Module Descriptors
FIELD COURSE
BIOL50442
Key Facts
Health, Education, Policing and Sciences
Level 5
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Paul Mitchell
Email: P.Mitchell@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 60
Independent Study Hours: 90
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- FIELD WORK weighted at 30%
- ASSIGNMENT weighted at 70%
Module Details
Module Indicative Content
The focus during the residential field course is on developing your problem-solving and field-based research skills. It will begin with some initial class activities, which is then followed by an individual research project.
The exact nature of the field course will depend to some extent on location and weather, but is likely to involve practise at using a number of important survey techniques, possibly including insects, bats, reptiles, mammals and birds. You will also gain experience at carrying out key habitat survey techniques such as Phase 1 and Phase 2 habitat surveys. .
In discussion with staff you will then design, carry out, a piece of ecological research.
The exact nature of the field course will depend to some extent on location and weather, but is likely to involve practise at using a number of important survey techniques, possibly including insects, bats, reptiles, mammals and birds. You will also gain experience at carrying out key habitat survey techniques such as Phase 1 and Phase 2 habitat surveys. .
In discussion with staff you will then design, carry out, a piece of ecological research.
Module Additional Assessment Details
There are TWO pieces of summative assessment:
30% Field work record. Record of the activities carried out on the field course, including a reflective component (1 & 3)
70% Production of a 'scientific paper' Written Assignment (approx. 2000 words) (2)
Additional Assessment Details (including formative feedback / assessment):
Formative feedback will be provided throughout the field course with regular discussions with the staff. In addition, the design of your project will be scrutinised via a `Dragon's Den' scenario. The field course will end with you telling the other students what your principal findings were in an informal setting, providing another opportunity to receive feedback prior to submission of the paper.
30% Field work record. Record of the activities carried out on the field course, including a reflective component (1 & 3)
70% Production of a 'scientific paper' Written Assignment (approx. 2000 words) (2)
Additional Assessment Details (including formative feedback / assessment):
Formative feedback will be provided throughout the field course with regular discussions with the staff. In addition, the design of your project will be scrutinised via a `Dragon's Den' scenario. The field course will end with you telling the other students what your principal findings were in an informal setting, providing another opportunity to receive feedback prior to submission of the paper.
Module Learning Strategies
Approximately 40 hours of contact time will be made up of field-based activities and follow-up sessions in the lab. The remaining 20 hours will focus on the research project.
We will make sure you get to work with different people during the course, and some activities are designed for you to think, plan, and work together as a team to achieve a goal.
Independent Study Hours
There will be some guided independent study carried out in preparation for the field course (approx. 60 hours). The rest of the time (30 hours) will be spent in preparing for the assessment.
We will make sure you get to work with different people during the course, and some activities are designed for you to think, plan, and work together as a team to achieve a goal.
Independent Study Hours
There will be some guided independent study carried out in preparation for the field course (approx. 60 hours). The rest of the time (30 hours) will be spent in preparing for the assessment.
Module Texts
JNCC. 2010. Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey - a Technique for Environmental Audit. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2468
Sutherland, W.J. 2006. Ecological Census Techniques. 2nd Ed. Cambridge University Press.
Sutherland, W.J. 2006. Ecological Census Techniques. 2nd Ed. Cambridge University Press.
Module Resources
Transport and access to a field centre
Support from Technical Skills Specialists
Support from Technical Skills Specialists