Module Information
Module Identifier
GG22420
Module Title
Geography Fieldwork
Academic Year
2016/2017
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Pre-Requisite
Acceptance onto 2nd year SH, JH and major schemes in Geography. The module will be a core module for SH and majors and will be an option for JHs.
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Practical | 1 x 2 Hour Practical |
| Workshop | 5 x 2 Hour Workshops |
| Workshop | 5 x 4 Hour Workshops |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Short report(s) (combined length <1500 words) | 30% |
| Semester Assessment | Individual report on group project (2500 words) | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Oral presentation | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Students who fail to attend the field course without good reason will not be permitted a resit. Students who attend the field course but fail the assessment will be given the opportunity to resubmit failed components by a date to be agreed with the module co-ordinator (marks for passed components will be carried forward). Students whose reasons for failing to attend the field course are condoned will be permitted to submit a 5,000 word project for assessment of a type and by a date to be agreed with the module co-ordinator, for a maximum mark of 100%. | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Identify topical and relevant research problems in Geography.
Design research strategies for data collection and analysis that are relevant to designated research questions.
Demonstrate proficiency in a range of data collection/analysis techniques.
Communicate research findings through both written reports and oral presentations.
Brief description
Through analysis of relevant and topical themes in human geography, physical geography, and at the human/physical interface, the module will address the following objectives:
- To provide an opportunity to apply theoretical, technical and/or scientific laboratory methods to the more complex, uncontrolled field environment, and to appreciate how processes that might be regarded as 'general' are mediated by the social and environmental character of a specific place.
- To prompt students' capacity to identify a problem or research question, and to develop approaches to solving or answering this through hypothesis testing, research design and data collection.
- To encourage, where appropriate, consideration of the ethical aspects of research processes.
- To develop a sense of place, awareness of difference, and tolerance for others.
- To promote certain transferable skills required in practical work and seminars, such as teamwork and observation.
Content
The module objectives will be delivered through a series of lectures and other classes which will culminate in a residential field course (depending on student numbers, several home-based and overseas destinations may be offered). The topics covered in any particular year may vary, depending on the cohort of students being taken on a particular course, staffing arrangements and fieldtrip destination, but will include themes such as:
- Human impacts on the environment.
- Natural hazards.
- Interpreting the human and physical landscapes.
- Aspects of cultural, political and economic geography.
- Aspects of environmental change.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Where appropriate, students will be trained in statistical techniques to analyse their field data. |
| Communication | Both written and oral communication of field information will be developed via group discussions, reports and an oral presentation. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Students will be responsible for taking their own field notes, preparing an oral presentation and submitting individual field reports. |
| Information Technology | Written reports, literature/information searches, and where appropriate data analysis, to be undertaken electronically. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | No |
| Problem solving | Developed through staff- and self-directed project design and execution. |
| Research skills | Students will be required to complete a number of research projects and design/execute at least one which will involve: problem identification, research design, data acquisition, analysis, presentation and interpretation. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Observation and interpretation of human/physical landscape phenomena. |
| Team work | Developed through a series of staff directed and student devised projects. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5