Module DXX-3305:
Field Course: Tenerife
Overseas Field Course to Tenerife 2023-24
DXX-3305
2023-24
School Of Natural Sciences
Module - Semester 1
20 credits
Module Organiser:
David Jones
Overview
A one-week field course on the environmentally diverse islands of Tenerife and La Gomera. You will be taken to a variety of sites which demonstrate a range of rock, soil and vegetation types, landscapes, volcanology and a range of conservation and sustainability issues. Some of these will involve meeting and discussion with local experts. You will spend time towards the end of the week working as pairs or small teams on a project designed by you and evolved in discussion with the teaching staff.
Assessment Strategy
-threshold -Grade D- to D+Basic knowledge of subject and ability to write descriptive reports.
-good -Grade C- to B+Sound knowledge of subject, ability to contribute constructively to debate, ability to write perceptive and well-argued reports.
-excellent -Grade A- and aboveSound knowledge of subject and ability to pull together various elements of the course material. Evidence of background reading. Lively, frequent and pertinent contributions to group discussions.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the physical, biological and social processes that have shaped Tenerife and La Gomera at a range of temporal scales
- Know how to design and execute a small research project including (I) undertaking fieldwork in teams, (II) data analysis and statistics, (III) undertaking a literature search and assimilating information, (IV) writing a scientific report.
- Show a critical understanding of the environmental issues exemplified on Tenerife and La Gomera
Assessment method
Logbook Or Portfolio
Assessment type
Summative
Description
Field log book: This assignment constitutes a field notebook. Essentially, this notebook is designed to capture your notes from the field tour days. One of the important skills for people working in the field is to capture important points which they can later reflect on (as it is so easy to forget the fine detail). In most cases, this documentation is done by taking shorthand notes as the field day progresses. The notes are NOT designed to be an essay with beautiful script and a perfect narrative, but rather a list of bullet points and quick sketches noting the key points as you go along. Submission: At the end of the field tour, you will then submit the field notes for formal assessment by Davey Jones and Graham Bird. This submission can be done in multiple ways: i. If you have your notes in a paper format, these can be scanned in or photographed and the photos put in a MS Word file. The pdf file can then be submitted via Turn-it-in on Blackboard. ii. If you have electronic notes, please submit these as a pdf file via Turn-it-in. iii. Alternatively, you can mail the field notes to me (Prof DL Jones, Environmental Centre Wales, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW), but please photograph your notes first in case they get lost. iv. Lastly, you can hand them in to me at Environmental Centre Wales 2nd Floor.
Weighting
20%
Due date
09/12/2022
Assessment method
Report
Assessment type
Summative
Description
Project report: This assignment constitutes a 2500-word experimental project report which will be completed at the end of the week-long Tenerife field course. On the last day of the field course you will complete a one-day mini research project on a topic of your choice. This will be a group exercise in which you will be in a team with 2-4 of your colleagues. You are expected to complete the field tasks together as a team and to collate and statistically analyse the results together when back in Bangor. However, you are expected to create your own graphs and tables and to write your own report. We will expect you to deliver a well-structured and presented experimental report (imagine you are delivering it to the Environment Agency, for example). Essential elements include a good structure (including subheadings), the use of graphics to aid the reader (photographs, graphs), data summaries (e.g. summary tables), proper referencing, the use of secondary information to support arguments made in the text (especially from journals) and a strong conclusions section. Following standard practice, you should have the following sections in your write-up: Title Page, Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, References. The Discussion section can include limitations of the study and also suggestions for further work.
Weighting
40%
Due date
09/12/2022
Assessment method
Essay
Assessment type
Summative
Description
Tenerife specialist essay: This assignment constitutes a 2000-word essay which will be completed either before or after the end of the week-long Tenerife field course. You are to pick one essay from the list provided (see file in this folder). The list of essay topics is quite comprehensive but if you have problems choosing, please see the module organiser. The essay is designed to bring together and integrate the information you have learnt on the field course with respect to one environmental aspect concerning the (bio)geography, socioeconomic development, or environment of Tenerife and La Gomera. We will expect you to deliver a well-structured and presented essay. Essential elements include a good structure (including subheadings), the use of graphics to aid the reader (photographs, graphs), data summaries (e.g. summary tables), proper referencing, the use of secondary information to support arguments made in the text (especially from journals) and a good conclusions section. It is advised that you also include a short (200-word max) abstract (which is not included in the word count). The references, figure legends and tables are also not included in the word count.
Weighting
40%
Due date
09/12/2022