KE5021 - Applied Geosciences

You will learn through lectures, practical workshops and fieldwork activities. Beyond timetabled sessions, your independent study will be guided and supported through your engagement with a range of interactive learning resources accessible on-line via the module eLP site.

You will spend most of your contact time in the field working closely with staff to explore the core concepts of the module. This field-based teaching will be supported by online recorded summary lectures that recap the core concepts observed in the field and support you in the completion of the assignment. Practical lab classes will add additional depth to the materials and concepts studied by incorporating aspects that we cannot explore in the field, e.g. North Sea gas field cores. The two live lectures will introduce and summarise the module, prepare you for the content and advise on career options relating to the module.

During practical classes and whilst on fieldwork, you will engage in small group activities, interacting closely with teaching staff. Your class materials will be further supported by on-line resources available via the module eLP site. These resources include post-fieldtrip recordings on key concepts covered, an interactive reading list with on-line access to a number of key articles and aligned with your weekly teaching programme. In a similar manner, your practical classes are supported by a ‘virtual learning’ resource to enhance your skills in rock and fossil identification. As formative assessment, you will have the opportunity to get feedback on all components of the assessment and undertake a series of on-line, multiple choice question (MCQ) tests, delivered via the module eLP site. These are designed to support your independent learning by identifying topics where you are excelling, and areas where you might be struggling. Teaching staff operate an ‘open door’ policy for students meaning you can approach them anytime during normal office hours, or via email, to answer questions, receive feedback and support your learning on the module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO 1: Interpret palaeoenvironments from sedimentary rocks and fossils demonstrating a clear understanding of sediments, organisms and their environments.
• MLO 2: Understand how to collect and apply geoscience data to real world problems.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO3: Apply the identification of sedimentary rocks and fossils in lab and field settings to solve complex geological problems.
• MLO 4: Demonstrate an ability to report geoscience data concisely, accurately and with regard for an intended audience.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO 5: Assess the implications of finite resources and current societal demands through informed understanding of the processes that have generated geological resources.

The module is assessed by a Geoconsultancy portfolio document of 2500 words. As you are engaging with the teaching on the module, you will be set micro-projects to support your learning. You will write each of these five micro-projects up in a 500 word report. These micro-project reports will develop your abilities to not only apply specialist knowledge and interpret data for problem solving but will teach you the value of concise writing (an invaluable skill for dissertations and future employment).

This assessment comprises 100% of the module mark and assesses all 5 MLOs.

As these micro-projects will be directly related to the practical work you are undertaking, you will get regular formative feedback to help you succeed.

KE4014 Introduction to Physical Environments
KE4006 Dynamic Earth

None

The history of our planet is written in the rocks and it is from these rocks that we have built, fuelled and fed society. This module will give you a firm understanding of geological data collection and interpretation, whether this is used for research-enquiry, resource acquisition, subsurface understanding, dating rock sequences, interpreting past environments, understanding palaeoclimates or promoting geoheritage to the public. The module aims to teach you through hands-on practical work, problem solving and skill development, which is reflected in the proportion of time spent in practical classes and field trips. This strategy gives you more collaborative time with staff members to really engage with your learning and an opportunity to apply technology and techniques that are commonly applied to research problems and used by industry.