Documentation:Learning Design/TPC Activity 4

=Humans Cannot Photosynthesize: Why Not?= =Phylogeny of Candy Bars Activity and Blog Post=

Introduction
In Weeks 5 and 6, you will participate in a two-part activity and blog posting.

For Part 1, you will work in conjunction with your partner to identify the characteristics that differentiate “species” from ten candy bars and complete a phylogenetic analysis of your sample. You will post to the class blog your decisions on the number and type of species you identified.

For Part 2, you will work with your partner again to outline your phylogeny and post to the class blog.

For both parts, you will comment on peer work posted on the blog.

Learning Outcomes
This exercise is aimed to help you achieve the following:


 * Use recently developed tools and applications in the field of evolutionary biology.


 * Interpret and communicate scientific knowledge and results effectively to a wide audience.


 * Justify arguments effectively, using logical and scientific support.


 * Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively.

Part 1
At the end of Week 4, your tutor will assign a partner for you. With your partner, who your tutor assigned to you at the end of Week 4, pick ten candy bars, which you will both purchase.


 * During Lesson 5, discuss with your partner how to identify different species of the candy bars and how many different species you can identify in your sample. After doing this, don’t eat your candy bars—keep both the bars and the wrappers, as you will need them for Lesson 6. (Okay, if you can’t resist, you can always buy new ones.) Think about the different definitions of species you were introduced to in Lessons 2 and 3 and which one is most appropriate here.


 * Once you have made your criteria for different species and identified them, write two or three paragraphs with your partner to describe the species you identified and your justification for identifying different species.


 * In your answer, demonstrate your grasp of the learning outcomes for this activity. Post these paragraphs on the class blog.


 * After posting, read what your peers have found. Are you boggled by any results? Please comment on the work of at least two other groups.

Part 2
In Lesson6, with the same partner, revisit your candy bars. This time around, you are looking for characteristics that will help you differentiate between candy bars. Some examples may include: colour of the wrapper, shape of the bar, type of information on the wrapper, texture of the bar, number and type of layers in the bar, and so on. When you have at least fifteen characteristics, start coding your bars for each. Use your coding to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree. For an example on how to do this, please revisit the phylogeny exercise presented in the course materials. Once you have the phylogeny of the candy bars, answer the following questions: Which candy bars are most closely related to one another—which form clades? Are the clades you identified in the phylogeny similar to species you identified in the first part of this exercise? Why or why not? In your answers, demonstrate your grasp of the learning outcomes for this activity. Check your answer for plagiarism and use the Assessment Checklist (below). Post these answers on the class blog. Once you are done, you deserve a taste test! After you post your phylogenetic tree, read what your peers have found. Are you boggled by any results? Please comment on the work of at least two other groups.



''' Assessment Checklist '''
 * We have described criteria for species identification.


 * We have identified and described species of candy bars.


 * or each of our paragraphs, we have included the following: a topic sentence that makes a point, claim, or observation; evidence that illustrates or supports the point; and an explanation of how the paragraph directly answers the question.


 * Our topic sentences relate to each other and support the purpose of the post.


 * We have followed formatting requirements.


 * We have used correct, concise language.


 * We have read our writing aloud to check that it flows.


 * We have clearly connected our different ideas.


 * We have guarded against plagiarizing any of our sources.


 * We have edited our blog post for its readability.


 * We have checked the spelling and grammar.