| Unit name | Introduction to Field Mapping |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EASC20029 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Professor. Juliet Biggs |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Successful completion of the first year of an Earth Sciences degree programme curriculum. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is an introduction to the basic techniques of geological field mapping on the scale of 1:10000, which are essential skills for Geologists, Environmental Geoscientists, Palaeontologists and Geophysicists to acquire.
The initial part of the course involves group instruction in mapping techniques and familiarisation with the lithologies, after which the class is split into pairs to undertake their own mapping. During the day, data are recorded in the field and the evenings are spent inking-in the map, accurately entering structural data onto the map, consolidating the field data, planning the next day's work and preparing drafts of work to be submitted. Depending on the field area, some trips collect geophysical or geochemical data in addition to geological mapping.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The unit takes place after exams at the end of Year 1 and prior to the start of Year 2. Principles learned in the Geological Maps part of Year 1 units are put into practice.
An overview of content
You will:
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
On completion of the field class you should:
Learning Outcomes
You will have learned how to:
Content will be delivered through a series of synchronous preparatory sessions in Bristol and through synchronous fieldwork and evening workshops.
Feedback by instructors on progress whilst in the field will provide you with a timely opportunity to improve your observational, mapping and data recording skills in preparation for the summative assessment.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Formative feedback to individual students will be provided by instructors on note taking, mapping and planning whilst in the field and during synchronous evening workshops.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Summative assessment will be based on the following aspects of work:
Professionalism (10%) - including behaviour, engagement, and participation in daytime and evening activities throughout the duration of the field trip. Assessment will be based on instructors' evaluation, in consultation with demonstrators.
Independent mapping (90%) - evaluated on the following pieces of work, to be submitted by the end of the field trip:
When assessment does not go to plan
The University’s Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes outline the requirements for progression on and completion of degree programmes. Students who miss an exam and self-certify their absence may complete a supplementary assessment for an uncapped mark as if taken for the first time. Resit and supplementary exams are habitually taken during the reassessment period later in the summer. As far as is practicable and appropriate, resit and supplementary assessments will be in the same form as the original assessment but will always test the same intended learning outcomes as the initial missed or failed assessment. In the case of group work, failure by a whole group would result in an appropriate group task being set and reassessed for all group members. If a single student fails a group assessment or is unable to participate for an evidenced reason, an individual reassessment will be set.
There are rigorous and fair procedures in place to support students who are ill or whose studies and assessments are affected by exceptional circumstances.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EASC20029).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
