Undergraduate Course: Geoscience Outreach (EASC10058)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | GeoScience Outreach is a project-based course where students design and carryout an outreach project that communicates some element of the field of GeoSciences and related subjects beyond the university community. The course will enable students to: 1) develop expertise in outreach and engagement, 2) improve communication skills for non-academic audiences, 3) learn key career skills such as project management, and 4) work in a professional capacity liaising and collaborating with external clients. Students will work with schools, community centres, museums, outdoor visitor centres, science centres, community groups, online public and other clients, to design, develop and deliver resources and materials for outreach and engagement. Resources can include classroom teaching resources, leaflets, websites, smartphone/tablet applications, community events, presentations or materials for museums and visitor centres, etc.. The subject matter can include anything within the remit of the School of GeoSciences or other participating schools within the university. Opportunities exist to undertake projects that contribute to the development of teaching resources to support the new Environmental Science qualifications in the Scottish school curriculum (Curriculum for Excellence). Feedback from students indicate that successful completion of the course has enhanced future employability and opened up diverse career options such as science communication and education. |
| Course description |
The GeoScience Outreach course will begin with regular workshops to provide the skillsets required for the individual projects. Sessions will be held from 10am - 12.30pm on Mondays in first semester.
Course introduction - discussion of the objectives of the course and previous student outputs and experiences
1. Communication skills and learning objectives
2. Time and project management
3. Science engagement and working with museums, Our Dynamic Earth
4. Outreach in schools, interdisciplinary learning and the Curriculum for Excellence
5. Diplomacy and communication, working with vulnerable groups
6. Open Educational Resources, copyright and permissions (e.g. creative commons)
7. Web development and social media
8. Design and visual communication - how to produce professional content
9. Video development, editing, digital media (optional)
10. Outreach projects connecting to your future career
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2018/19, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 4 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 3,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 3,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
89 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam: 0%, Course Work: 100 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
10% Interim project report
10% Conference presentation
Final Hand-in:
40% Final product
40% Technical report and diary/log with project management timeline and project flyer
Interim project report
Conference presentation
Final Hand-in
|
| Feedback |
Individual and Group 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 including staff and tutors at any time for advice, support, feedback etc.
December interim 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 and blog post: Students will receive detailed feedback on their assessed spring presentation and pitching of their project in the blog post.
End of semester 2 hand-ins: Students will receive detailed feedback on their final project submissions at the end of semester 2.
|
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop expertise with community outreach and engagement
- Learn key communication skills including verbal, visual, video, and online/social media communication
- Refine skills with project development and time management
- Build relationships with community partners including schools, museums, community groups, etc.
- Create learning resources, educational materials, delivery of workshops
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Students will be mentored through project development in Semester 1 and undertake the majority of their project work in Semester 2. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Approximately 100 hours of study will be required to pass this module.
|
| Keywords | Outreach |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Isla Myers-Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 7251
Email: Isla.Myers-Smith@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Eilein Fraser
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Eilein.Fraser@ed.ac.uk |
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