Professor Feldman team-teaches this class with two other faculty, each taking a third of the course. Feldman has the first third. This video is of the first class of the semester. Feldman divides the lecture into two parts: the mechanical functioning of the class and an introduction to the material, in this case the evolution of plants. Professor Feldman makes several important points in the first part of the class: he explains how he uses the board (to highlight important points, which means that students should write down those points), and he explains how he thinks students should use the webcast—not as a substitute for class, but as a way of reviewing particular points. He encourages them several times to take advantage of all of the services that are provided for them in the class, explains that he will visit all of the labs, and says that he wants them to fully participate. He also lays out the mutual responsibilities in the class: he, his co-instructors, and GSIs all come prepared, and he expects the students to do the same. He also makes the point that he wants them to understand why he’s interested in plants and to convey to them some of his own enthusiasm for the subject. He lists a number of reasons for studying plants, ending with political reasons: you need to understand how plants work before you can be informed about clear cutting or genetically modified plants for food.