Module Catalogue

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 StudyAssessment preparation and completion201:0020:00Preparation and Completion of class test
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical68:0048:00Fieldwork and lab practicals
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study132:0032:00Individual study based online lectures and other resources, including formative assessment quizzes.
Total100:00
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 exercise2M100Test 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 assessment2MOnline 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