GVMFC-Field Class

Module Provider: Geography and Environmental Science
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Tom Sizmur
Email: t.sizmur@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module provides field examples of problems discussed during the teaching terms of Environmental Management and Environmental Pollution. You will obtain further hands on experience of monitoring and assessing environmental issues e.g. ecosystem services, contaminated land, water quality, and sustainable land management. The class runs from Sunday to Friday during the Easter vacation.

Aims:
This module aims to provide you with the practical skills to identify, document, and evaluate the impact of human activities on the environment in the field.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module, you should be able to:

• Identify and value the ecosystem services provided by a managed landscape.


• Analyse the quality of river water by chemical and biological indicators


• Design and implement a site investigation of contaminated land


• Apply simple tools to investigate the effect of land management on soil health


• Record data and observations in a field notebook clearly and accurately

Additional outcomes:

• General experience of the challenges faced when working in the field.


• The opportunity to develop your teamwork and interpersonal skills.


• Experience applying monitoring equipment and techniques for sampling and analysing a range of environmental media.


• Evaluation of the potential health and safety hazards associated with field work.


• Reporting the findings of field investigations

Outline content:

The course will be based in Devon for four working days (excluding travel). The main components will be:

• Ecosystem services


• Contaminated land


• Water quality


• Sustainable land management 

Global context:
The module provides fieldwork skills that can be applied globally

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
There will be a short introduction to the course during two seminars in the spring term. Each day's activity will be discussed the evening before and the outcomes discussed and evaluated during the evening afterwards. You will make observations in the field and then make measurements of environmental media either in the field or back in the laboratory to assess the anthropogenic impacts on the environment.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		2
Practicals classes and workshops		40
Guided independent study:		58
Total hours by term		100
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:
There is no exam

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
Field notebook - 20%
Written assignment (choice of 2 from 4) $£ 80% (40% each)

Formative assessment methods:
Verbal feedback from peers and instructors during the evening reviews whilst on the field class.
Peer assessment of laboratory notebooks halfway through the field class.
This field class is an excellent opportunity to develop team working skills and provide peer feedback within small groups.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 'Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes', which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/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:
By re-submission of coursework in July/August

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: Appropriate clothing and footwear for fieldwork in the UK is required

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023