A Level Geography NEA covering carbon and water, place and Glaciation skills along with NEA planning & data collection at Rhyd-y-Creuau (Small Group Course)

Day 1

Arrival at approximately 12:30.

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

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. 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

NEA Question Setting Workshop.

Day 2

Glaciated Landscapes and Change: The Upland Landscape

This full day allows students to immerse themselves in the glacial landscape. Students will carry out fieldwork and gain skills to investigate how glacial processes contribute to the formation of glacial landforms and landscapes, and how the glacial landscape is used and managed today. Students will be encouraged to consider how they will use this fieldwork site and the demonstrated skills for their NEA and/or to build knowledge and understanding of this location as a case study.

Follow up session

NEA Key Skills Workshop: Statistics and/or GIS

Day 3

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

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

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