Key facts

Type	Weekly Classes
Location	Stokenchurch
Address	Stokenchurch Adult Learning Centre Bartholomew Tipping Way Stokenchurch
Dates	Mon 24 Sep to Mon 26 Nov 2012 Day: Monday Time of meeting: 7.00-9.00pm Number of meetings: 10
Subject area(s)	Geology
CATS points	10
Fees	From £145.00
Application status	Course ended
Course code	E12P572PYW
Course contact	If you have any questions about this course, please email ppweekly@conted.ox.ac.uk.

Overview

A fascinating introduction to the world of rocks, minerals and fossils. It will focus on how to identify the main types, the environments they form or are found in and where to find them, using a wealth of specimens from the tutor's own collections.

Description

This will form a fascinating introduction to the world of rock, minerals and fossils. The course will start with minerals, investigating the main types and how you identify them. The focus will then be on rocks, as rocks are made from minerals. The course will show how to identify the main types of rock (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic). In each case there will be slides and video clips of the best known localities to show where they are and what they look like in the field. We will cover volcanoes, mountains and seas and include environments as varied as deserts and glaciers. This will be complimented by a local field visit. Fossils are introducd in two of the classes, covering how to identify the main groups and investigating the environmental and dating information they provide. We will also look at where to find them. The whole course is very hands-on and will use a wealth of specimens from the tutor's own collections.

Programme details

Week 1: 24th Sept (i) Introduction to rocks, minerals and fossils - setting the scene. (ii) The wonderful world of minerals.
Week 2: 1st Oct Identifying the common rock forming minerals Part 1.
Week 3: 8th Oct Identifying sedimentary rocks and their interpretation
Week 4: 15th Oct Identifying common rock forming minerals (2) igneous and metamorphic
Week 5: 22nd Oct Volcanic rocks and volcanoes
Week 6: FIELD TRIP location tbd (local) Sunday 28th October 10.30-2.30
Week 7: miss week - double field trip & half term
Week 8: 5th Nov Field de-brief and interpreting ancient environments
Week 9: 12th Nov Fossils (1) identification and interpreting lifestyles
Week 10: 19th Nov Fossils (2 looking at some groups in detail: ammonites, trilobites and student's choice

Staff

Course aims

Course Aim:
To introduce the geological world in an accessible way enabling a good knowledge of rocks, minerals and fossils to be built up, including their identification and interpretation.

Course Objectives:
1. To develop skills in identifying the common rocks, minerals and fossils
2. To learn how to interpret rocks, minerals and fossils
3. To investigate how and where they form, and investigate where they can be found today.

Assessment methods

Option A will be used. The students will submit 5 pieces of work which are accomplished during the class activities and completed at home. These sheets are based on rock/mineral ID or looking at aproticular fossils of choice, or it could involve a short write up of the field visit (which would count for 3 items) Advice will be given in class.

Teaching methods

Teaching will use a wide range of styles from 'chalk and talk' introductions, to hands-on with real specimens and group activities, to digital presentations for case studies, to video clips and a field trip.

Teaching outcomes

By the end of the course students can expect to:
1. Identify the main groups of rock, mineral and fossil
2. Be able to interpret rocks and fossils in terms of the environments they formed in.
3. Be able to explain why rocks and fossils occur where they do.
4. Know where to look for rocks, minerals and fossils of various types.

Fee options

Programme Fee

EU Fee: £145.00

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