Newcastle University

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A.

Co Requisite Comment

GEO2043 provides the methodological training that will be applied during fieldwork and group project work.

The field trip also builds upon and extends materials covered in GEO2110 Social Geographies.

Aims

This module intends to:

To introduce field techniques in human geography.

To move from the theoretical into the everyday.

To develop skills in analysis, interpretation, and creative methods.

To take inspiration from case studies in which people are responding pressing societal issues.

Provide an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in a number of ways.

Outline Of Syllabus

There will be 4 introductory lectures and workshops at the beginning of term 2.

The field course will aim to take place during the Easter vacation.

Day 0 Travel to Amsterdam
Day 1 Arrive and city transects
Day 2 Community meeting 1, Group project work
Day 3 Community meeting 2
Day 4 Group project work
Day 5 Community meeting 3, Group project work
Day 6 Group project work, presentation, surprise activity
Day 7 Departure

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

The course will provide opportunity to:

Gain understanding of the relationship between crisis and sites of action and innovation.

Hone research skills through experiential education.

Develop media literacy.

Engage methodological experimentation.

Learn from and collaborate with colleagues.

Develop written skills in essay.

Have fun.

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

Work independently

Plan and collaborate with colleagues in group projects

Apply concepts

Connect and analyse qualitative research materials

Develop new media literacy and skill in a creative geographical method.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The course intends to provide students with grounding in the spatial, social, historical and methodological issues shaping contemporary Amsterdam. Issues covered may include introduction to the ways in which predictions of crises are driving new innovation and social action on pressing societal issues. The course intends to introduce pre-set readings (and other media) which aim to help students develop their analytic and critical skills. The fieldtrip hopes to revolve around 2 central activities: 1) ‘community encounters’ with different innovators, activists and organisations in Amsterdam, and 2) students’ independent group work organised around a central issue.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Assessments aim to enable students to work and think critically and independently. Group research projects ask students to share and develop ideas with their colleagues and to co-operate to design and carry out field work in Amsterdam. The group project work also asks students to develop and demonstrate new digital skills (a podcast or soundscape) which will not be assessed for its technical competence but for its content, its use and integration of existing qualitative skills (i.e. interviews), and understanding of the issue selected for exploration. Written essay require students to develop their own ideas and arguments, putting concepts into practice, find and use relevant literature, and to develop and hone their own writing skills.

General Notes

N/A