Enhancing Fieldwork

Many undergraduates at the University of Reading attend fieldwork courses as part of their degree programmes, allowing them to gain practical research skills by undertaking primary research.

CETL-AURS has funded the purchase of a raft of new specialist equipment across a number of disciplinary areas to enhance fieldwork teaching. This has allowed undergraduates to develop fieldwork techniques and to contribute to research projects working alongside staff. Other work has focussed on creating virtual learning environments to prepare students for field experience.

Projects

Archaeology

In Archaeology investment in new field-equipment has been used to significantly enhance undergraduate participation in and usage of highly technical geophysical surveying equipment. Students are increasingly building up their confidence levels and skills and are now choosing to undertake their own research and mapping of archaeological sites using these techniques in their own dissertations. View Report Contact: John Creighton

Typography

In Typography activity has concentrated on creating a virtual learning environment. The department has built up a large archive of photographs and rubbings from field trips over the years and we have funded work to organise the collections and to produce digital images via a Digital Asset Management application.The project has also created a virtual itinerary to sit alongside the images. View Report Contact: Eric Kindel

Zoology

CETL-AURS' money has been used to purchase new ecological field equipment and books for two residential field courses at sites of special interest in the UK and France run at the end of the first and second years. Fieldwork is integrated into the curriculum as students apply the practical learning opportunities in the field to development of exhibits for the Cole Museum of Zoology. Contact: Graham Holloway