Short course
Fossils and Ancient Life
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
21/01/2027 - 25/03/202714:00 - 16:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
What can fossils tell us about life on Earth? What were the first life forms like? How did they live and how did they die? We will consider all these questions, and more, as we work our way through fossils from each era of geological time. Fossils are our only way of knowing about past life and during the course we will find out how good this record is. We will discover what fossils can tell us about big 'Earth moments' as we explore mass extinctions. One topic of interest is what killed the dinosaurs, with a surprise at the end.
We will work through how to identify fossils and how they inform us about ancient environments, evolution and extinctions. Fossils used for hands-on exploring will be selected from the tutor's large collection and include ammonites, trilobites, corals, graptolites, trace fossils plus many more.
Many skills will be developed in handling and interpreting fossils in terms of 'form and function'.
Students may bring in their own fossils for some fun identification as a class activity.
A field trip can be planned for a saturday or Sunday by discussion with the group on the first evening. The choice will take the class preferences and abilities into account.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts Thursday 21 January 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Thursdays, 2.00-4.00pm.
Week 1: What is a fossil. ‘It’s life Jim but not as we know it’ – the first life on Earth
Week 2: Fossil identification session – the 8 main groups of invertebrates
Case study 1: corals
Week 3: The trilobites – form and function?
Week 4: Bivalves and brachiopods – ‘Life in the Silurian’
Week 5: Trace fossils – traces of life, but no bodies
Case study 2: echinoderms (not all spiky)
Week 6: Ammonites – more to them than you think & Life in the Jurassic
Week 7: Death of the dinosaurs. Class activity with students’ collection or tutor’s to
explore more
Week 8: Fossil preservation. Some exceptional fossils from Brazil – fossil preservation at
its best
Week 9/10: Field trip: Saturday 20th March. Local site tbc at the start of the
course from tutor suggestions. Final session.
Course aims
- To give an overview of the many different forms of ancient life that have existed over more than 500 million years and to explore some of the fossil groups in detail.
- To develop the skills of fossil identification based on body plan.
- To determine potential lifestyle from the features seen.
- Explore some major changes in ancient life over 500 million years.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course students will be expected to:
- identify the main eight groups of invertebrate fossils presented;
- interpret an animal’s potential lifestyle by looking at their physical features;
- identify some crucial moments in the evolution of ancient life.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Teaching methods
Teaching methods vary through the course. The usual format is an introductory PowerPoint lecture followed by practical work handling a vast array of the tutor’s collection of fossils. Practical exploration of the fossils is guided by helpful handouts and followed by discussion and explanation of the material. There will also be short video clips of important concepts. Overall the style is very relaxed and much learning takes place while having a lot of enjoyment.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.
Assessment
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Dr Jill Eyers
Dr Eyers is a UK geologist and lecturer with many years’ experience who has worked and travelled all over the world. She is an author of many scientific papers and books, and is a regular speaker on cruise ships.
Academic credit
Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS Points)
Please note, students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you wish to gain credit from completing this course you must register to do so before the course starts.
Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.
Learn more about the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee for assessment and accreditation.
Digital certificate of completion
Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £315.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Preparatory reading
- Fossil. Eyewitness guide / DK Dorling Kindersley Ltd
Module code: O26P519GEW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.
How to register for accreditation and assessment
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for this course, if you wish to do so, you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.