Photo of Dr Alan Boyle

Dr Alan Boyle PhD, BSc, SFHEA.

Senior Lecturer in Geology Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences

Teaching

My main teaching involves a final year module on Mineral Resources. The module makes use of an innovative team project in which students are placed into companies with budgets to search for gold. The project runs over 6 weeks and is assessed via an interim Phase 1 verbal report and a final Phase 2 written report. Students peer assess each other to determine individual marks. The module and combines research-connected teaching, active learning and authentic assessment. For session 2020-21 this was successfully delivered and completed in virtual sessions using MS Teams, because COVID-19 restrictions prevented face-to-face teaching. As one student responded: "I just wanted to say thank you for all the work you put into digitising the course this semester and all the work you did over Christmas to get our marks back. I looked forward to Friday mornings [timetabled virtual sessions] as they felt as close to normal, scheduled labs as we can get at the moment. It's been a fun and challenging module".
I also teach IT sessions on the use of Excel and Advanced Word to Year 1 Earth Science students; EndNote for automated citing and referencing, and software for spatial data plotting to Year 2 Earth Science students; a week on granitoid rocks and porphyry copper mineralisation to Year 2 Earth Science students; sessions on the politics, economy and sustainability of mineral resource supply to Year 1 Geography students.

My indoor teaching involves second year petrology and final year mineral deposits. My outdoor teaching involves training students to make geological and geomorphological maps and supervising final year students on independent projects. I have been instrumental in setting up modules for Key and Transferable Graduate Skills, and the development of VITAL. My teaching often forms part of my pedagogic research interest.In December 2014, I became a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Modules for 2023-24

Metamorphism and Crustal Evolution

Module code: ENVS212

Role: Teaching