ACE1008 : Environment and Land Resources
- Offered for Year: 2019/20
- Module Leader(s): Dr Elisa Lopez-Capel
- Lecturer: Dr Simon Peacock, Dr Julia Cooper
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
This Module aims to provide the environmental background required to understand and assess the land resource mosaic in both natural habitats and managed agro-ecosystems. This requires development of an understanding of how climate, vegetation, hydrology, geological substrate, topography and time interact to determine rural landscapes and land use patterns in the UK. The key ecological interactions and physical factors determining land use and the delivery of ecosystem services are investigated.
The module will encourage the handling, evaluation and judgement of information from several disciplines. It provides the background for more detailed studies of soils, vegetation ecology, and sustainable land management at Stages 2 and 3.
Outline Of Syllabus
This module provides the background information and skills needed to understand and assess the land resource mosaic in the UK, including consideration of natural habitats and managed agro-ecosystems.
The module develops an understanding of how climate, geology, topography and vegetation/management interact to affect land use and the delivery of ecosystem services
Lectures and practical classes are integrated.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Semester 1 examination and revision of taught materials (lectures, tutorials, practicals) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 18 | 1:00 | 18:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 5:00 | 5:00 | Preparation of reports for assessment after tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:30 | 2:30 | Preparation and completion of Blackboard MCQ tests after practical classes |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 3 | 4:00 | 12:00 | Students split into two groups by degree programmes |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 4:00 | 4:00 | Computer Classes |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Tutorial preparation |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Tutorials in degree programme groups to evaluate research and or carry out problem solving exercises |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 1 | 5:00 | 5:00 | Students split into 2 groups by degree programmes |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 27:30 | 27:30 | Lecture follow up and background reading |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
An integrated programme of lectures, practicals and tutorials allows material to be introduced and then handled in a variety of ways.
The field trip provides an introduction to the range of issues to be tackled in the remainder of the course and a chance to learn some preliminary field observation skills.
Lectures provide core information and also allow students to consider integration of aspects of the material introduced in earlier lectures into more complex case studies in later lectures.
Practical classes allow further hands on integration of ideas and resources, including the development of practical skills and group working.
Small group teaching in tutorials allows more in depth discussion and problem solving in groups.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 90 | 1 | A | 50 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | 25 | Blackboard MCQ testing application of information recorded in practical classes (60 mins) |
| Report | 1 | M | 25 | 4 page report presenting follow up exercises after climate tutorial |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The computer assessment and report following on from the tutorials and practicals allow students to consolidate, develop and integrate materials and apply them to materials beyond the case studies presented in lectures. The computer assessment and report are spaced throughout the first term providing regular feedback on progress and development of understanding to staff and students.
The examination consists of 4 compulsory short answer questions which test the students' knowledge of key material taught throughout the course. These are accompanied by a selected (1 from 3) longer answer question which allows students to integrate materials from across the lectures, tutorials, practicals and beyond showing their broader understanding of the knowledge outcomes.
Study abroad students may request a take-away exam paper to be returned via NESS.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- ACE1008's Timetable