Knowledge and skills
To address aspects of physical, chemical and biological processes of sedimentation in the context of the depositional settings in which they operate. To provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to understand and interpret structures and textures in sedimentary rocks, and for them to develop independent problem solving skills that allow them to interpret depositional environments from the rock record.

Soft Skills and active learning
Students should develop independent problem solving skills through the coursework component of the module. In addition, students will foster small group communication skills and confidence in their own abilities.
This chimes with UoL C2021 priorities for learning and teaching.

(LO1) Ability to describe how fluid flow governs sediment transport and bedform configuration

(LO2) Ability to collect and analyse sedimentary information to infer sedimentary process

(LO3) Ability to recognise a range of depositional environments from the sedimentary record

(LO4) Ability to use sedimentary information to build facies models for depositional environments

(LO5) Ability to synthesise sedimentary datasets to demonstrate spatial and temporal evolution of depositional systems

(LO6) Understanding of how fossils can be used to build stratigraphy and interpret the geological record

(S1) Problem solving skills

(S2) Teamwork

(S3) Organisational skills

Week 1: Introduction to microfossils
Week 2: Information from fossils - place and time
Week 3: Introduction to clastic stratigraphic concepts
Week 4: Introduction to carbonate stratigraphic concepts
Week 5: Fundamental sedimentary transport processes
Week 6: Clastic sedimentary rocks and palaeonvironments
Week 7-: Clastic sedimentary rocks and palaeonvironments
Week 8: Clastic sedimentary rocks and palaeonvironments
Week 9: Clastic sedimentary rocks and palaeonvironments
Week 10: Carbonate sedimentary rocks and palaeoenvironments
Week 11: Carbonate sedimentary rocks and palaeoenvironments
Week 12: Carbonate sedimentary rocks and palaeoenvironments

These topics build on key learnings from module ENVS118 (Intro to sediments...). ENVS219 will teach students at a higher level with emphasis on using detailed analysis to build big picture interpretations of depositional environments.

Overall approach
Lectures and practicals are constructively aligned such that unscheduled e-lecture content is reinforced by a 1 hour practical class every week. Similarly, coursework assessments are timed to coincide with lecture material that is directly helpful to the students at that stage. The teaching methods promote active student engagement and independent learning, and develops confidence and a sense of community in the cohort. This aligns nicely with UoL C2021 priorities.

E-Lectures (online)
All lecture material is prerecorded and uploaded to canvas for students to access asynchronously. All lectures have closed captions. E-Lectures are designed individually and with a coherent narrative across the module. A few key points are emphasized in each lecture, which lead deliberately into more complex practical materials later in the week.

Practicals (hybrid teaching)
Practicals are designed for the reduced face-to-face contact time of 1 hour per week. Du ring the 1 hour face-to-face practical every week, students will prioritise the aspects of the practical that require them to be in the lab, e.g. examination of hand specimens, analysis of drill core etc. Staff will direct students as to the critical elements that need completing during the face-to-face time. The reminder of the practical exercises will be completed by the students as homework.

Students are required to describe and interpret sedimentary rocks, logs and thin sections to build specific depositional environment models. Formative feedback is provided every week. Canvas forums will be used to provide online support for this homework.

Coursework projects
Designed as semi-independent projects over 1 week. Students have 2 1-hour dedicated lab sessions of staff support time. They will also have frequent online support from staff/demonstrators using canvas discussion boards/forums. They are required to integrate and apply material from all previous lectures relev ant to the project. 1st project examines clastic systems, the 2nd carbonates. Detailed feedback is provided on the 1st piece so that students can improve marks for the 2nd.