NES8303 : Field Identification Skills
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
- Module Leader(s): Dr Janet Simkin
- Lecturer: Professor Mark Whittingham
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To provide a concentrated training in the field skills required to identify a variety of species in the British flora and fauna.
Outline Of Syllabus
Ornithology: field identification of birds by sight and sound using field guides/online resources, with demonstrations of identification in the wild, from photos and in the hand (captured for ringing);capture, inspection and ringing;
Botany: field identification of flowering plants, conifers, ferns and mosses, using field guides and keys
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Preparation and Completion of class test |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 6 | 8:00 | 48:00 | Fieldwork and lab practicals |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 32:00 | 32:00 | Individual study based online lectures and other resources, including formative assessment quizzes. |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Students will learn the basics of classification, morphology and terminology from online lectures and other resources before developing practical skills during class fieldwork. Fieldwork locations will be selected to give them experience of a variety of species and habitats.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 2 | M | 100 | Test in 2 sections for Plants and Birds |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 2 | M | Online quizzes for Plants and Birds. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Students are required to spend some time preparing for the activities each day and for the end of unit test.
The test will be in two parts, one each for birds and plants, and will assess knowledge of the identification of common species, families and plant groups.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES8303's Timetable