Course

Introduction

Are you ready for S309? is a web-based set of diagnostic self-assessment questions for prospective students of this Level 3 Earth science module. If you're contemplating registering for S309, you are strongly advised to work through these questions. Further information about S309 is given in the S309 module description and you should read through the whole of this description and check that the module is suitable for you.

The Are you ready for S309? questions appear across six pages and are broken into two sets, one with questions covering key concepts (four pages) and the other requisite mathematical and scientific skills (two pages). When you have completed the questions you will receive an overall score and feedback on how you did in each question. This should enable you to judge for yourself whether or not you have an appropriate level of knowledge to embark on S309 Earth processes.

You should expect to spend no more than 2 hours working through the questions.

You can access the Are you ready for S309? questions via the link at the bottom of this page. However, before you do, we would strongly urge you to read all of the information on this page.

Suggested prior OU study

This is an OU Level 3 module. OU Level 3 modules build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from previous studies at OU levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject, preferably with the OU.

This module builds directly on Earth science (S209) (or the discontinued predecessor modules S260 or S276) and we strongly recommend that you have studied it and another OU Level 2 science module, before starting this module.

It is essential that you establish whether or not your background and experience give you a sound basis on which to tackle the module, since students who are appropriately prepared have the best chance of completing their studies successfully.

If you are on the Q64 honours qualification the module forms an ideal transition between Level 2 and the final 60 credits at Level 3 including the project module (SXG390 or equivalent). Alternatively if you are on the QD open qualification the module can be studied at any time during Level 3.

Is your computer ready for Are you ready for S309?

Are you ready for S309? is provided via OpenLearn Create, which is optimised for use on Internet Explorer (9 and 10), Firefox, Safari and Chrome on Windows 7 to 10, and Mac Snow Leopard or later.

Older browsers, especially Internet Explorer 8, will display most of the content normally, but some features won’t work.

It is possible to complete the questions on an iPad, Android Tablet and a Surface, but we cannot guarantee that all features will work as intended on these devices.

Note: Computing requirements for S309 are under Study materials in the S309 Module description.

Other skills

You will also find it more efficient if you have acquired the following skills, many of which are not covered in the quiz.

Basic study skills: organising your study time; pacing your study; effective reading to identify and extract relevant information from irrelevant or redundant material; retrieving data from scientific texts and accounts.

Writing skills: writing coherently; structuring and presenting arguments in a logical sequence often based on a range of sources, including published papers, websites, tables, diagrams, photographs, maps, graphic logs and rock thin sections; writing a scientific account with appropriate diagrams.

Cognitive skills: recognising trends and patterns in data; using evidence to support or refute theories and arguments; assessing the adequacy/limitations of explanations.

Problem-solving skills: solving problems using given evidence (including negative evidence), and using more than one source of information.

Computer skills: word processing and spreadsheet skills; familiarity with Windows operations and web browsers; manipulating diagrams for inclusion in TMAs; familiarity with online forums; searching online for data and journal articles.

Preparation for S309

If, after completing the quiz, you feel that you do have the required skills and knowledge to begin S309 then you can sign up for a forthcoming presentation. However, if you do not yet feel ready to do this, or had difficulty with particular parts of the quiz, then you may wish to consider studying relevant material from:

•  S209 Earth science (Specific chapters from S209 are given in the feedback at the end of the quiz.)

•  One of the many undergraduate text books on Earth sciences.

You can access the Are you ready for S309? questions via the link below. (Note that you will need to enrol on the website using your SAMS id and password before starting the quiz. This is not the same as registering to study S309.)