EFFECTIVE RECRUITING STRATEGIES, LEARNING OBJECTIVES, AND RISK MANAGEMENT FOR FIELD STUDY IN THE BRITISH ISLES

Since 2010, we have offered a short-term faculty-led field course to Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. This paper focuses on recruiting students, learning outcomes, and field safety. We use a two-fold recruiting strategy to ensure course success. First, photos and short videos from earlier offerings of this course are used in Physical and Historical Geology, Petrology, and Structural Geology. Students see other students participating in this course and are more likely to attend. Second, the dates are set 20 months in advance so we are able to provide cost estimates and work with students to explore financial aid options well in advance. Learning outcomes include recognition of classroom concepts in the field, attention to detail and utilizing scientific vocabulary when taking observations, in addition to developing the ability to combine information and evaluate field sites within the larger historical, temporal, geologic, or geographic setting. Field assignments range from relatively simple to moderately complex. Each exercise is designed for a specific outcrop or a series of related exposures explored during a single day and is supplemented by information in the field guide. We use a 50-question pre-test combined with the results of previous academic coursework to create two-person field teams in which a better prepared student is paired with a less experienced student. This approach gives less prepared students a ‘field mentor’ from whom they can glean information and learn field analytical techniques while providing the opportunity for the mentor to learn through active experience. Faculty are able to focus on field safety and identify and assist those teams that require more one-on-one instruction. Field safety is of critical importance given that many of our field sites are on steep slopes or near seaside cliffs that border frigid waters. We use a composite risk management approach to identify field hazards, outline mitigation strategies, identify the parties responsible for field safety, and assess residual risk. Accordingly, we are able to provide students with an excellent field experience in a safe environment.