MT4XB-General Studies

Module Provider: Meteorology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: MT37B General Studies
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Prof Suzanne Gray
Email: s.l.gray@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
A seminar based module looking at weather and climate issues of local and global importance.

Aims:
This module aims to develop the student's awareness of environmental issues and ability to address problems not directly related to coursework. Another major aim is to equip students for the type of questions they may encounter in job interviews for weather and climate related positions.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module the student is expected to:

• demonstrate their general knowledge of weather and climate issues;

• be able to work in a team to produce a short presentation on a weather or climate related topic;

• be able to apply their meteorological knowledge to solve scientific issues;

• be able to present scientific information to a non-specialist reader.

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This module will be assessed to a greater depth than the excluded module MT37B.

 

Additional outcomes:

Students will enhance their presentational, writing and team-working skills.

Outline content:

Students attend weekly Weather and Climate Discussions, which include presentations on a wide variety of environmental issues. The student will also contribute, as part of a team, to at least one discussion. The student is encouraged to carry out general reading, especially from 'popular' journals such as ‘Weather’ and ‘New Scientist’, and to read weather and climate related stories in the media with a critical eye.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Students attend 20 fifty-minute discussions during Autumn and Spring terms of Part 4. Students receive advice and feedback on group presentations. Students are encouraged to develop their own opinions on issues such as climate change and the accuracy of weather forecasts and are expected to start applying their scientific knowledge to critically question weather and climate stories presented in the media.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	1
Seminars	10	10
Guided independent study:	39	40
Total hours by term	50	50
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	75
Report	10
Oral assessment and presentation	15

Summative assessment- Examinations:
2 hours.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Group presentation on a topic with a strong relevance to a meteorological audience and briefing note (with voice recording) on entire presentation.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 50% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
Re-examination in August/September only.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 1 September 2021