School of Physical and Geographical Sciences  
 
 
ESC-10053 Dinosaur Planet  
Co-ordinator: Dr Joanna Wright   Tel:33176  
Teaching Team: Mr David  Emley, Mrs Stephanie  Everill, Ms Julie  Beard, Mrs Emma  Harvey, Mrs Karen  Babb, Miss Lianne  Berry, Ms Clare  Sillitto  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 1 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
Geography Single Honours (Level 1)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
Yes
Barred Combinations
Cannot be taken by students who have taken the Foundation level version of this course (Dinosaur Lives)

Prerequisites
Entry to level 1

Description

Dinosaurs ruled the earth for over three times longer than mammals have been the dominant life forms on earth. They were not all huge, some were no larger than a chicken, although some were the largest animals ever to walk on land. Dinosaurs shared their world with other reptiles that flew in the air and swam in the sea. But how do we know what they were like and how they lived, just from some old bones? This module will answer these questions and discuss the latest discoveries. The study of dinosaurs will also be used to illustrate fundamental scientific concepts and problem-solving approaches will be taken to actual examples.
This module is taught by the palaeontological researcher of the award-winning BBC Science series Walking with Dinosaurs; the most-watched science series of all time.

Employability skills, including development of writing skills (short technical reports), problem solving, computing skills &individual presentations are also embedded within this module.
Aims
To provide an engaging introduction to science and engineering using dinosaur palaeontology as an accessible route
To provide an introduction to geological time and the place of people and dinosaurs in that context
To provide an introduction to the use of numerical and analytical techniques in science especially palaeontology and geology
Intended Learning Outcomes
Outline the geological timescale, describe the place of people and dinosaurs in that context, and describe how this has been determined will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
Make simple inferences about the mode of life of fossils from their morphology, and outline the limitations of this approach will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
Apply scientific methods to fossils and rocks will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Describe how many different scientific, engineering and technological disciplines contribute to the study of dinosaurs and to evaluate when such methods are appropriate will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
State that climate change and extinctions have occurred in the past and outline some possible causes and consequences, and relate this to current climate debate will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Use technical writing, numerical and computer skills in the context of dinosaur palaeontology will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Study hours
11 hours lectures
20 hours practicals
20 hours completion coursework assignments
97 hours guided reading and private study
2 hour exam
Description of Module Assessment
01: Practical Assessment weighted 50%
5 practical tasks will be assessed
Students will complete 10 practicals. The marks for the best five out of the last seven practicals will go towards the student's final grade.
02: 2 Hour Exam weighted 50%
exam
Unseen exam consisting of two sections with equal weighting, one section of short answer or mulitple questions and one with a choice of questions from which four can be selected, short paragraph or diagram type answers required
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.