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Learning & Teaching Development Fund

Final report for funded project 2011-12

Project Title Rock around the University

Project Lead Name Tim Dempster

Funds allocated in 2011-12 £12,495.00

Total spend as @ 31 July 2012 (please provide a detailed breakdown of costs in relation to staff/equipment/consumable/other)

£12,495.00

Summary of project and outcomes We have established a unique geoscience field teaching resource by embedding large blocks of rock in strategic locations around the Gilmorehill Campus. Their placement is designed to provide an opportunity for Earth Science students to develop and practise a range of essential field skills. We are currently integrating the resource through all levels of our Earth Science teaching programme and focussing on the progressive building of key skills and linking laboratory-style practical classes with learning in a field setting. Unforeseen difficulties, and delays in the timetable of emplacing the blocks, meant that the scheme was only finally emplaced in early Summer 2012. Therefore the benefits of the scheme are yet to feed through fully into our teaching programmes. However in this initial year, the scheme has already been used and will be widely used to benefit students in the following courses: EARTH1001 - An introduction to rocks; EARTH1002 – Introducing field mapping skills; EARTH2003 - 3D thinking and mapping geological boundaries; EARTH2004 – Producing a Campus map, reinforcing key field skills, cross section construction and production of a field report; EARTH4025 - Advanced mapping skills, use minor structures, rotation of structural data using stereonets; EARTH4003 – Independent field skills assessment. The impact of the use of “Rock around the University” will be monitored in the coming sessions, it is too soon to judge the outcomes yet. However the University now has a world-leading education resource. A leaflet for the public has been prepared and will be stocked by the Visitor Centre and the Glasgow Science Centre. The resource has been used in our Open day and recruitment information. A website will also be on-line shortly providing different levels of information about the resource. Local schools have been contacted and have expressed an interest in using the resource for their teaching.

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Project Aims The project aimed to enhance the learning experience of Earth Science students developing the ability of students to think and reconstruct structures in 3D.

Previous work The resource compliments the existing field class teaching within the Earth Science programme. The School has an excellent reputation for training graduates in field geology, however, the nature of this learning environment brings with it a range of unique challenges for students, both in terms of the remote locations and the weather conditions. Whilst coping with these challenges is in itself a essential skill, the conditions may cause some students to struggle to take in important concepts of a more geological nature. “Rock around the University” has created a learning environment where key field based skills may be learned most effectively. Our students, like many others in Universities elsewhere, often have difficulty linking the knowledge gained in laboratory exercises to the challenges they face as field geologists. The establishment of an on-Campus field resource allows for us to integrate these two strands much more effectively and in doing so take a more holistic approach to learning. Students can visit the resource both during the scheduled “lab” sessions and in their own time, obtain a real life field geology experience in a less challenging environment and obtain “instant” on-site feedback on problems that they encounter. Project Outcomes A world-leading geoscience education resource has been built on Campus using 16 blocks of “local” Scottish rocks that were donated by our industrial partners. Blocks were placed to look like natural exposures and consequently the scheme mimics a real-life field experience. The design of the resource is such that some of the natural complexities that are present in real-life are minimised and consequently the scheme allows simple principles of geological mapping to be clearly explained and then learning may be reinforced at all levels. “Rock around the University” will be progressively woven into the fabric of the Earth Science teaching programmes building our student’s skills base and confidence. Funding. £5337.83 was used in the preparation of the blocks and their emplacement on Campus. In a change to the original plan, a contractor was used for this part of the project because in-house expertise and equipment was unable to manipulate the size of blocks that were required/supplied. £250.38 was used for printing the leaflet (attached), £364 was used for the production of thin sections of the rocks to allow for lab exercises to link the field resource, the remainder (£6542.79) was used for salary recoup. Note: This represented a change from the original budget that specified architects costs, which we were told would be required for the preparation of a planning application. After many months of receiving misleading and unhelpful advice, it turned out that no planning application was required! This delayed the project by more than 6 months and throughout this period the scheme had

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to be redesigned by the project lead many times. In addition the PI was required to be involved in all stages of block selection, preparation and emplacement. This meant that a far higher proportion of staff time was required than originally envisaged. It was only through this commitment of time that the success of the project could be ensured. Hence the savings associated with the changed planning requirements were reallocated to salary recoup. Project Evaluation The success of the scheme in improving student skills is not possible to judge at present, although the number of courses where “Rock around the University” will form a key component is an indication of the range of potential benefits to the Earth Science teaching programmes and the enthusiasm with which the other Earth Science teaching staff have engaged with the project.

Dissemination Due to delays in the installation of the blocks, we are a little behind schedule in terms of the dissemination. However.... Leaflet for the public has been produced (see below). Website is in the final production phase before going “live”. “Geoscientist” magazine has expressed an interest in running an article on the scheme. An opening ceremony is planned to which industrial partners will be invited, but is currently being held up by the lack of final signage (to be organised and funded by Estates and Buildings). Initial contacts with local schools suggest that the resource may be used in their classes. Pages within the website have been devoted to “Instructors information” and Earth Science staff have offered guided tours for teachers. I’d be happy to contribute to the LTC conference if this is desired. Future benefits The resource is fully sustainable. “Rock around the University” will form an integral part of the Geoscience teaching programmes in the future. In addition, “Rock around the University” represents a unique world-leading educational resource that will contribute significantly to areas such as recruitment and outreach.

Links To be confirmed...the web link will be provided once the final pages are completed. Publicity leaflet see below.

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