Geography students completed field practice in the village of Sandyktau

Students of the 1st year of the educational program «6B05209 – Geography» of the Department of Physical and Economic Geography of the Faculty of Natural Sciences completed an internship at the children's insurance camp "Zhas Dauren" of Sandyktau district during the year from 05.20.24 to 05.26.24 – 150 students. 

The advantage of practical activity in the professional training of future geographers is the professionalization of personality in conditions of direct interaction with the natural and anthropogenic environment. The main task of field practice, as a rule, is to consolidate the theoretical knowledge gained and the formation of field research skills, namely, to consolidate the theoretical knowledge gained by students in classroom classes. The field stage includes the collection of factual material and its daily processing. During the practice, students applied the knowledge gained in the process of theoretical training: "introduction to geography", "study".

The main purpose of the practice is to develop students' skills in observing geographical phenomena and processes, mastering the methodology of field research, and studying natural territorial complexes. Assessment and presentation of environmental management measures, formation of skills for economic assessment of natural conditions, identification of their impact on the economic activity of the population and assessment of the possibilities of rational use of natural conditions and resources. In general, it is aimed at developing the geographical thinking of students. It should be noted that field experience, along with educational goals, provides great opportunities for educational work of students.

Students received assignments in small groups. In the course of soil science, since they studied all the components of the natural-territorial complex, they developed a soil profile (pit) to determine the compatibility of genetic horizons and the ability to characterize the mechanical composition.  

The internship program included geobotanical research. The task of each group was to find, collect and determine the maximum number of representatives of plant communities. Students had to collect some plant species in hard-to-reach places (meadows, hills, wetlands, etc.). Young specialists mastered the basics of describing various plant species found in the Sandyktau district, gained significant experience in the field of plant systematization.

Also, an important task of the practice was to master the skills of organizing a hiking trip in the field, techniques and tactics of movement through difficult terrain. Because in the school curriculum it is necessary to be able to form the skills needed in travel lessons.

For the same purpose, a hike was organized along the granite foundation "Sandyktau spring", "Lyudmila and Ruslan terraces", to the springs, to the highest point of the Sandyktau district - the Bezymayannaya hill. During the hike, he was engaged in laying a route using a GPS navigator, studying air temperature, wind direction and atmospheric pressure using a thermometer, anemometer and barometer to determine the relative altitude above sea level. During the field work, leveling measurements were carried out, and a terrain plan was drawn. Using a drill tool, the wood rods were extracted and the age was determined by measuring humidity, determining the humidity coefficient.

During the internship, students went to the beach, to the forest, and held sports events. Morning training sessions were held daily, at the end of the working day, the work done was evaluated and a work plan for the next day was drawn up.  

The guys express their gratitude to the L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University for the opportunity to practice in such a picturesque place - Sandyktau district. Every day was fruitful, fun, and memorable.

Special attention was paid to the desk period and summing up the practice results. The final material is presented in the form of processed diaries, illustrative materials (profiles, maps, drawings), written reports with an appendix, various collections and samples.  

After completing the internship (upon returning to the university), after analyzing and processing the field material, the students began writing the final report. The materials of field practice were transferred to the department, and in the future they will be used in writing theses, in practical classes and seminars on disciplines.

In general, the educational practice turned out to be very useful in acquiring professional skills, educational and health improvement.