GV3PGF: Physical Geography Field Class

Module code: GV3PGF

Module provider: Geography and Environmental Science; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Mike Simmonds, email: m.j.simmonds@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE GV3FC OR TAKE GV3ESF OR TAKE GV3HGF (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This is a field-based module to enhance training and experience of in-situ investigations. It is anticipated that field class will be based in Iceland and will allow students to experience a range of natural environments and will include a day long expedition including such activities as: ice cave formation, glacier walking, volcanic tephra sampling, volcano monitoring and archaeological investigations.

The module aims to provide students with additional field experience to investigate natural hazards and their impact on human societies both past and present. Following the field class the students will have a detailed understanding of archaeological, physical and environmental evidence for both climate and natural hazards and how they have impacted on society.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Apply appropriate methodologies to observe, record, collect, organise and analyse a range of types of field data related to climate, soil quality, economy, volcanic history and the impact of geohazards on human populations through history, at the present and in future.
2. Describe and explain the fundamentals of geology, physical geography and the nature of how human society has changed over time in Iceland.
3. Competently use maps and other navigation aids in the field and use these in remote environments.
4. Recognise the importance of keeping consistent and detailed field notes in order to be able to synthesize findings into a digital log, produce summarized expedition/study day and to present findings of a group activity via a range of different media.

Module content

The field class will comprise fieldwork with students divided into small, supervised groups. An overview of the geology and the main geomorphological features of the field class location will be completed on a familiarization day. Each subsequent day will be composed of data collection on a specific theme, including volcanism, geohazards, historical development of the landscape and economy, impacts of natural hazards on human communities both past and present. The evenings will involve data analysis and presentation.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module comprises 8 days of work in the field, including travel time. Students are required to complete electronic field records (using tablets), and each evening there will be a short briefing to review the day’s work, and to introduce the following day’s programme as well as giving time to work up any data collected. Students will be required to give a short team presentation each evening. Prior to departure, the students will attend preparatory sessions and safety briefings. Upon return, students will also attend tutorials to prepare them for writing their video blog and attend University training sessions to prepare themselves. Students will also give their expedition presentations at a session where they will present their video blog followed by the presentation of expeditionary awards.

Study hours

At least 93 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

This field class offers enormous opportunities to develop independence as well as valuable field experience to a remote location in challenging environments. The experience and opportunities on offer will be extremely valuable in team building and personal development for the future as well as offering something unique.

Reassessment

Additional costs