Studying at York
Ecology Field Course - BIO00084H
Module summary
The module will provide an opportunity to learn and implement ecological fieldwork at an advanced level, and in the process, gain relevant research and employability skills for the sector. The module is focussed on designing and implementing individual field projects that test ecological theory. Taught sessions will cover a modern understanding of the ecological processes that shape the landscape habitats in which the field work will be based and their application to ecology, land management and conservation. Students will be assisted in developing project ideas and framing appropriate methods for implementing them. Supported learning sessions will provide individual assistance on data analysis and communication, and wider literature in the context of individual projects. The module will be assessed by a written submission that includes communication and evaluation of the research question and its findings. The core activity of the module is an overseas residential field course, with an alternative UK option available for those who cannot travel.
Related modules
Pre-requisite modules
Co-requisite modules
- None
Prohibited combinations
- None
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2023-24 |
Module aims
The module builds on knowledge and skills from Stage 1 and Stage 2 modules covering ecological topics, and Becoming a Bioscientist skills modules. Students will gain experience and confidence in field ecology. The acquisition of field, practical and analytical skills, alongside the assessment for this module will also support relevant research projects in Stage 3 and 4.
Module learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:
Design effective and robust ecological investigations and undertake individual field work to test and address ecological questions.
Access and critically evaluate literature pertaining to ecology and conservation in a field setting.
Demonstrate appropriate selection and use of statistical and analysis frameworks for ecological datasets.
Solve problems and challenges of experimental design, data collection and analysis.
Appraise the ethical and safety implications of their investigation and create solutions to mitigate them.
Effectively communicate the process of their investigation and its scientific outcomes.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Marks for all summative assessments will be made available to you and your supervisor via e:vision. Feedback will be either individual or cohort-level, depending on the assessment format. You should take the opportunity to discuss your marks and feedback with your supervisor.
For exam-style summative assessment, model answers will be provided for all questions along with cohort-level feedback indicating how students answered questions in general. Marks achieved per question will be added to your script.
For coursework assessments (eg. reports or essays) you will receive individual feedback on your work. This will usually be in the form of a feedback sheet that will include suggestions for further improvement.
During the teaching of the module you will receive formative feedback that may be at a whole class or individual level. Such feedback may include: model answers and discussion of workshop questions, summaries of performance in practicals, VLE-based quizzes, individual spoken comments during workshops, individual written comments on formative work.
Indicative reading
These are available through the VLE module site.