GEO1001 : Becoming a Geographer
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Robert Shaw
- Co-Module Leader: Professor Nick Megoran
- Lecturer: Professor Alison Stenning, Miss Anna Thompson
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The module aims to introduce Geography students to academic skills, their fellow students and staff, and life as a geographer at university. It allows students and staff to build a sense of community in Geography, exploring together what it means to be a geographer.
In addition to practical activities that introduce key skills, such as finding, reading and understanding academic work, communicating geographical ideas, and personal/professional development, it is also facilitates the transition to university, promoting a collegial environment through a playful approach towards doing geography.
Outline Of Syllabus
In Semester 1, students will work building connections as a cohort with their tutor group, while exploring key geographical skills.
In Semester 2, students will be guided to take part in a series of different activities to help build their geographical knowledge. These will be a mixture of independent individual, group and guided in-class sessions.
Through the year, students will be guided to take part in online learning to develop an understanding of well-being and the importance of healthy study habits.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 80:00 | 80:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 1 | 12:00 | 12:00 | Online course on mental welllbeing and student life |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 7 | 1:00 | 7:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Semester 2 workshop on mental wellbeing |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 2 | 0:30 | 1:00 | Individual tutor meeting |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 87:00 | 87:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Scheduled on-line contact time | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Semester 1 Workshop on Mental Wellbeing |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The core teaching of the module takes place through:
- 7 group and 2 individual meetings, in tutor groups
- 2 sessions, one online and one in-person, on university education, mental health and well-being.
- 11 lectures will be used at key points in the module to introduce common themes and ideas.
- 12 hours of online learning content on mental wellbeing, provided by via the Nurture-U project
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 30 | Students will have the option of submitting these first for formative feedback |
| Portfolio | 2 | M | 70 | A portfolio of outputs relating to the activities carried out in semester 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | The essay will lead straight into the summative Essay 1 task |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The semester 1 assessment will provide a focus for teaching around how students discover and read literature, and then use it in assessments. Students will submit a formative version of their essay in November, followed by a summative version in January, building on feedback.
The semester 2 assessment will allow students to reflect on some of the activities that are taught over the 6 meetings, as well as the online mental health learning
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- GEO1001's Timetable