Field Skills II for Environmental Geology

Description

This year 2 module includes two residential field courses and 2 days of methods based fieldwork instruction that provide core training in field methods, observations, recording and interpretation to prepare students for independent field projects.

In Semester 1 students will complete a 4 day trip to Derbyshire studying interface between geology, geomorphology and vegetation.

Also in Semester 1 students will complete 2 field days learning how to use equipment for key field techniques.

At the end of Semester 2 students will complete the SW England field course that is introduced in tutorial classes in Semester 2 and then all assessment is done on the trip through evening exercises.

Delivery

  • 3 hours tutorials
  • 14 days fieldwork comprising: 4 days Derbyshire residential field course, 2 Days Birmingham based exercises, 8 days SW England residential field course

Assessment

Formative (not counting towards module mark)

  • Derbyshire - Feedback and guidance during field trip from trip leaders, feedback on presentation
  • Field Days - will be run as small group tutorials with staff providing feedback and advice throughout the process
  • SW England - Small group (max 4) staff-led and peer review sessions on improving field note-taking skills (3 evening sessions)

Summative (counting towards module mark)

  • Derbyshire (40% of module) comprising fieldwork notebook and group presentation (20%), and Worksheets (20%)
  • Field Days (10% of module) comprising work sheet for each activity.SW England (50% of module) comprising 4 evening assignments on field trip itself and 1 post-trip synthesis

Key skills

  • Geomorphological mapping
  • Reconstructing past environments
  • Geological mapping
  • Sedimentary logging
  • Structural geology measurements and analysis
  • Developing storyboard presentations
  • Field report construction