As part of the launch of the new Oxford University Postgraduate
Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques, we are trialling one of the
new online modules called Field Techniques for Surveying Invertebrates,
and I'd like to invite you to participate, free of charge.

Lindsay
Campbell (the new programme manager) and myself have set a date of
Wednesday 12 October to Wed 16 November 2011. The course lasts 5 weeks
and is divided into 10 Topics. The tutors are Dr Roger Key and Dr Ben
Woodcock. I will be hovering in the background keeping an eye on things
(it is a trial run of this new course). The course is run part-time and
can be taken from anywhere in the world as long as you have internet
access. The expectations are that students will contribute to all the
discussion forums and undertake any of the activities. As the course is
at the trial stage we don't have a webpage for it yet, so I have cut and
paste the information that will exist for the course to give you some
idea of how it is structured and run. You won't be taking the course for
credit:

Overview
Field techniques for surveying invertebrates is a short, stand-alone
training course that is taught entirely online. It can be taken from
anywhere in the world and is international in its use of case studies.
It will appeal to a variety of students and practitioners in
conservation and management who want to improve their ability to conduct
invertebrate surveys. The course can be taken for accreditation or
non-accreditation.

Description
Each topic is covered via guided reading, online activities, and
discussion forums. All the reading material is embedded into the course,
but students additionally have access to the University's electronic
resources and online journals, that they will need to use for some of
the activities. Participants are expected to study on, and contribute to
the course for 10-15 hours per week. Additionally, if the course is
being taken for accreditation, participants will have to complete an
assessment. There is a suggested calendar of activity that participants
can use to assist them in completing the course within the allocated
five weeks.

Programme details
The topics covered in the course are:
*    Rationale & practicalities of invertebrate surveys
*    Before starting- planning & preparation
*    Field methods 1- active methods
*    Field methods 2- interception trapping
*    Field methods 3- responsive trapping
*    Sorting, identification & taxonomic considerations
*    Sampling strategies
*    Invertebrate habitat description & evaluation
*    Invertebrate survey for monitoring
*    The end result- specimens, data, analysis, interpretation &
reporting

I do hope you will take up this offer by filling in the attached
application form. If you would like to participate, please return the
completed form to Lindsay Campbell at  Tato emailová adresa je chráněna před spamboty, abyste ji viděli, povolte JavaScript  . Places for
the trial will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Best wishes,
Jocelyne

Dr Jocelyne M.R. Hughes
Environment & Sustainability Portfolio
Continuing Professional Development Centre Oxford University Department
for Continuing Education
16-17 St Ebbes Street
Oxford
OX1 1PT

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