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The Earth in My Pocket

an Introduction to Geology

Anne Jay, Marcus Badger, and Nikola Rogic

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more The course is open to anyone with an interest in geology and the natural environment. It will be particularly useful for anyone considering an environmental science degree course or teachers who are looking for additional geology and geography resources to use in the classroom. You will need a camera capable of taking a digital photo – a smart phone is fine. You will also need a Flickr account – this is free and easy to use. You can use the hashtag #FLGeology to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Identifying igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
The rock cycle
Plate tectonics
Sources of metals and some of their uses in everyday life
The origins, exploration and uses of oil
Environmental impacts of using the Earth’s resources
Some methods of mitigating environmental issues

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Reviews summary

Solid introduction to earth science basics

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in introductory geology, covering topics like the rock cycle and plate tectonics. Many found the course content clear and well-structured, making complex ideas accessible. The optional assignments, particularly those involving rock identification, were highlighted as engaging and helpful for practical application. While some reviewers mentioned that accessing external platforms like Flickr was a slight hurdle, the overall sentiment suggests a highly positive learning experience, suitable for both absolute beginners and those refreshing their knowledge.

External platform needed for some activities.

"The requirement to use Flickr was a little inconvenient for me, but manageable."

"Using an external site like Flickr was an extra step I wasn't expecting."

"I would have preferred if all assignments were contained within the course platform rather than requiring a Flickr account."

"Getting Flickr set up was a minor hurdle, but it worked well once done."

Helps understand rock cycle, plate tectonics.

"The way the course explained the rock cycle and plate tectonics made it much clearer than other resources I've tried."

"Really helped solidify my understanding of the basic geological processes covered."

"Felt much more confident discussing plate tectonics and the rock cycle after this course."

"The core concepts were explained very effectively."

Excellent starting point for those new to geology.

"As someone with absolutely no prior knowledge of geology, I found this course to be an excellent introduction."

"Perfect for a total beginner. It covers the basics thoroughly without being overwhelming."

"I was completely new to the subject, and this course gave me a really good starting point."

"Found it very accessible even without a science background."

Optional tasks add practical value and hands-on learning.

"I really enjoyed the rock identification assignments. They were optional but added a practical dimension I appreciated."

"The suggested activities like taking photos and identifying rocks really helped solidify my understanding."

"The optional assignments were a great way to engage more deeply with the material outside of the lectures."

"Doing the hands-on tasks made the learning experience much more engaging and less theoretical."

Well-organized and easy to follow for beginners.

"The content was well organised and easy to follow, introducing new concepts clearly and building on prior knowledge."

"This course is a good solid introduction to geology. The content is well explained and easy to understand."

"I found the way the course was structured very logical, making it easy to grasp the core principles of geology."

"Everything was laid out very clearly and presented in bite-sized chunks, which helped a lot."

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Learners who complete The Earth in My Pocket: an Introduction to Geology will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Earth in My Pocket: an Introduction to Geology.

Plate Tectonics

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Provides a comprehensive overview of plate tectonics, including its history, the evidence for it, and the mechanisms that drive it. It is written by three leading experts in the field, and it is considered to be one of the best introductions to the subject available.

Plate Tectonics (Developments in geotectonics)

Kindle Edition

$$$

Global Tectonics

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The Earth in My Pocket

Topics Covered

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Reviews summary

Solid introduction to earth science basics

Career center

Reading list

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