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LSC-40139 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

LSC-40139 - Practical Field Skills
Coordinator: Ellie Harrison Room: 174
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module will allow you to gain essential skills in understanding and applying biodiversity assessment methods and field survey techniques. It also aims to allow you to develop specialist taxonomy skills and encourages links with local and national experts and recording groups to develop your professional networks. Through tutorials and field visits, you will also explore how to undertake a literature review on survey methods, critique approaches and develop a biodiversity assessment plan for a site. You will undertake independent field work, visiting sites to undertake assessment and biodiversity surveys. You will be encouraged to link with recording groups and identify support in developing taxonomic skills through links with internal and external experts. Identification skills will be developed through laboratory or fieldwork.
The module culminates in an Easter vacation field course that brings together your learning for conceptually underpinned application in a focused context. Skills will include ecological techniques, species identification and habitat classification methods, mapping, planning, risk assessment, and health and safety.

Aims
This module will help you develop field techniques for assessing biodiversity and continue to develop practical field skills for species identification and habitat assessment, following on from content in Biodiversity Skills.


Intended Learning Outcomes

analyse and critically evaluate the context, methodology and results of primary scientific literature and secondary data sources.: 1,2
undertake and evaluate a range of selected biodiversity surveying fieldwork techniques.: 1,2
apply an advanced level of ecological skills for planning and implementing ecological projects: 1,2
demonstrate professional level competence in transferable skills, including critical thinking, team working, and working safely, ethically and legally.: 2

Study hours

Residential field course: 48 hours
Field visits: 48 hours
Lectures/ workshops: 12 hours
Preparation for field visits/lab work: 4 hours
Assessment preparation: 25 hours
Wider reading: 13 hours.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Proposal weighted 60%
Research report and biodiversity assessment plan
A biodiversity research proposal which includes a provisional site assessment and appropriate desk studies (including maps to show habitats and key features). Selection of a specific taxonomic group with a justification as to why on this site. A literature review of survey techniques for biodiversity assessment of selected taxonomic groups and a proposal for the methodology to assess the biodiversity of a selected taxonomic group. A typical word count would be 2500 words.

2: Group Presentation weighted 40%
Group presentation of field course project
30 minute group presentation (approx. 3-4 students per group) of field course project (on last day of field course), detailing methods used, results, study area map, recommendations, and a critical reflection on the group/communal aspects of the field experience, especially team management and team working. The emphasis will be on the field work experience rather than results. Different presentation methods will be admitted (e.g. live presentation, poster, pre-recorded presentation). Group mark on the presentation, weighted by peer assessment of individual contributions to group work over the project duration (fair marking to be ensured through detail on each members tasks and from peer evaluation of each members work contribution - this will be utilised to help inform tutor grades, but the grade itself will be from the tutors not the students - e.g. markers can adjust the mark if a group member has not engaged with the field work elements for an individual).

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025