BLH2300 Language, Text and Mathematics (in-depth) Course description

The supplementary subject Language, Text and Mathematics builds on the basic knowledge, skills and competence the students acquired in the second year of study in the knowledge area language, text and mathematics. The course is intended to give the students in-depth knowledge relating to the knowledge area language, text and mathematics and to develop their skills in relation to educational work on language, text and mathematics in early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres, as well as develop their identify as future leaders and professional practitioners. Children’s and adults’ texts in ECEC centres will be a recurring perspective throughout the course.

The course description for Language, Text and Mathematics is based on the National Curriculum Regulations for Kindergarten Teacher Education and the National Guidelines for Kindergarten Teacher Education, and is part of the full-time Bachelor’s Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care. The course is taught in the second year of the programme.

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After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has in-depth knowledge of children’s linguistic development and mathematical concept formation and exploration among all children in ECEC centres
• has nuanced knowledge about children’s encounters with writing, literary genres, storytelling and modern text and media cultures
• has nuanced and in-depth knowledge about various forms of documentation of children’s play, learning and development
• has in-depth knowledge about the use of documentation to highlight ECEC centres’ educational work
• has increased knowledge of supervision methods
• has in-depth knowledge of what affects inclusion processes in ECEC centres’ play and learning environment

Skills

The student

• can use, document and reflect critically on the form and content of educational situations in ECEC centres
• can have meaningful interactions with children about shape and space, e.g. through the use of books, drawings and/or maps
• can use their knowledge about children’s linguistic development to involve external partners
• can lead and supervise ECEC centre staff and parents in work on language, text and mathematics
• can use documentation relating to children’s play and reflect critically on this use
• masters group supervision, focusing on one-on-one supervision

General competence

The student

• can facilitate and use different forms of documentation in educational work on children’s linguistic, literary and mathematical development
• is familiar with how to communicate and discuss relevant issues in a professional context, both orally and in writing
• can contribute to good conversations and aesthetic experiences for all children
• can make ethical assessments relating to documentation of children and children’s play

Teaching is research-based, profession-oriented and practice-based. The course uses various work methods (including lectures, seminars, self-study, written and oral work, peer feedback, individual work and group work) and different learning arenas (university and ECEC centres) to link research and theory to the field of practice and to activate the student. Teaching will be based on dialogue, particularly through seminars, sharing of experience, group work and academic discussions.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• Individual written assignment: Op-ed article. Scope: around 1,000 words. Each student must also provide peer feedback to two other students in writing. Scope of each peer feedback: around 200-350 words.
• Coursework requirements relating to a children’s culture festival, consisting of the following elements:

1. Practical work in groups carried out in kindergarten. The practical work must be documented through a multimodal text aimed at parents. Scope: maximum three pages/ five minutes.
2. Written reports in groups after the children`s culture festival. Scope: around 1,000 words.
3. Presentations in groups of the work related to the children`s culture festival.Scope: around 15 minutes.

More detailed information about coursework requirements is available in the programme description for the full-time Bachelor’s Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care (180 credits).

Academic activities with compulsory participation

The students must have participated in the following academic activities before they can take the exam:

• Seminar on language mapping in the kindergarten
• Seminar on various guidance topics
• Interdisciplinary seminar in Norwegian and mathematics
• Seminar on mathematical patterns

An 80% attendance requirement applies to the teaching

The attendance requirement for all teaching activities is 80%.

More detailed information about the teaching and participation requirements is available in the programme description for the full-time Bachelor’s Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care (180 credits).

Suitability assessment

See the programme description for the full-time Bachelor’s Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care (180 credits) for further information.

The final assessment consists of an individual oral exam. Scope: approx. 25 minutes. The individual oral exam will comprise a 10-minute individual lecture followed by 15 minutes of examination.

Resit/rescheduled exams

Resits/rescheduled exams are organised in the same way as ordinary exams.

The students’ rights and obligations in connection with resit and rescheduled exams are set out in the Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet. It is the students’ responsibility to register for the exams.

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Grade scale: A-F

The exam will be assessed by two internal examiners. External programme supervisors are appointed to evaluate the coherence of the programme as a whole and the exams in each individual course.