Discovering Reptiles: Identification and Ecology – Online

This introductory course is a great introduction for anyone with an interest in herpetofauna and for those looking at taking their first steps into an ecology career. All content has been created by the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC), so you can be confident that you are getting information from leading experts working within this field. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify common UK species as well as non-native, explain their basic ecology and also have a basic understanding of key mitigations needed when working in an area of interest for reptiles.

This is a 3-week online course covering 3 topics, for which you will complete a variety of self-led online study content, activities, assignments and live Zoom sessions. Time commitment is approximately 2-3 hours a week and an E-certificate is provided upon completion.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Explain Reptile taxonomy, anatomy, and main ID features and how they differ from other animals
• Identify UK Reptile species
• Describe the different habitats, ranges and life cycles of UK reptiles
• Identify reasonable adjustments that need to be taken to protect reptiles
• Share this knowledge with friends, family, and fellow volunteers

Who Should Attend? – Nature enthusiasts, Students, Rangers, Early career ecologists.

Knowledge Level – Introductory. Level descriptors can be found on the following webpage: Framework and Course Level Descriptors

Prior Knowledge – No existing knowledge, or experience is needed for this course. Just a willingness to explore and learn.

Please note that bookings will close at 2 working days before the course start date to allow for all participants to be enrolled to the online platform – bookings will not be taken after this time.  Bookings will close sooner if course capacity is reached

Understand how our online courses are delivered

Live Webinar Information

There are 3 webinars for this course, taking place at the end of each week. Please see the date listing below for the day and time.

Please note – webinars will be recorded and uploaded to the virtual learning platform for learners unable to attend.

Dr Rob Ward

Dr Rob Ward is a conservation biologist who has been working with amphibians and reptiles for 15 years and completed his PhD on the ecology and conservation of grass snakes. He is currently the Data and GIS Officer for the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) where his work includes developing reptile and amphibian monitoring programmes and managing the organisation’s data and mapping.

Week 1: Introduction to Reptiles
Self-study material available from start date
Week 1 live webinar at end of week 1

Week 2: UK Reptile Identification
Self-study material available after week 1 webinar
Week 2 live webinar at end of week 2

Week 3: UK Reptile Ecology
Self-study material available after week 2 webinar
Week 3 Marked assignment due at end of week 3

The final deadline to complete any outstanding activities and self-study components is 2 weeks after the assigment date

Time commitment: This course will require approximately 2-3 hours of your time each week. This includes covering course materials on our Moodle learning platform and the Zoom session.

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  Expert Tuition

The course has been carefully created to help you continue to build on your knowledge as the course progresses. With content crafted to the online Moodle Platform and bespoke to the Field Studies Council.

The course includes:

• 45-minute interactive Zoom workshops to connect with the tutor and other participants
• Personalised feedback on a marked assignment
• Expert tuition for which the Field Studies Council is renowned
• Activities to work on independently in advance of each Zoom workshop

Once registered, you will follow well-illustrated, user-friendly ’books’ to pick up knowledge. Quizzes and skill-checks will give you instant feedback on your learning. Forums give students the chance to interact with each other as well as a place to share work.

Student Discount

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off all Biodiversity courses.

Accessing Your Course

• Once you sign up you’ll receive an email at least 24 hours in advance of the course opening with details of how to access our easy-to-use platform, Moodle.
• Moodle can be accessed through a browser or an app.
• Webinars are via Zoom so you won’t need any new software to attend

Recommended Devices

It is recommended that you access your course through a PC or laptop. Please be aware that there will be reduced functionality if you decide to access the course through a tablet or smartphone. The Field Studies Council is unable to email content directly to you.