Postgraduate Course: Interpreting the Landscape (EDUA11119)
Course Outline
| School | Moray House School of Education and Sport |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Landscape is the medium, the subject and the backdrop for the outdoor teacher and an understanding of its origins, its fragility and its beauty would seem to need no justification. The formative influences, geological, geomorphological, biological, human (historical and contemporary), will be considered chronologically. In historical times the changes that have occurred in landscape character, in land ownership and in the growing demands for public use and environmental protection have been determined, shaped and constrained by local, national and international legislation. These issues will be given specific attention in relation to their influence on the landscape of the present day.
The structure of the landscape and its development and the way in which the relationship between the public and the countryside is affected by legislation will be considered as both technical issues and also for their educational potential. Whilst the landscape of the UK will necessarily offer the main teaching examples the landscapes of other countries will be included where appropriate. Throughout there will be focus on generic processes, both physical and educational. |
| Course description |
A variety of teaching approaches are used. Lectures introduce the main topics which are expanded upon in structured discussions. Practical teaching sessions also involve demonstration of educational approaches including model making, dramatic representation etc. Students are also expected to present certain materials and arguments to the class in teaching exercises. Other practical sessions include participation in environmental exercises tailored to the content of the course and exercises on aesthetic aspects of landscape. There will also be a visit to Holyrood Park and a one-day field trip to the Berwickshire coast. These are followed by a number of student-led practical exercises. Students will be expected to complete background reading and independent study, and to adopt a critically reflective position when doing so. Specialist speakers will provide additional input.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | No additional charge |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
| Course Start Date |
19/09/2022 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 8,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Fieldwork Hours 7,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
161 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
This course will begin 2 September 2021. Please refer to online timetable for full details.
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
A variety of teaching approaches are used. Lectures introduce the main topics which are expanded upon in structured discussions. Practical teaching sessions also involve demonstration of educational approaches including model making, dramatic representation etc. Students are also expected to present certain materials and arguments to the class in teaching exercises. Other practical sessions include participation in environmental exercises tailored to the content of the course and exercised on aesthetic aspects of landscape. There will also be a one-day field trip to the Berwickshire coast. These are followed by a number of demonstration and student-led practical exercises. Students will be expected to complete background reading and independent study, and to adopt a critically reflective position when doing so. Specialist speakers will provide additional input.
Assessment will be in the form of a written assignment of 4000-5000 words. This may form part of a combined assignment with other courses as validated.
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| Feedback |
Assessment will be in the form of a written assignment of 4000-5000 words. This may form part of a combined assignment with other courses as validated.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- show understanding of the processes by which the three main rock types (volcanic, metamorphic, and sedimentary) have arisen, and understand the chronology of the stratigraphic record
- demonstrate awareness of the formative events that have shaped the British landscape (the recent "Ice age", fluvioglacial forces) and be aware of the late-glacial and post-glacial events which have given rise to the present flora and fauna of Britain
- show understanding of how, from Neolithic times to present, human land-use activities have influenced the rural landscape and the conversion of natural habitats to semi-natural and human-made ones
- be familiar with concepts of landscape quality and be able to make informed judgements on the efficacy of activities which will shape future landscapes, framed within the legal and de facto situation with regard to access to the countryside in the UK and a range of other countries
- have experienced and be familiar with a wide range of approaches to the collection of information and teaching in this subject area
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Reading List
Atherden, M. (1992). Upland Britain - a natural history. Manchester UP.
Baird, W. (1991). The scenery of Scotland, the structure beneath. Edinburgh: National Museum of Scotland.
Cramb, A. (1998). Fragile land: Scotland¿s environment. Edinburgh: Polygon, 237pp.
Darling, F. & Morton Boyd, F. (1964). Highlands and Islands. Collins New Naturalist Series.
Dawson, A. (2010). So foul and fair a day: a history of scotland's weather and climate. London: Berlinn.
Dawkins, R. (2009). The greatest show on Earth: the evidence for evolution. London: Bantam.
Friend, P. (2012). Scotland: Looking at natural landscapes. Collins New Naturalist series. London: Harper Collins.
Gillen, C. (2003). Geology and landscapes of Scotland. Harpenden: Terra Books.
Gould, S. J. (1991). Wonderful life. London: Penguin.
Higgins, P., Ross, H., Lynch, and Newman, M. (2004). Building the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and responsible behaviour into formal education and other learning contexts. Perth: Scottish Natural Heritage. Research Report, 79pp.
Higgins, P., Wightman, A. & MacMillan, D. (2002). Sporting estates and recreational land use in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Report to Economic and Social Research Council.
Lamb, H. (1995). Climate history and the modern world. London: Routledge.
Lamb, S. and Sington, D. (1998). Earth story. London: BBC.
Meinig, D. W. (1979). The interpretation of ordinary landscapes. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
McIntyre, D., McKirdy, A. (2001). James Hutton: the founder of modern geology. Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland.
McKirdy, A., Gordon, J. & Crofts, R. (2007). Land of mountain and flood: The geology and lanforms of Scotland. Edinburgh: Birlinn.
Price, R J. (1976). Highland landforms. Highlands and Islands Development Board.
Pryor, F. (2010). The making of the British landscape: how we have transformed the land, from prehistory to today. London: Allen Lane.
Rackham, O. (2000). The history of the countryside. London: Pheonix
Ramsay, P. (1997). Revival of the land - Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve Perth: SNH.
Shepherd, P. (1997). The cultivated wilderness or, what is landscape? Massachusetts: MIT, 230pp.
Scottish Natural Heritage & British Geological Survey. Landscape Fashioned by Geology Series. SNH Perth
Smout, T. C. (2000). Nature contested: environmental history in Scotland & Northern England since 1600. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Toghill, P. (2000). The geology of Britain. Marlborough: Crowood Press.
Vincent, P. (1990). The biogeography of the British Isles. London: Routledge.
Warren, C. (2002). Managing Scotland¿s environment. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Wightman, A. (1996). Who owns Scotland Edinburgh: Canongate.
Wightman, A. (1996.) Scotland's mountains - an agenda for sustainable development Perth: Scottish Wildlife and Countryside Link, 23pp.
Wightman, A. (2011). The poor had no lawyers. Who owns Scotland (and how they got it). Edinburgh: Berlinn.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Pete Higgins
Tel: (0131 6)50 9796
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Malgorzata Litwinska
Tel: (0131 6)51 6363
Email: |
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