Skills & Behaviors: Field Activities

Overview

The skills and behaviors listed on the right provide a general overview of how field researchers progress from the Novice level to the higher levels. This list is intended to give you some general goals as you strive to become a skilled field researcher.

There are many important additional skills that you will need to acquire. You'll encounter these as you progress through the Conservation Camp Problems.

You should refer back to this list periodically as a way to remind yourself of the larger context in which you will be working.

Acquiring Specific Skills

• Setting up a shelter
• Sleeping warm and dry
• Fire starting (note that YouTube has lots of helpful videos)
• Keeping yourself and your gear safe
• Food safety
• Maintaining electronic equipment under field conditions
• Establishing a daily routine
• Essential tools that you need to have and be able to use

Skills and Behaviors

Novice

• Has only vague ideas of what should be accomplished while in the field.
• Does little preparation that is appropriate to the field tasks.
• Takes too much "stuff," most of which is unneeded or inappropriate.
• Trusts other people to provide guidance in the field tasks.
• Is not prepared to cope with difficulties or emergencies.
• Wastes time with tasks that are unnecessary or inappropriate.
• Leaves field data (notes, specimens, photos, etc.) at risk.
• Has little sense of a workflow that is appropriate for handling field data (notes, specimens, photos, etc.).

Advanced Beginner

• Is able to generally assess the requirements of the field site as part of the planning process.
• Obtains maps and other location-specific information prior to leaving for the field site.
• Inadequately practices using methodologies and technology prior to arriving at the field site.
• Does not monitor time utilization well and may fail to complete key tasks.
• Makes some provision for protecting field data but does this inconsistently.
• Fails to obtain some key information while in the field.
• Is able to accomplish some basic tasks with self-motivation, but still relies on other people to provide the overall guidance.
• Has created some basic emergency strategies and is somewhat prepared to implement these.

Competent

• Creates and maintains checklists of supplies and equipment.
• Packs supplies and equipment in appropriate containers.
• Knows which critical equipment can be replaced in the field or carries appropriate redundancy.
• Is able to use all the methodologies and technology required and practices this before arriving at the field site.
• Generally completes the expected field studies within the time and resources allocated.
• Provides routine care so that field data (notes, specimens, photos, etc.) degradation or loss is minimized.
• Knows what tasks are to be accomplished and has the motivation and discipline to carry these out.
• Has prepared for a wide range of emergencies and maintains the needed information and resources.

Proficient

• Generally depends on many locally available items rather than transporting these.
• Is able to adapt many local supplies and equipment to alternative uses.
• Uses standard methodologies and technology with great efficiency and is able to adapt and innovate while in the field.
• Actively finds new opportunities for study while completing the anticipated tasks.
• Creates an efficient and effective workflow that minimizes the possibility of field data (notes, specimens, photos, etc.) degradation or loss.
• Plans ahead so that emergency situations are generally avoided.

Expert

• Devotes considerable time to planning the field work so that everything is in place and ready when it is needed.
• Trains everyone so that they actively contribute to the overall goals of the field tasks.
• Is able to create a support network that functions efficiently. This may require training other people to provide key activities.
• Knows what resources are critical to efficient work and makes sure that these are always available.
• "Outsources" many of the logistics tasks so that time at the field site is focused on the primary objectives.