GEO2125 : Fieldwork at Home
- Offered for Year: 2022/23
- Module Leader(s): Professor Rachel Woodward
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
This module aims to provide a critical understanding of the place of fieldwork in geography and, by means of practical fieldwork, an understanding of a key geographical issue in the north east of England. It provides an option for accessible, local, non-residential fieldwork, challenges students to think about the theory and practice of doing fieldwork ‘at home’, and offers an opportunity for an in-depth engagement with the geography of our home region, the north east of England.
Students will work with staff and peers to identify an issue suitable to be explored by practical fieldwork and work to develop a plan for fieldwork to be carried out under the supervision of a member of staff during a ‘field week’ in the Easter vacation.
As with all fieldwork modules, this module will demand considerable independent learning, critical thinking, planning and will enable students to understand the value and purpose of fieldwork in the geography curriculum.
Outline Of Syllabus
1. Introductory lectures and seminars (start of semester 2: 2 x 2 hours = 4 hours)
- The place of fieldwork
- What is ‘the field’?
- North East geographies
- Doing fieldwork
2. Planning seminars and tutorials (semester 2: 4 hours)
- 4 small-group and/or one-to-one meetings with relevant staff members to plan and develop fieldwork
3. Field work (Easter vacation – 5 7-hour days: 35 hours)
- meetings, archival work, site visits, observations, practical work, interviews, etc. as appropriate
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 1 | 35:00 | 35:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 157:00 | 157:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The introductory lectures place the planned fieldwork in both conceptual and empirical context, allowing students to understand the value and purpose of fieldwork and begin to plan their own work. The small group teaching supports students’ independent learning, providing a structure for the planning of their fieldwork. The ‘field week’ forms the primary focus of the module, giving students the opportunity to develop both fieldwork skills and substantive knowledge.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 20 | 2 | M | 20 | Presentation to peers during fieldcourse. Arranged by School. |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 2 | M | 20 | Fieldwork Plan: 800 words |
| Written exercise | 2 | M | 60 | Fieldwork Report: 2400 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The plan and presentation structure the students’ learning as they develop and plan their fieldwork, ensuring that they are meeting the interim learning outcomes and are prepared for practical fieldwork. The fieldwork report will assess the students’ ability to develop, plan and execute fieldwork at home and to reflect on fieldwork as a form of geographical learning. Together the assessments enable the students to demonstrate their achievement of both the knowledge and skill outcomes.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- GEO2125's Timetable