A Level Geography NEA carbon, water, place and coast skills with planning & data collection at Rhyd-y-Creuau

Day 1

Arrival at approximately 12:30.

Introduction to centre and hire of equipment. (Please bring your own packed lunch).

Afternoon

The Water and Carbon Cycles

A systems approach to the carbon and water cycles will be developed giving an appreciation of the processes occurring within the Conwy Valley and our own part within this system. Fieldwork will be undertaken to investigate the inputs, movements, stores and outputs in a local context.
Coed Bron Rhedyn will be be visited to introduce students to primary data collection for carbon sequestration and biomass estimation in a woodland. Additonally, the centre grounds will be used for fieldwork relating to infiltration and interception and how these interact with other environmental factors such as gradient, aspect and soil compaction.
Students will be prompted to consider how they will use these fieldwork sites and the demonstrated skills for their NEA and/or to build knowledge and understanding of this location as a case study.
Follow up session:
Introduction to NEA process and question setting workshop.

Day 2

Morning and Afternoon

Coastal Systems: Landscape, Processes and Management

Students will investigate possible enquiries at Criccieth on the Llyn Peninsula. Students will spend time completing research on the sample site and
investigate the effectiveness of secondary resources in aiding prior research. Students will interrogate the coastal landscape collaboratively exploring possible inquiry themes and options. The processes operating within this system will be explored through data collection techniques such as beach profiling and sediment analysis. Students will analyse and try methods to evaluate the current coastal defences and management strategies found in Criccieth using techniques such as cost-benefit analysis, bi-polar analysis, Hudson’s equation and flood risk severity mapping.
Finally, the town of Criccieth itself will be explored with students gaining insight into a range of methods to collect data on how the town has been
affected by the implementation of the Shoreline Management Plan.

Follow up session:

NEA Key Skills Workshop: Statistics and/or GIS

Day 3

Morning until early afternoon

Exploring Place

Visiting the coastal tourist town of Llandudno, learners will use a variety of fieldwork methods to consider possible routes to enquiry in this settlement.
Students will collect and use primary data such as emotional mapping, clone town surveys, functional change surveys, service tallies, questionnaires, and place perception. GIS will be used for geo-locating some data. Students will also have the chance to choose methods of interest to them and reflect on their appropriateness and limitations. Different sampling strategies will be trialed, and students will feedback about their suitability.

Return to centre for approx. 3pm

Preparation for NEA Data Collection

This session will allow students to make the final decisions on their investigation methodology and sampling strategy, taking into account the skills, experience and knowledge they will have gained throughout the field course. Students will prepare data collection sheets, complete a risk assessment and list their fieldwork equipment. The Field Studies Council tutor will confirm site locations and logistics and ensure students are working in suitable fieldwork groups for safety and efficiency of data collection. We encourage teachers to use this session as an opportunity to finalise NEA proposal forms.

Day 4

Morning and Afternoon

NEA Data Collection

Students will collect data in a chosen environment. The number of sites available will be determined by: number of teaching groups; your transport situation and the ability of school staff to supervise students under our GURS procedure. Please confirm NEA data collection locations with your Field Studies Council tutor before commencing question planning with students.

Day 5

Morning

Data Collation and Processing

Students will continue to process, present and analyse their data. A data presentation workshop is available on request (flexible) where students will be introduced to a range of data presentation options and asked to consider what makes an appropriate data presentation technique. Students will have the opportunity to practice a range of quantitative and qualitative presentation techniques.

Course ends at approx. 12pm

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  Expert Tuition
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  Free Wi-Fi
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  Full Board Accommodation
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  Hot and Cold Drinks
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  In Course Transport
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  Picnic Lunch