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