Discovering Ferns – Online

This course is an introduction to the fern species found in the UK. The course covers their biology, ecology and where you can find them. Focusing on their key features such as fronds, spores and structure. There are plenty of opportunities for you to get outside and put your newfound knowledge into practice, alongside guidance from an expert tutor. The course is at a beginner level and is a great place to start for those with a botanical interest who are thinking about taking their first steps into fern identification.

This is a 3-week online course covering 3 topics, for which you will complete a variety of self-led online resources and activities. Each topic is then concluded with either an interactive Zoom workshop or a marked assignment to complement the online content. Time commitment is approximately 2-3 hours a week and an E-certificate is provided upon completion.

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 – Existing knowledge and understanding of basic plant terminology would be beneficial for this course.

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.

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

• Explain how ferns and their allies are different from other plants
• Understand the structure/biology of ferns and their life cycle
• Understand fern ecology and where to find ferns and their allies in their natural habitats
• Distinguish key features needed for identification and become familiar with 10 common species
• Share this knowledge with friends, family and fellow volunteers.

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

Understand how our online courses are delivered.

Live Webinar Information

There are 3 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.

This course is delivered by more than one expert tutor. Your tutor will depend on the location of the course you book.

Derek Green

Although Derek’s principal area of interest is botany, he has a keen interest in all aspects of wildlife and ecology. A former college lecturer, teaching ecology and conservation, he now works as a founding Director of Budding Nature CIC, a Cornwall-based Community Interest Company that aims to increase public awareness and understanding of the natural world and to equip people with the knowledge and skills to participate in its protection. He is a highly experienced designer and deliverer of natural history workshops, creating and hosting events for a broad range of conservation and educational organisations, including Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Penwith Landscape Partnership, Dynamic Dunescapes Cornwall, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, Plantlife, the National Trust, the University of Exeter and Newquay Community Orchard.

Henry Miller

I am a botanist working at Kew Gardens on projects relating to the conservation of tropical plants in Uganda as well as producing extinction risk assessments for Ethiopian species. Outside of work I am involved in the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland and the London Natural History Society, I volunteer with these organisations to record and identify a wide range of plants.

Week 1: What is a Fern?
Self-study material available at the course start date
Week 1 live webinar

Week 2: Fern Biology and Ecology
Self-study material available after Week 1 webinar
Week 2 live webinar

Week 3: Introduction to Fern Identification
Self-study material available after Week2 webinar
Week 3 live webinar

The final deadline to complete any outstanding activities and self-study components is 2 weeks after the week 3 webinar

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.

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  Expert Tuition

The course has been carefully created to help you continue to build and develop 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 weekly 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
• Tailored 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.

You can rest assured that the absolute best content from an expert in environmental education will be at your fingertips. In choosing a Field Studies Council course, you will be joining thousands of people who learn with us each year.

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

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.

Recommended Equipment

The following is not mandatory but will help you within this course:

Hand lens