Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)

Module GEOL3181: DYNAMIC EARTH II

Department: Earth Sciences

GEOL3181: DYNAMIC EARTH II

Type	Open	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2013/14	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

GEOL3011 Dynamic Earth I

Aims

To provide students with a holistic overview of the solid Earth as a dynamic system.

Content

Understanding solid Earth processes.
Critical evaluation the forces that drive plate tectonics.
Understanding relationship between solid Earth processes and surface processes.
Plan experiments to investigate Earth processes.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Evaluation of observational evidence for solid Earth processes and driving mechanisms.
Subject knowledge and understanding in geological principles, terms, definitions and classifications.
Subject knowledge and understanding in the structure, composition and history of the Earth and how they vary over geological timescales.
Subject knowledge and understanding in geochemical, and biological and processes and their role in shaping the Earth.

Subject-specific Skills:

Planning and experimental design skills.
Intellectual and practical skills in order to apply geological principles and methodologies to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems.
Intellectual and practical skills to synthesise information/data from a variety of sources.
Intellectual and practical skills to analyse, evaluate/interpret geological data.
Intellectual and practical skills in citation and appropriate use of the literature.

Key Skills:

Discipline skills development in the lecture series.
Interpersonal skills on fieldwork.
Entrepreneurial and independent study skills in project work.
Personal effectiveness and understanding of world developed during project work.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

The module is delivered through a term of one-two hour lectures supported by handouts, group discussions, and directed reading in which the students will learn about earth processes and driving forces.
A summatively assessed literature review will be submitted in the second term.
In the second term students will conduct a summatively-assessed, independently-researched project in which they will be required to demonstrate their familiarity with contemporary ideas and literature in the Earth sciences.
Formative assessment will take place during the first term.
Guidance on preparation, key and exam skills are provided.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	20	Weekly	2 hour	40	■
Literature Revriew	1	Annual	56 hours	56
Preparation and Reading				104
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 50%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
two-hour unseen written examination		100%
Component: Continual Assessment		Component Weighting: 50%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Literature Review		50%
Research Project		50%

Formative Assessment:

Two written reports.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University