Chevron Left
Back to Understanding Plants - Part I: What a Plant Knows

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Understanding Plants - Part I: What a Plant Knows by Tel Aviv University

4.8
stars
1,791 ratings

About the Course

For centuries we have collectively marveled at plant diversity and form—from Charles Darwin’s early fascination with stems and flowers to Seymour Krelborn’s distorted doting in Little Shop of Horrors. This course intends to present an intriguing and scientifically valid look at how plants themselves experience the world—from the colors they see to the sensations they feel. Highlighting the latest research in genetics and more, we will delve into the inner lives of plants and draw parallels with the human senses to reveal that we have much more in common with sunflowers and oak trees than we may realize. We’ll learn how plants know up from down, how they know when a neighbor has been infested by a group of hungry beetles, and whether they appreciate the music you’ve been playing for them or if they’re just deaf to the sounds around them. We’ll explore definitions of memory and consciousness as they relate to plants in asking whether we can say that plants might even be aware of their surroundings. This highly interdisciplinary course meshes historical studies with cutting edge modern research and will be relevant to all humans who seek their place in nature. This class has three main goals: 1. To introduce you to basic plant biology by exploring plant senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste, balance). 2. To introduce you to biological research and the scientific method. 3. To get the student to question life in general and what defines us as humans. Once you've taken this course, if you are interested in a more in-depth study of plants, check out my follow-up course, Fundamentals of Plant Biology (https://www.coursera.org/learn/plant-biology/home/welcome). In order to receive academic credit for this course you must successfully pass the academic exam on campus. For information on how to register for the academic exam – https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/registration Additionally, you can apply to certain degrees using the grades you received on the courses. Read more on this here – https://go.tau.ac.il/b.a/mooc-acceptance Teachers interested in teaching this course in their class rooms are invited to explore our Academic High school program here – https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/online-highschool...

Top reviews

DS

Aug 14, 2021

I really liked this course, the professor was engaging, clear, and informative, and did a great job explaining and simplifying the more complex biology topics so that it was digestible for beginners.

RV

Dec 12, 2016

Love the clarity of the instructors deliver which is supported by great explanations and most importantly visual aids & demonstrations. Ps... Especially loved the bloopers at the end. Nice treat! :)

Filter by:

51 - 75 of 519 Reviews for Understanding Plants - Part I: What a Plant Knows

By Eleanor R W

•

Jul 19, 2017

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take this wonderful course. It was laid out in a really interesting way; i very much enjoyed the focus on how plant senses were discovered - I never knew how prolific Darwin was in plant biology!

Awesome course, thank you for giving me access to it (and a certificate) for free. As soon as I get some more free time I hope to take the next course in the series.

By Ana V C A

•

Mar 11, 2021

In this course I learned a lot of plant behaviour and biology. I liked the most that professor Chamovitz not only explains concepts but also the questions that stimulated the study of plants, the experiments designed, the analysis and the conclusions leaded from them. It was also very enjoyable and with many materials which complemented the videos. I understand and love plants (even more) now!

By Joakim N

•

Aug 8, 2019

In my case where im currently changing proffesion from a programmer into plants generally speaking, i find this easy to understand with short and consise lectures where only the important things are discussed. Professor Chamovitz doesn't randomly dive on a specific topic, which would cause confusion. I rarely comment on videos and courses but this one deserves all credit it can get.

By Daniel P

•

Aug 23, 2020

Awesome course for two reasons:

1.) The contributors of this course made a lot of effort to make the topic as interesting as possible (e.g. a tour through their own lab, cool examples to illustrate theory, (external) videos of plant growth,...).

2.) The course gives you a better idea of the complexity of plants which encourages to appreciate and protect nature.

By Lucky S

•

Jul 10, 2021

Best learning experience and course provide almost everything those helpful for my career growth Understanding plants one of the best course to understand about plants with simplest way and teachers are good and their teaching way almost simple and good and easy to understand .

one of the best experience to study about plants with the help of this course .

By Nathan N I

•

Jan 23, 2021

As an introduction to botany this was a fun and informative course. I've watched you tube videos which briefly talk about the ability of plants to see, hear, memorize and balance themselves. but this course goes into the molecular mechanics. As someone who has done microbiology. this course allows me to go back to basics of my microbiology in general.

By mijiturka

•

Jan 3, 2021

The instructor loves the course area and is likely to be able to get you to love it too. He is able to explain complicated concepts in context, even to beginners, and he does it with passion. I've come back to this course and the book many times for what has now been years. I am hooked on how plants interact with their environment, probably for life.

By S C

•

Mar 27, 2019

I really love the class. It taught me so much things about the plants surrounding us. It's like filling the hole of the terrible science education at my home town where most people could mix up spores and deadly insects and then throw their beautiful ferns into the rubbish bins. I wish my home town could also have a wonderful science class like this.

