Module Specification
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Zoology Field Course
Code LIFE333
Coordinator Dr JE Lycett
Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour
J.E.Lycett@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 6 FHEQ First Semester 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
LIFE124; LIFE238 None 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Linked Modules:
 

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 7
This refers to timetables lectures.
3
This refers to seminars on the field course
3
This refers to tutorial group discussions on the field course
  96
This refers to fieldwork (collecting and analysing data)
8
This refers to the design of group research projects, analysis of data and preparation for the oral presentation.
117
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 33
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  2000-2500 words  1  60  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Field report 
Coursework  15 minutes  1  15  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Oral presentation 
Practical Assessment  n/a  1  10  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Field work There is no reassessment opportunity, Since the work takes place during the filed course, it is not possible to provide another opportunity to work through the field course exercises. 
Coursework  Must reflect all act  1  15  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Experimental design proposal Notes (applying to all assessments) Assessment 1 will be an individual report that summarises the work and presents an analysis of the data. Assessment 2 is an oral presentation. Assessment 3 is the Field Work assessment is based on the field course notebook and a participation mark which is composed of a peer-evaluation mark plus a staff mark for satisfactory completion of the field exercises. Assessment 4 is a group assignment that describes the background and outlines the planned methodology. 

Aims

  • To develop students’ proficiency in a range of field techniques, as well as team-working skills such as coordinating responsibility for collecting data using diverse techniques and sampling protocols

  • To develop in students an understanding of the types of data that can be collected, sampling protocols and how to perform appropriate statistical analyses

  • To develop the skills necessary to synthesis e information and present scientific information in the form of both an oral presentation a written report

    		•

    Learning Outcomes

    To design a sampling programme to obtain behavioural and/or ecological data

    To maintain a field notebook which records information that may be of importance in interpreting the data

    To analyse data collected from field work project using appropriate statistical and presentational methods

    To present all aspects of the field work research project orally and in writing

    Teaching and Learning Strategies

    Lecture - This refers to timetables lectures.

    Seminar - This refers to seminars on the field course

    Tutorial - This refers to tutorial group discussions on the field course

    Group-work - This refers to the design of group research projects, analysis of data and preparation for the oral presentation.

    Field Work - This refers to fieldwork (collecting and analysing data)

    Syllabus
    1 

    The activities in this module are mainly based on field work, carried out by groups of students. The planning, conduct, analysis, interpretation and write-up of the field experiments are supported by a number of seminars, addressing the following topcs:

    - Experimental and study design, including review of appropriate statistical techniques

    - Estimating the abundance, diversity and distribution of small mammals

    - Fieldwork techniques and collecting data

    - Analysis and interpretation of data

    - Writing a scientific report

    - Developing skills for communicating information (oral presentations)

    In addition, students will be introduced to in- and ex-situ c    onservation biology projects in the vicinity of th e field centre.

    Recommended Texts
    Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
    Explanation of Reading List:

    Students will be directed to appropriate current research articles.