Fieldwork Education and Technology (FEeT) Project Group

Questionnaire

Preliminary results:-

Derek FranceDepartment of Geography

A survey of the usage of C&IT in Fieldwork

• Postal Survey: - Sent to all Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences departments in March 2002

• Response rate:- 203 surveys 43 returns ~20%

• Purpose: - Aims to understand the relationship between C& IT and Fieldwork

• How is C&IT used?

• Snap Shoot of a ‘typical’ module with substantial fieldwork

• 57% of the returned modules were fieldwork only modules

• Weighting: - of C& IT at different stages of the field course module, where 0 = no usage and

5 = high usage

Pre During Post Average 1.9 1.4 2.6

Characteristics of the ‘sample’

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Old Universities New Universities H.E. Colleges

Institution

Percentage

20

10

6

Usage of Hardware Devices in relation to Fieldwork

0

5

10

15

20

25

DeskTop PC Laptop GPS palm mobile digital cam wearable

C&IT Devices

No of Modules

preduringpostuncertain

Usage of Software Applications in relation to Fieldwork

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

HE Software Spreadsheet CAA Powerpoint GIS Other Map Web based

Applications

No of Modules

preduringpostuncertain

Benefits :- for student learning using C&IT with Fieldwork - some common responses

• Lots of background information can be provided

• Students aware of the transferable skills

• Heightened awareness

• Confidence to students

• Students become familiar with handling large data sets

Drawbacks :- for student learning using C&IT with Fieldwork - some common responses

• Use of technology may distract students from central purpose

• Hardware / software problems produce significant disillusionment

• Substitution of IT over thinking

• Problems in transporting field equipment to field areas

• Cost