Fungi Field Skills – Online

This is the perfect course for beginners looking to learn more about the fungi around them and start to identify fungi groups. You will learn valuable observational field skills; what to look for, what to record and how to record it. This engaging online course will provide a combination of video content, self-led reading and field-based activities allowing you to hone in and apply your knowledge.

The course will cover the variety of habitats in which you can find fungi, the diversity of fruiting bodies, and key features to look for, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the weird and wonderful world of fungi.

This is a 2-week online course covering 2 topics, for which you will complete a variety of self-led online study content, activities, assignments and live Zoom sessions. Time commitment is approximately 2-3 hours a week and an E-certificate is provided upon completion. Understand how our online courses are delivered.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Understand key morphological features to begin a fungus identification
• Record useful field notes and use the correct equipment to safely collect fungi
• Share this knowledge with friends, family, and fellow volunteers

Who Should Attend? – Nature enthusiasts, students, rangers, early career ecologists.

Knowledge Level – Beginner. Level descriptors can be found on the following webpage: Framework and Course Level Descriptors

Prior Knowledge – No existing knowledge, or experience is needed for this course. Just a willingness to explore and learn.

Please note that bookings will close 2 days before the course start date to allow for all participants to be enrolled to the online platform – bookings will not be taken after this time. Bookings will close sooner if course capacity is reached.*

*Bookings will close sooner if course capacity is reached 

Understand how our online courses are delivered here.

Live Webinar Information

There are 2 webinars for this course, taking place at the end of each week. Please see the date listing below for the day and time.

Please note – webinars will be recorded and uploaded to the virtual learning platform for learners unable to attend.

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Ali McKernan

Ali works in a large primary school in Manchester, and has been teaching fungi and celebrating UK Fungus Day with them for a few years, including log inoculation and growing oyster mushrooms on used coffee grounds. Ali is also a member of the North West Fungus Group and passionate about introducing fungi to the next generation (in fact, anyone at all), recently embracing social media and becoming known as ‘The Fungi Guy’. He makes short ‘beginner’s guides’ on YouTube that are fun and accessible by all. Ali has recently written for the Wildlife Trusts children’s magazine and through his outreach role hopes to introduce this remarkable kingdom to even more young people!

Timetable

Week 1: Field Identification Skills
Self-study material available: At course start date
Week 1 live webinar

Week 2: Fungi Field skills: Field notes, understanding habitat and field equipment
Self-study material available: After week 1 webinar
Week 2 live webinar

The final deadline to complete any outstanding activities and self-study components is 2 weeks after the course ends.

Time commitment: This course will require approximately 2-3 hours of your time each week. This includes covering course materials on our Moodle learning platform and the Zoom session.

• 
  Expert Tuition

The course has been carefully created to help you continue to build on your knowledge as the course progresses. With content crafted to the online Moodle Platform and bespoke to the Field Studies Council.

The course includes:

• 45-minute interactive Zoom workshops to connect with the tutor and other participants
• Expert tuition for which the Field Studies Council is renowned
• Activities to work on independently in advance of each Zoom workshop
• Course completion certificate

Once registered, you will follow well-illustrated, user-friendly ’books’ to pick up knowledge. Quizzes and skill-checks will give you instant feedback on your learning. Forums give students the chance to interact with each other as well as a place to share work.

Recommended Devices

It is recommended that you access your course through a PC or laptop. Please be aware that there will be reduced functionality if you decide to access the course through a tablet or smartphone. The Field Studies Council is unable to email content directly to you.

• ★★★★★

  Broadened my mind to habitats for fungi and made me think about looking and seeing more thoughtfully

• ★★★★★

  Ali was fantastic tutor, his enthusiasm was inspiring. Good course content and didn't blow my mind with complexity.

• ★★★★☆

  Enthusiastic tutor, comprehensive notes in supporting material

• ★★★★☆

  I liked how the information was split down, which was really helpful in learning bits at a time.

• ★★★★★

  I am a qualified horticulturist and wild plant species recorder but have always felt a bit weary of fungi. This course has given me the confidence to find, handle, study and learn about these awesome beings (without the fear of accidentally poisoning myself just by touching them!) I would love to study the next stage of learning about fungi with Ali.

• ★★★★☆

  The course materials were excellent, and the rest of it well presented and organised.

• ★★★★★

  I liked the fact that I felt, even as a complete beginner, I had found out how to examine a fruiting body and how to take photos, make notes which could then be used with a textbook for identification.

Student Discount

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off all Biodiversity courses.

Natural History Bursaries

There are a number of natural history bursaries available to help with the cost of your course. To find out if you and your chosen course are eligible, read more here.

Accessing Your Course

• Once you sign up you’ll receive an email at least 24 hours in advance of the course opening with details of how to access our easy-to-use platform, Moodle.
• Moodle can be accessed through a browser or an app.
• Webinars are via Zoom so you won’t need any new software to attend