By Solange A J G P

•

Jul 2, 2019

Really an interesting course. I was fascinated by the facts and experiments carried out by scientist to understand plants. As a specialist in the computer field, I felt very bad that I have ignored learning about this part of the world for quite a long time. Thank you, Prof. Daniel and the coursera team for giving me this wonderful experience.

By Ilaria C

•

Dec 23, 2017

The course is very well done. The teacher engages the students with interesting scientific theories and experiments very well explained. It is easy to understand even difficult concepts. The level is very high and I learned a lot. (There was so much to learn that I couldn't pass the final exam, I should do it again!). His English is good too.

By María P Y

•

Oct 10, 2020

I just loved it, I did it because I wanted to know more about the plants that I'm growing on my balcony and I ended knowing about DNA, genomes, evolution. I just wished to have had this course in my youth instead of the chemistry and biology I learned on high school, this knowledge is so much meaningful. Thanks Professor, bravo Coursera!

By Gabriela R

•

May 28, 2020

This course was not easy for me, but finishing it meant a great deal. I am happy to be have completed it, as I have learned so much about plants and I found every lecture to be as interesting as the previous one. The way the professor explains the topics is really dynamic and it keeps your attention. Thank you for a cool course on plants.

By Lugrin J

•

Feb 17, 2018

A very en-lighting course. It highlights the complexity of plant life, shows the common origin of life at cellular level, makes through provoking but scientific comparison between human senses and plant environment awareness. I also bought the book "What a plant knows" (in french), I strongly recommend it as a companion of this course.

By Freyja R

•

May 1, 2020

Doctor Chamovitz makes learning about the sensory functions of plants entertaining and informative. I felt engaged in the material throughout the entirety of the course videos and supplemental reading. I highly suggest anyone who is seriously interested in this course also acquire the text book to read into the materials even further.

By Paul C H

•

Sep 4, 2017

Interesting and thought provoking with lots of nice examples of experiments that reveal what we currently know about plant senses and why we know what we do.Subject of course to future revision in the light of new knowledge and further experimental evidence. "What a plant Knows" also explores the nature of scientific investigation

By Binh A T

•

Jan 18, 2021

I knew very very little about plants before taking this course. I didn't even know how to properly care for an African violet indoor plant. The course has given me a lot of knowledge about plant biology. I have since become very respectful of plants and will use the acquired knowledge to tender to the plants in my garden.

By Patrick D

•

Oct 24, 2016

This course provided insight into the basic function of a critical part of the world--plants--and gave me a deeper understanding of and a new outlook on this fascinating form of life. Prof. Chamovitz is engaging and entertaining, and his excitement and fascination for the field is contagious. Thanks for the great class.

By Richard R

•

May 17, 2023

I am working in the sustainable-agri sector. This amazing course gave me a glimpse of the wonders of the plant world. It is such an amazing course taken by Prof. Daniel Chamovitz of Tel Aviv University.

Thank you, Coursera for giving me this great opportunity to join this course and motivating me to complete it on time.

By Akhil M

•

Aug 23, 2018

Was very good. Liked how he whole teaching was rooted in experimental observations. The book that was suggested reading, also by the same instructor, was very helpful. It has really changed the way I look t the plants in my garden, and I hope I get to learn and research more on this topic in the future! Thanks a lot!

By SOUMYA S

•

May 2, 2020

I’m just 14 years old and could complete this course Which is a big achievement for me . I want to be an astrobiologist in future and this course has inculcated a fresh wave of interest in me about plant biology.I would like to thank Prof Daniel for a fantastic deliberation . Really enjoyed it sir ...... Thank You!!

By EVGENIYA V L

•

Jan 4, 2021

Professor Daniel Chamovitz, thank you for such an engaging learning experience. Botany will never be the same for me. I always was so distant from knowing anything enough about plants (as a bioengineer and bioinformatician I felt I have to). It was a pure pleasure to be your student. Looking forward, Evgeniya Lokes

By Montserrat L

•

May 23, 2020

I had not study any biology related since secondary school, but I had always wanted to do some sort of study in botany, this course was great for me. The material is not too hard, specific enough and definitely will give you a new perspective and deeper understanding of plants and the magnificent beings they are.

By Febby F

•

Jul 14, 2021

This course is amazing! I really gain a lot of insightful material. It also gives us clear examples and use research from many scientists as material to learn. The explanation by the Professor is very clear and enjoyable to hear at the same time. I must say, by far this is my most favorite course I have taken.

By Oriama S O

•

Sep 3, 2018

This course gives a better understanding of plants and gives me an idea of the research questions and type of information/data i might be looking for in an experiment. It gives me an understanding that cuts across both agricultural and biological disciplines and this will greatly impact my career. Thank you

By Neeraj J

•

Aug 17, 2019

It was a wonderful experience learning from such a fine teacher & expert when time, money and distance do not permit to pursue your dream of Learning. every lecture was so informative, elaborately explained and to the mark. We are lucky to be students of such teachers. Thanks, Coursera to let this happen