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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Geoscience Outreach and Engagement (EASC10087)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will allow students to develop expertise in science outreach ("engagement"), and/or knowledge transfer; learn key transferable skills such as time and project management, working in a professional capacity, liaising with external clients; as well as developing key communication skills for non-academic audiences. Students will work with external partners ("clients") in, for example, schools, exhibitions, museums, outdoor visitor centres, science centres, community groups and other organisations, to design, develop and (where possible) deliver resources and materials for science engagement. These may include classroom teaching resources, leaflets, web resources, smart phone/tablet applications, events, web-blogs, presentations or materials for museums, visitor centres, communities, members of the public or young learners. The theme and content may be anywhere within the scope of interest of the School of GeoSciences. Opportunities exist to undertake projects that contribute to the development of Earth and environmental science (and related) teaching resources that support the new Scottish school curriculum (Curriculum for Excellence). Recent experience and feedback strongly indicate that successful completion of the course has proved an important element in enhancing future employment prospects.
Course description Semester 1

Week 2 Course Introduction Session (Wednesday 30 September, 14-16:00)

Week 3 Time and Project Management

Week 4 Science Communication at Our Dynamic Earth

Week 5 Ethics and Intellectual Property Rights

Week 6 Curriculum for Excellence

Week 7 Interdisciplinary Learning, classroom practice & demonstrations

Week 8 Design Workshop
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed:
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course has a cap of twenty five students. However, a waiting list is operated by the Course Secretary.
Additional Costs No
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  31
Course Start Flexible
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 10, Other Study Hours 100, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 86 )
Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) Additional Hours: on placement
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam: 0%, Course Work: 100 %, Practical Exam: 0%.

5% Interim project report
10% Conference presentation

Final Hand-in:
5% Personal reflection document
5% Project flyer
15% Diary/log with project management timeline
20% Technical report
40% Final product

Thursday 26 November: Interim Project Report
Thursday 25 February: Geoscience Outreach Conference (oral presentations)
Monday 2 May: Final Hand-in
Feedback Group Tutorials: students will have group tutorials, approximately two per semester, based on their target audience/client interests.

Individual Meetings: Each student will have at least two individual meetings per semester with their GO supervisory team. Students can also arrange individual supervisory meetings with their GO team at any time for advice, support, feedback etc.

December mini-report: student will receive detailed written feedback on the progress of their project based on their assessed December hand-in and also on project development and student progress throughout the first semester.
Spring Presentation: Students will receive detailed written feedback on their assessed Spring Presentation.

Summer hand-ins: Students will receive detailed oral feedback on their final project submissions at the end of semester 2 upon request.

No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. - You will develop expertise in community and public engagement, team work as well as independent learning and academic resilience
  2. - You will also learn to work at a professional level, gaining confidence in negotiation, project development and other key skills required in the professional workplace
  3. - How to critically review and consolidate knowledge, and transfer of this knowledge and communicate ¿big ideas¿ via innovative and engaging learning materials for audiences of variable skills, ages and abilities.
  4. - Time and project management, report writing, development of Open Educational Resources and other key transferable skills
  5. - How to develop new and novel learning resources, workshops and educational materials, and the delivery of this material
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills *Communicating science knowledge and understanding in unfamiliar contexts and to unfamiliar audiences
*Working with external clients in unfamiliar environments (e.g. school classrooms, visitor centres, museums)
*Project and time management
*Creative project design skills
*Interpersonal skills
*Enterprise and sustainability
Additional Class Delivery Information Please note, the first session of this course will take place on Wednesday 24th September at 1400, venue to be confirmed.
KeywordsScience engagement and communication; science education; clients; project management
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jennifer Tait
Tel:
Email: Jenny.Tait@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Casey Hollway
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: Casey.Hollway@ed.ac.uk
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