Resource Database: Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This abstract outlines the expedition approach to non-supervised fieldwork. This is not a new approach but it is one that the geological community has possibly under-utilised despite the many advantages that it has to offer. In the expedition approach, small groups of students are encouraged to plan and undertake fieldwork in relatively-remote locations outside Europe. To complete such a field expedition the group of students will have to undertake background research into the proposed field area, plan the logistics including accommodation and transportation, gain the relevant permissions, raise the required funds, plan and execute the fieldwork and record and document the research that they have undertaken. Whilst this may be the case for independent fieldwork undertaken closer to home, such a field expedition will require very much more complex and detailed planning. Thus, although each student will complete an independent project, they will have to work as a coherent and effective team to achieve their aims.

Advantages of the Expedition Approach:

• the acquisition of transferable skills;
• the opportunity to see a range of different and dynamic environments and rocks;
• a widening of the perspectives of the student;
• a tendency for better, earlier organisation of the project;
• opportunities for publicity to the host geoscience department.

Disadvantages:

• increased hazard;
• a possible requirement for more staff assistance;
• the danger that the students will collect insufficient or inappropriate data;
• the need to obtain financial support.

Keywords:

Fieldwork
Group work
Independent learning