Modules
Nature, Environment and Sustainability Field Course
Module title | Nature, Environment and Sustainability Field Course |
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Module code | GEO2322C |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Dr Rebecca Sandover (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 100 |
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Description - summary of the module content
Module description
The Nature, Environment and Sustainability Field Course aims to enable you to develop knowledge and skills for critically researching a range of topics in the field of nature, environment and society, using South West England as a research setting. You will work in groups online to develop a research proposal on a relevant theme and to undertake online research to address a set of research questions you devise. Themes are likely to include (but are not limited to): urban mobilities and sustainable travel; urban natures: landscape, heritage and wellbeing; sustainable food networks and culture; community resilience and environmental change; sustainability and behavioural change; and sustainable tourism. These themes will be supported by resources, two days of field trips and online field experiences at regional locations, such as the Eden Project, and the City of Exeter. You will develop a set of research skills throughout the module and will be assessed through both group and individual assessments that outline and reflect upon the research design and analysis processes.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This field course aims to provide experiential research training to enable you to explore the reciprocal relationships between nature, environment and society. This will be through both group-based and individual research using secondary sources and online methods. The modulewill enable youto work collaboratively online to:
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Develop a research proposal on a theme selected from a list provided by staff.
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Research in-depth a theme related to nature, environment and sustainability in South West England and to develop critically engaged knowledge about this theme.
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Acquireskills of research collaboration, negotiation, synthesis, presentation and reflection.
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Reflect critically on the process of developing, implementing, analysing, presenting and writing-up research.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Identify, formulate and evaluate research questions or problems with limited guidance.
- 2. Describe selected methodologies and techniques used in collecting, analysing and presenting geographical information, and apply these with limited guidance.
- 3. Discuss specific case studies and examples relevant to specific themes relating to the module.
- 4. Describe and explain the results of and relate results to existing bodies of geographical knowledge.
- 5. Collect, interpret, evaluate and combine different types of geographical evidence and information.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Identify and apply a diverse range of approaches to the generation of knowledge and understanding in human geography.
- 7. Apply geographical concepts in different situations.
- 8. Discuss reciprocal relationships between physical and human environments.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Communicate ideas, principles and theories effectively and fluently by written and visual means.
- 10. Undertake independent/self-directed study/learning (including time management) to achieve consistent, proficient and sustained attainment.
- 11. Use technologies effectively and appropriately and with limited guidance to select, analyse and communicate information.
- 12. Work as a participant and leader of a group and contribute effectively to the achievement of objectives.
Syllabus plan
Syllabus plan
The module will be based around nature, environment and sustainability, exploring reciprocal relationships between nature, environment and society. This will be undertaken through both staff-led workshops, two field trip daysandonline field experiences, as well as student-led group research. This will be based around the following indicative themes:
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Theme 1: Urban mobilities and sustainable travel.
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Theme 2: Urban natures: landscape, heritage and wellbeing.
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Theme 3: Sustainable food networks andcultures.
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Theme 4: Community resilience andenvironmental change.
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Theme 5: Sustainability and behavioural change.
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Theme 6: Sustainable tourism.
Learning and teaching
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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31 | 119 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 5 | On campus workshops |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 6 | Exeter field trips |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 16 | Online field experiences. |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 4 | Group meetings with Academic Advisor |
Guided Independent Study | 119 | Additional reading, research and preparation for the module assessments before and after the field course. |
Assessment
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Academic Advisor feedback on group research proposal, research design and results via group meetings | Feedback on research proposal progress report, preparatory documents and orally discussed ideas | 1-3, 6-12 | Oral via regular meetings |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Group story map | 50 | 2000 words | 1-12 | Written |
Individual field course notebook | 50 | 2000 words | 3-11 | Written |
0 | ||||
0 |
Re-assessment
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
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Group story map | 1500-word project report | 1-12 | August reassessment period |
Individual field course notebook | 1500-word Individual essay | 3-11 | August reassessment period |
Re-assessment notes
These notes define what will happen in three re-assessment scenarios:
If you are unable to engage with any of the field course module assessments for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will be re-assessed for field work skills via two new assessments to be submitted for the August deferral period:
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A 1500-word essay, related to key themes introduced in on campus workshops;
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A 1500-word project report, based upon desk-based research on a theme, site, or issue related to the field course locations.
Both pieces of assessment will be devised in discussion with the module convenor.
If you are unable to complete the individual fieldcourse notebook for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will be required to submit a 1500-word essay in the August deferral period. If you are deferred in the group story map, you will be required to submit an individual 1500-word project report in the August deferral period.
The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
If you fail the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%), you will be required to submit a 1500-word essay on key module themes and a 1500-word report based upon desk-based research on a theme, site, or issue related to the field course. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.
Resources
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
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Banister, D. 2011. Cities, mobility, and climate change. .Journal of Transport Geography 19.6: 1538-1546.
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Banister, D.?2008.?The sustainable mobility paradigm.?Transport Policy15.2:?73-80.
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Becken, S. and?Hay, J.E.?2007.?Tourism and climate change: Risks and opportunities.?London: Channel View.
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Clifford, N., Cope, M., Gillespie, T., & French, S. (Eds.). (2016).?Key methods in geography. Sage, London.
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Cronon, W. 1996. The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature, in Cronon, W. Ed. Uncommon Ground: Rethinking the Human Place in Nature. New York, NY and London: W.W. Norton & Company.
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Nemeth, D. G., & Olivier, T. W. (2017).?Innovative approaches to individual and community resilience: from theory to practice. Academic Press, London.
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Phillips, R., & Johns, J. (2012).?Fieldwork for human geography. Sage, London.
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Sandover, R. (2021). Sustainable Foodscapes: Hyrid Food Networks Creating Food Change, in Boehm & Sullivan Eds. Negotiating Climate Change in Crisis. Open Book Publishers
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Spinney, J. 2009. Cycling the City: Movement, Meaning and Method. Geography Compass 3.2: 817-835.
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Wilson, G. (2012).?Community resilience and environmental transitions. Routledge.
Web-based and electronic resources:
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ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
Module has an active ELE page
Credit value | 15 |
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Module ECTS | 7.5 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 5 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 26/11/2020 |
Last revision date | 13/03/2023 |