THE EARTH THROUGH GEOLOGICAL TIME

THE EARTH THROUGH GEOLOGICAL TIME
Course Code
GL 1005
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr M J Hole

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Practical sessions will be available each week; individual students attend once a fortnight.

Overview

For 4,500 million years the Earth has been, and still is, a continually evolving Dynamic Planet. The record is held in the rocks and fossils of the present continental landmasses and ocean basins. To deduce the history of the planet geologists must apply a large range of scientific principles and disciplines. These disciplines encompass the biological,chemical and physical sciences. The course provides a basic understanding of how the structure and evolution of the planet are deduced and how this information can be used to discover and extract natural resources such as fossil fuels and ores.

Structure

20 one-hour lectures 5 three- hour practical sessions.

It is intended to include a half-day field course, depending on prevailing weather conditions. Other classes will be reduced pro-rata if fieldwork is possible.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment (50%); 90 minute examination (50%). In-course assessment will include class tests in mapping and palaeontology.

Resit: 1 two-hour examination including map and palaeontology practical questions (100%).

Formative Assessment

Three WebCT-delivered multiple choice question (MCQ) tests with on-line feedback at various times during term.

Feedback

MCQ's have already been piloted and used for GL 1004 in session 2009/10. SCEFS and other comments suggest students find these extremely valuable, and it is intended to use these for the new course.