Module Information

Module Identifier

GS12310

Module Title

Fieldwork Skills

Academic Year

2021/2022

Co-ordinator

Dr Marie Busfield

Semester

Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)

Other Staff

Course Delivery

Assessment

Due to Covid-19 students should refer to the module Blackboard pages for assessment details

Assessment Type	Assessment length / details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Summary field report (2,000 words)	60%
Semester Assessment	Field notebook and associated field exercises	40%
Supplementary Assessment	An alternative form of assessment 2000 word alternative assessment using appropriate field data provided by the module coordinators and focusing on technique description) is only available to students who are unable to participate in fieldwork, as a result of extenuating personal and/or medical issues that have been corroborated by an independent and appropriately qualified professional. Students who attend the field course but fail the assessment will be given the opportunity to resubmit failed components.	100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate proficiency in the field, including graphical, sampling and field note-taking skills.

2. Demonstrate technical proficiency in the operation of field instruments, and evaluate the safety and logistical requirements of fieldwork planning.

3. Assess geological and ecological aspects of the environment.

4. Understand linkages between human activity and environmental impact.

Brief description

This module is designed as an introduction to field techniques in Environmental Earth Science and Environmental Science. It consists of a residential field course, normally during the Easter vacation.

The course will explore interlocking themes of geology, earth surface processes, geomorphology, and ecology, alongside our interaction with these natural systems including sustainable resource use, present and future energy sources, and environmental degradation. We will visit a range of natural and industrial / post-industrial localities, building up a picture of the regional geology and the environmental impact of past, present and future industrial activities. A report of the field trip is subsequently written up using observations recorded in the field. The module will develop practical skills in field data collection, field data analysis, field notebook skills, and field report writing.

Content

The topics covered in any particular year may vary slightly depending on staffing arrangements, but will normally include the following themes:

- Recording data in the field

- Applied fieldwork

- Links between, geology, environment and anthropogenic activities

Module Skills

Skills Type	Skills details
Application of Number
Communication	Field days are inherently interactive, and students will be encouraged to communicate with each other through small group exercises. The field trip ensures a high number of contact hours between staff and students to enable development of strong communication, and ample opportunities for one-to-one and group discussions.
Improving own Learning and Performance	Students will need to adapt quickly and develop resilience to working in an unfamiliar environment, on new problems, and in new ways (this being the first period of extended fieldwork in the degree scheme), and often in challenging weather conditions.
Information Technology	During field days satellite imagery will be available to aid mapping and interpretation. Students will be expected to use information technology to aid further reading.
Personal Development and Career planning	This field trip is designed to build student skills gradually, with opportunities for formative feedback throughout the week. This will enable students to drive their own performance improvement throughout. Upon successful completion of this module students will have developed a range of practical field skills integral to any earth and environmental science career path. They will develop basic field geology skills, understanding of how to survey areas to assess surface conditions and environmental processes, and the ability to understand and summarise industrial processes and environmental impacts.
Problem solving	This module will develop a series of skills to enable students to observe, record and interpret various rock types, earth surface environments, environmental conditions, environmental processes and environmental impact. The module is designed to build these skills incrementally during the field trip, with a chance to apply problem solving skills to real world examples on individual field days, both in group and independent learning environments.
Research skills	Students will be encouraged to critically analyse a wide variety of landscapes and landforms from a geological/environmental science perspective, often linking to anthropogenic influences.
Subject Specific Skills	This module will develop a range of practical field skills for earth and environmental science students including observation, recording and interpretation of rock types, earth surface environments, environmental conditions, environmental processes and environmental impact.
Team work	This module will develop a range of practical field skills for earth and environmental science students including observation, recording and interpretation of rock types, landforms, earth surface environments, environmental conditions, environmental processes and environmental impact.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4