Practical and Professional Skills II

EART11302 Practical and Professional Skills II 20 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 4 Alison Pawley Unit coordinator Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Undefined ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 The practical and field-based skills elements within this unit are delivered by a practical day each week for most of the semester, followed by a residential field course where you will be able to apply the skills learned in the labs to complex real world environments. On campus the practical day will be split into a morning and an afternoon class with each lasting 2.5 hours.   You will develop fundamental academic and professional skills as natural scientists through individual, small group and large group exercises. You will develop the digital capabilities and the professional and transferable skills that are expected in the modern workplace, including the critical use of digital technology and the creative development and production of material to communicate your findings to an audience.   The assessment of this unit will be by a practical test at the end of the semester, the completion of two pieces of coursework set by your academic tutor and the completion of a skills workbook.  The practical and field-based skills elements within this unit are delivered by a practical day each week for most of the semester, followed by a residential field course where you will be able to apply the skills learned in the labs to complex real world environments. On campus the practical day will be split into a morning and an afternoon class with each lasting 2.5 hours.   You will develop fundamental academic and professional skills as natural scientists through individual, small group and large group exercises. You will develop the digital capabilities and the professional and transferable skills that are expected in the modern workplace, including the critical use of digital technology and the creative development and production of material to communicate your findings to an audience.   The assessment of this unit will be by a practical test at the end of the semester, the completion of two pieces of coursework set by your academic tutor and the completion of a skills workbook.  The aims of this unit are to provide hands-on training for the essential practical and field skills necessary for students of natural sciences, focusing particularly on geological, biological, and environmental data that are collected and analysed in laboratory and real-world settings and to introduce the transferable and professional skills that are required in the modern world of work.  <ol><li>Demonstrate how to assess risks and hazards in the context of health and safety on the university campus and in the field.</li><li>Follow laboratory procedures to safely use chemicals and solutions as well as biological and geological samples, these will include weighing, measuring volumes and procedures for the isolation of biological molecules</li><li>Make and accurately record observations to be able to identify a range of common biological and geological samples by eye and using hand lenses and microscopes (both binocular and petrological)</li><li>Interpret the features drawn on a geological map and integrate diverse information including the geological time scale with the construction of vertical cross sections to illustrate the geometry of geological structures in other than map view.</li><li>Use a range of digital tools and platforms and applications to achieve complex tasks </li><li>Demonstrate competence in accessing and using the Library’s ‘My Learning Essentials’ and the Careers Service’s e-learning facilities.</li><li>Write individual and co-authored academic documents (e.g., annotated bibliographies, essays, reports, laboratory and field notebooks and posters) and make oral presentations and defend a position or argument in a seminar environment</li><li>Develop proficiency in key academic and professional skills through collaborative working and provide a portfolio of evidence</li><li>Reflectively appraise personal development and performance against academic and career development goals.</li><li>Use hand held atmospheric and chemical measurement instruments to investigate environmental conditions of the atmosphere and hydrosphere including surface water and sediments.</li><li>Record geological and biological field observations in a field notebook, use section logging to record stratigraphic information and identify a range of organisms using appropriate keys and handbooks.</li><li>Make a geological map on topographic field slips to show structural measurements, annotations, the location of exposures and the interpretation of geologically important boundaries.</li><li>Interpret geological, biological, atmospheric and water chemistry data in the field to explain the formation and history of locations including analysis of environmental problems.</li></ol>  1 Written exam 50% 3 Report 13% 5 Portfolio 25% 7 Oral assessment/presentation 12% Practical classes & workshops 40 Tutorials 5 0 0