A Level NEA Covering Place and Coasts at FSC Orielton (Small Group Course)

Day 1

Morning

Arrive

Students will be greeted by their tutor, with a welcome talk and an introduction to the centre. Opportunity to hire wellies and waterproofs.
Transport will depart to Tenby at 14:00 (30 min drive)

Afternoon

Place

An immersive introduction to Tenby where students will use a variety of techniques aimed at introducing fieldwork using a range of senses. Students will consider topic ideas suitable to investigate in Tenby and tour round suitable fieldwork sites for the NEA.

Evening

Introduction to the course and the Geographical Enquiry Cycle.

Question setting workshop: students will explore what makes an appropriate question for study. Discussion of fieldwork methods and decide which to concentrate on over the following days based on students’ confidence levels.

Day 2

Morning and Afternoon

Coasts Geo-Skills

Introduction to the coastal system of Saundersfoot Bay. Variety of secondary sources to investigate the factors affecting coastal processes and landforms. Discussion on the importance of secondary resources and critically reflecting on sources used in relation to NEA’s.

Fieldwork may include: Annotated photographs, GIS to map flood severity and effectiveness of sea defences, Hudson’s Equation, clast size and shape, beach profiles, cliff stability index and cliff profiles

Field site: Saundersfoot Bay (30 min drive) Bus all day

Evening

Follow up sessions include:

Analysing Quantitative Data Workshop: Students will discuss and complete a choice of statistics tests and a cost-benefit analysis and potential applications for NEAs.

Critical evaluation of fieldwork methods: Discussion of adapting methods, sampling strategies, sample size, accuracy and validity of data and conclusions drawn

Day 3

Morning

Human Geo-Skills

Students will use secondary sources to find out the formal and informal representations of Haverfordwest. Discussion on the importance of
secondary resources and critically reflecting on sources used in relation to NEAs. Opportunity for students to choose a couple of fieldwork
methods of their choice to pilot in Haverfordwest.

Fieldwork may include: EQA, placemaking assessment, emotional mapping, questionnaires, discourse analysis, non-participant observations, clone town survey

Field site: Haverfordwest (30 min drive)

Afternoon and Evening

Follow-up to include:

Analysing Qualitative Data workshop: explore open and inductive coding, plus how to get quantitative figures from qualitative data.

Demonstration of how to locate data and add to ArcGIS online after collection.From late afternoon and into the evening: Students will have planning and discussion time for Independent Investigations. Time to complete CRF form. Opportunity to use research materials from centre resources.

Day 4

Morning and Afternoon

Independent Investigations

Planning time in the morning. Data collection in Tenby: Coast and Place fieldwork options.

Field site: Tenby (30 min drive)

Evening

An evening outdoor activity

Students have the opportunity to set up small mammal traps and bat detecting. There is an option of a campfire on the back lawn to unwind and celebrate finishing the data collection for their NEA.

Day 5

Morning

Follow up Independent Investigations GIS Workshop: Students will be introduced to potential presentation and analysis functions with ArcGIS online.

Further investigation follow up time- data analysis, methodology, research from centre resources and online sources

Course ends at 12:30

• Develop personal skills
• Have fun
• Be inspired by a passion for the subject
• Build friendships