1. Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
Alice Mauchline,
Dan Forman &
Derek France
2. Objectives of session
• To share ideas and develop a peer network
• To explore what makes a fieldcourse successful
• To consider some fieldwork scenarios
• To share fieldwork resources
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
3. Ice breaker
What three things would
you consider to be
essential fieldwork kit?
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
4. Essential field kit suggestions from the
workshop
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
Food & water
String
First aid kit
Camera
Appropriate fieldwork clothing
Something to keep equipment dry
Tape measure
Watch
Hand lens
Risk assessments
Field site permissions
Thematic flexibility
Torch
Data recording device(s)
…
5. Maw et al. (2011) Biological fieldwork provision in Higher Education. Bioscience Education, 17-1.
Tutors' most important reasons for fieldwork from 2010 survey:
1 To experience ‘real’ biology
2 To learn key practical skills (including taxonomic skills, quantitative
methods, observation, field sampling etc.)
3 To enthuse and motivate students
4 To develop group and social cohesion and learning
5 To develop professional skills (including teamworking, presentational
skills etc.)
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
6. Three elements of fieldwork teaching
• Preparation work
• Time spent in the field
• Period following the field work
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
7. Top Tips
Updated with suggestions from the
workshop
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
8. Pre-fieldwork
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
Have clear learning outcomes
Skills development
Find the right field site
Prepare students
Prepare fieldwork methods
Prepare field kit (inc.
technology?)
Risk assessment and H&S
Consider the sustainability and
ethics of the work
Insurance
Data collection, storage &
sharing
Accessibility & wellbeing
Assessment & supervision
Social cohesion
Plan travel and logistics
Check permissions for
access to field sites
Consider value for money
Consider different learning
opportunities……
9. Pre-fieldwork
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
Take staff with a range of expertise
Enlist local experts/guides
Teach to the capabilities of your students
Help students access financial support
Map out roles of different staff members & assign responsibilities
Discuss cultural awareness with the students
Ensure have correct permission for all planned activities
Consider timings of activities
10. During fieldwork
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
Consider student wellbeing
Allow time for students to plan, reflect and develop hypotheses
Encourage team-working
Provide informal feed-back during activities
Consider how mobile technologies might be useful
Provide good communication routes
Be flexible and adapt to situations
Avoid students working alone
Make contingency plans
11. During fieldwork
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
Provide time to make sense of ‘accidental’ discoveries and
observations
Take staff with a range of ID skills – enough to cover all taxa
Try to stick with a pre-arranged plan
Give students ownership of their research
12. Post-fieldwork
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
Set reflective tasks
Build in linked assessments
Provide feedback promptly
Develop fieldwork learning in follow-on lectures etc.
Reflect yourself and amend plans for next time
14. Fieldwork Audit Tool
• Reflective tool designed to help staff examine and
develop current fieldwork practices
• Series of questions that help staff identify
– Aspects of current good practice
– Areas where change might be needed
– Innovations in fieldwork learning
• Staff can then review & improve on any aspects that are
underperforming
• Available at: www.enhancingfieldwork.org.uk
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
15. • Aim – To enhance student learning during fieldwork
through the use of technology
• Investigating use of mobile technologies to enhance
learning including concept of ‘Bring Your Own Device’
• Website full of fieldwork teaching resources
• Showcase – University of Reading – Sept 2019
Networks: Enhancing Fieldwork Learning
www.enhancingfieldwork.org.uk
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
@fieldwork_ntf
17. Books
• Maskall, J. and Stokes, A. (2008) Designing Effective Fieldwork
for the Environmental and Natural Sciences. GEES Subject
Centre Learning and Teaching Guide.
https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/designing-
effective-fieldwork-environmental-and-natural-sciences
• France, D. et al. (2015) Enhancing Fieldwork Learning using
Mobile Devices. Springer Briefs in Ecology, Springer.
• Henderson, P.A. and Southwood, T.R.E. (2016) Ecological
methods. 4th Edition. John Wiley & Sons.
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
18. Resources for students
• Peacock, J., Mauchline, A. and Park, J.R. (2011) Fieldwork. In:
Effective Learning in the Life Sciences: How students can
achieve their true potential. Ed. Adams, D. Wiley-Blackwell.
• EFL Student pages https://enhancingfieldwork.org.uk/student-learning/
https://enhancingfieldwork.org.uk/student-research/
• Travel guide - helping you prepare for your travel abroad
https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/system/files/travel20guide20for20students2
0and20staff20unbranded.pdf
• Coming soon… BES Guide to Field Research
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
19. • BES Teaching and Learning SIG
https://besteachingandlearning.wordpress.com/
• Field Studies Council www.field-studies-council.org
• British Ecological Society
https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/learning-and-
resources/learning-resources/
• Royal Geographical Society https://www.rgs.org/in-the-field/
• The Geological Society https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/FieldResources
• Enhancing Fieldwork Learning www.enhancingfieldwork.org
• Advance HE (formerly HEA) www.heacademy.ac.uk
Workshop: Setting up a
successful fieldcourse
Websites
