Undergraduate Course: Geoscience Outreach and Engagement (EASC10087)
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 | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | GeoScience Outreach is a project-based course where students design and carry out an outreach project that communicates some element of the field of GeoSciences and related subjects beyond the University community. This 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 or 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 school curriculum (Curriculum for Excellence). Feedback from students indicates that successful completion of the course has enhanced future employability and opened up diverse career options such as science communication and education. http://geoscienceoutreach.wordpress.com/ |
| Course description |
The course will begin with regular workshops to provide the skillsets required for the individual projects. Sessions will be held through digital platforms from 10:00 - 12:00 on Wednesdays in first semester (time and days subject to confirmation). Attendance is not compulsory at all workshops, however it is strongly recommended in order to develop the requisite skills needed to complete the course.
Indicative workshop schedule:
Week 1: Course introduction discussion of the objectives of the course and previous student outputs and experiences
Week 2: Reflection, Blogging and non-academic writing
Week 3: Fulfilling the client brief, Active Learning
Week 4: Schools Outreach, interdisciplinary learning and the Curriculum for Excellence
Week 5: Using Storyline across the curriculum
Week 6: Developing client persona
Week 7: Linkedin Learning 1
Week 8: Creating Impactful Public Engagement
Week 9: Open Educational Resources, copyright and permissions (e.g. creative commons)
Week 10: Linkedin Learning 2
Week 11: Linking to future careers
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | No |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 22 |
| 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%
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, reflective blog, A4 project flyer
http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/exams/regulations/common-marking-scheme
Assessment deadlines
Interim project report - Semester 1, Wednesday Week 11, 12pm noon, submit via Turnitin
Conference presentation (submit presentation) - Semester 2, Wednesday week 5, 9am (Conference held from 9-12pm GMT) submit via Learn
Final Hand-in - Semester 2, Thursday week 14 ,12pm noon submit both parts via Learn
Assessment and Feedback information
http://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/taughtassessmentregulations.pdf
All details related to extensions procedures and late penalties can be found in the School of Geosciences Handbook, which can be found on the Learn UG Student Information Hub. |
| Feedback |
Individual and group meetings: Each student will have at least two individual meetings per semester with their supervisory team. Students can also arrange individual supervisory meetings with their team including staff and tutors at any time for advice, support, feedback etc..
November interim report: students will received detailed written feedback on the progress of their project based on their assessed November hand in, and also on project development and student progress through the first semester.
February presentation: Students will receive detailed presentation on their conference presentation. |
| 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 |
*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
|
| Special Arrangements |
Students will be mentored through project development in Semester 1 and undertake the majority of their project work in Semester 2. |
| Keywords | Science engagement and communication; science education; clients; project management |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Andrew Cross
Tel: (0131 6)51 4651
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Katerina Sykioti
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: |
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