Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome!

    • A Note from Cole

    • About the School of American Thanatology

    • Where We're From

    • Course Syllabus

    • Intro Survey

    • Meet the Eyris

    • Video: Welcome!
  • 2

    Week 1: Thana-WHAT?—What Thanabotany Is and Is Not

    • Week 1 Presentation Slides

    • Read: Terms—Thanabotany, Thanabotanical and Thanabotanist™

    • Read: Roots in Different Places: Botany, Thanatology and Ethnobotany

    • Read: Other Fields of Study You Should Know: Horticulture, Linguistics, Horticultural Therapy, Gender Studies, Genealogy and Permaculture

    • Watch: Video Lecture 1

    • Discussion: Who Are You and Why Are You Here?
  • 3

    Week 2: Thanabotanical Case Study—The Violet

    • Read: It's Violet Week!

    • Week 2 Presentation Slides

    • Video: Collecting a Thanabotanical Specimen in the Field - The Violet

    • Read and Discuss: Thanabotanical Research

    • Read: All About The Violet

    • Video: Collect and Quick-Press Violets With Me!

    • Read: The Violet -- In Depth

    • Video: How to Make Violet Syrup for Tea, Desserts and Drinks

    • Download - Viola Tricolor Botanical Illustration from 1887
  • 4

    Week 3: Thanabotanical Applications—Who Uses It and Why?

    • Read: What We're Learning in Week 3

    • Week 3 Presentation Slides

    • Read: Who Uses Thanabotany?

    • Read: Why Do People Use Thanabotany?

    • Read: Rosemary and Thanabotany

    • A Real-Life Example: Thanabotany and Funeral Homes

    • Download: Flora's Lexicon Book from the year 1855

    • You Are Officially Invited: Join the Thanabotany Community
  • 5

    Week 4: Thanabotanical Case Study—The Daisy

    • Read: It's Daisy Week!

    • Watch: It's Daisy Week!

    • Week 4 Presentation Slides

    • Read: A Daisy Deep-Dive

    • Listen: Why is the Daisy Thanabotanical?

    • Read: The Daisy and Celtic Legend

    • Resource: Botany Plant Game

    • A Peek At What's Ahead: Your Final Project and Final Exam

    • Download: The Final Project (Preview)
  • 6

    Week 5: Thanabotany's Biggest Challenges

    • Read: What We're Learning in Week 5!

    • Week 5 Presentation Slides

    • Watch: How I Research and Where I Store All That Research!

    • Challenge #1: Archaeological Discovery

    • Challenge #2: Oral Histories

    • Resource: International Plant Names Index

    • Download: Species Plantarum by Carolus Linnaeus in 1753
  • 7

    Week 6: Thanabotany's Biggest Challenges Part II

    • Read: What We're Learning in Week 6

    • Week 6 Presentation Slides

    • Challenge #3: Written Documentation is Obscured

    • Challenge #4: Memory Is Often Faulty

    • Resource: A Useful Tool (No Need for a Guidebook Anymore?)

    • Download: A Guide To The Field of Thanabotany
  • 8

    Week 7: Thanabotanical Gardens

    • Read: What We're Learning in Week 7

    • Week 7 Presentation Slides

    • Watch: Thanabotanical Case Study - Ruby's Garden

    • Presentation: The 411 on Thanabotanical Gardens

    • Discussion: Thanabotanical Gardens
  • 9

    Week 8: Thanabotany—Your Final Project and Final Exam

    • Week 8 Presentation Slides

    • Download: All Presentation Slides in 1 File

    • Read: Final Exam Preparation

    • Final Exam: Introduction to Thanabotany

    • Assignment: Final Project

    • Exit Survey

    • Read: Wrapping Up

FAQ

  • When can I take this course?

    This course is always available! You can start it any time.

  • How does this course work? Are there any deadlines?

    First, enroll in the course. Second, the course starts when YOU choose. You can enroll on a Friday but not start the first lesson until Monday. The course will 'drip' open week after week based on the first day you start, not the day you enroll. There are no live lectures, and you can fit everything in to your weekly schedule how you see fit. There is a final written assignment due at the end as well as a final exam, which you will need to turn in within 63 days from the date you start the course. It is not an option to wait to turn in your assignment a year later, a month later, etc. You will have to retake the course if you miss that deadline. The writing assignment is not complicated and is integrated into the course. There is a also a final exam. The exam is multiple choice and not designed to trick you. In summary, from the day you start the course, you will need to complete everything within about 8 weeks.

  • Is this course a prerequisite?

    This course is a prerequisite for all other courses in the Thanabotany track.

  • How much time should I set aside each week?

    We recommend blocking in 3-4 hours each week. Some weeks may take you a little longer, or a little less.

Course Instructor

This course is taught by Cole Imperi who is pioneering the field of Thanabotany

Cole Imperi

Cole Imperi is a 3x certified thanatologist, an award-winning author, and researcher whose work focuses on the use of non-clinical tools in support of those experiencing loss and grief. She is the founder of the School of American Thanatology. Cole is the author of "A Guide to Grief" (for tweens and teens) published by Kids Can Press, and a forthcoming book about grief for adults to be published by Penguin. Cole established the field of Thanabotany, and is a California Master Gardener.

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