenges, and existing training at public gardens and arboreta, as well as suggestions from AI. Once finalized, we will use these learning objectives to guide the development of other curriculum content and materials, ensuring that what we create is relevant and applicable to public garden professionals.

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* 1. Rank the learning objectives in order of practical application, with those most applicable at the top. In other words, which of these learning objectives would have the greatest impact on you / your team’s ability to do your jobs well?

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* 2. When should an employee ideally achieve these learning objectives?

  Before starting the role Within the first week Within the first month Within the first three months Within the first year As they advance (beyond the first year)
By the end of this course, you will be able to identify the main parts of a plant (roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits) and explain their primary functions.
By the end of this course, you will be able to describe the process of photosynthesis and how plants produce and use energy.
By the end of this course, you will be able to explain plant requirements for growth, including light, water, nutrients, and air.
By the end of this course, you will be able to outline the stages of a plant’s life cycle, from seed germination to maturity and reproduction.
By the end of this course, you will be able to differentiate between major plant types, such as trees vs. shrubs, annuals vs. perennials, angiosperms vs. gymnosperms, and seed plants vs. spore-bearing plants.
By the end of this course, you will be able to recognize examples of plant adaptations to different environments and explain how these adaptations support survival.
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand principles of plant classification and nomenclature, and why accurate naming matters in horticultural collections.
By the end of this course, you will be able to use basic botanical terminology confidently when communicating with colleagues, volunteers, or visitors.
By the end of this course, you will be able to relate core botanical concepts to everyday horticultural practices, such as planting, pruning, or managing collections.

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