ONLINE COURSES FOR JANUARY & FEBRUARY

Nick Chidlaw has asked me to publicise the following courses. We are, of course, pleased to do so - it is the main reason the blog exists!

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During the lockdowns of recent years, I developed and ran a number of online courses on various geological subjects (both located in the UK as well as places abroad). The idea was to offer geological learning to those who usually attend the courses (indoor and outdoor) and field trips I offer, but who were prevented from doing so because of covid-related social restrictions. I was gratified to find so many people enrolled on these courses, and I understand they enjoyed them and gained a lot of new knowledge.  

Although we can now mix much more freely again, the winter months (particularly January and February) are usually a time when doing geological events is restricted by short days and the likelihood of poor weather. Field based events are particularly affected, but indoor events can be also, if snow or ice restricts travelling to and from venues. 

It may be that more of those who enjoy studying geology in the warmer, lighter months would be interested during January and February in doing online courses that enable them to study subjects in their own homes and in periods of time when convenient to them.  A detailed, illustrated course document  is emailed (PDF form) to each enrollee for them to download onto their pcs. These courses 'simulate' an indoor slide-based lecture course. This involves reading through the document in stages as and when convenient to each enrollee, during a set 'Reading Period' of time (scale of weeks). An optional reading list is provided, should enrollees wish to read around the subject further. At the end of the Reading Period, the simulation continues with a 1 week optional 'Dialogue Period' in which all enrollees can send to the tutor if they wish to any questions regarding the course material and which I will answer. A concluding email is then sent to all those enrolled on the course, in which questions and answers are shown that I consider the most beneficial to the learning of the group as a whole.   

I am offering to run 2 such online or 'Distance Learning' courses, one in January, and one in February of 2023. They are independent of one another - you can enrol on either, or both. Please find outline information below. Any queries, email me at nickchidlaw@gmail.com.  I hope you find these proposals interesting and decide to enrol. 

COLD DESERTS OF THE PAST 

Tutor: Dr Nick Chidlaw 

The Quaternary Period extends from 2.6 million years ago to the present, during which time the earth has experienced extensive ice sheets developing episodically in the mid-latitudes. This course focuses on 2 such occasions when glaciations developed in Britain, and looks at sedimentary deposits created in the area of the Cotswold Hills in the west of England. The first is from the 'Anglian Glaciation' over 400,000 year ago, when ice extended down the Vale of Moreton depositing glacial till and outwash gravels. The second is the 'Devensian Glaciation' (less than 100,000 years ago) when meltwater sands and gravels were laid down in the Cirencester area under a cold, tundra climate.

 Coln Gravel Pit near Fairford, Glos.  October 1995. These workings are now flooded to form a lake used for watersports.    

Reading Period  (3 weeks) Monday 2nd - Sunday 22nd January 2023. 

Dialogue Period  (1 week) Monday 23rd - Sunday 29th January 2023

Tuition Fee: £30.00 per person.  No prior knowledge of geology or the study area is assumed. The course document would be sent out to enrollees just before the Reading Period starts. 

In view of postal delivery problems, fees are most conveniently sent by bank trans. I can provide details to those enrolling. 

Course viability deadline Friday 30th December. Fees received will be reimbursed soon after if the course does not reach viability by this date.  

THE FORMER WYE GLACIER FRONT AT HEREFORD 

Tutor: Dr Nick Chidlaw 

Some 26,000 year ago, much of northern and western Britain lay below continuous glacier ice, and adjacent lands were occupied by inhospitable tundra. The Wye Valley Glacier, over 200 m thick, reached as far east as Hereford, where local hills protruded island-like above the ice sheet. This course offers an opportunity to study the legacy of this glacier, some 40 miles from Bristol created during the Devensian, the most-recent glaciation of the Quaternary period. Highlights include the plugging of the pre-glacial valley of the river causing its re-direction to that seen today, and the pond-studded 'kettle-kame moraine' deformed during the melting of contained ice.    

Hereford Pit, a few miles west of the city, in October 1996. Glacial outwash gravels. The Pit is now backfilled and re-landscaped.  

 

Reading Period    (3 weeks)  Monday 30th January - Sunday 19th February 2023. 

Dialogue Period (1 week)  Monday 20th - Sunday 26th February 2023. 

Tuition Fee: £30.00 per person.  No prior knowledge of geology or the study area is assumed. The course document would be sent out to enrollees just before the Reading Period starts. 

In view of postal delivery problems, fees are most conveniently sent by bank trans. I can provide details to those enrolling. 

 Course viability deadline Friday 27th January. Fees received will be reimbursed soon after if the course does not reach viability by this date.  

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