BLH3220 Culture and Identity - Nordic Childhoods Course description

Multi-cultural Identity in a Global World is an English language international course at the Faculty of Education and International Studies, at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), implemented from the spring of 2005. The course is focusing on the concepts of "Culture" and "Identity", in the context of present-day globalization. 

We live in a time of rapid changes, where information travels around the globe within seconds, and where we as ordinary people are influenced by impulses from all over the world. Children and young people from different cultures are influenced by the same rock-stars, whether they live in Nairobi, Tokyo, New York, Buenos Aires or Berlin.  We see some of the same channels on TV, we use the same internet, we eat the same fast-food, and we travel from one continent to another more than ever. We live in a global world. We have become internationally conscious to a degree that was unthinkable in previous generations. This globalization affects everybody, also children in kindergartens and schools. Many children are also brought up in a country different from their parents- home-country. We will, in this course, attempt to probe into the complex matter of Culture and Identity, with special reference to Childhood. 

Target group

Target group is

• Students in the third year of the (full time) Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education at OsloMet.
• International exchange students at Faculty of Education and International Studies from preschool and primary school teacher education institutions. Students from other academic areas may also be accepted. 

Students must be prepared to participate in various outdoor activities.

The course is designed to offer a full-time study-program in English for students of Early Childhood and Primary School Teacher Education. The period of study will be for 4 months. The language of all teaching and supervision is English, and the students should therefore have a working knowledge of both spoken and written English. The course may be taken as an elective in-depth study program by students in their final year of the Early Childhood Bachelor Education program and students in their third or fourth year of the General Teacher Education Program, at OsloMet. 

No prerequisites

After completion of the course, the student will have acquired the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills and general competence

Knowledge

The student

• has awareness and knowledge of what factors constitute a person's identity
• has knowledge of the concept of "Culture", and an awareness of the culture of the individual student in particular
• has knowledge about childhood and identity construction 

Skills

The student

• has skills in observation and analysis of a new educational and cultural setting
• has skills in communicating across cultural and linguistic borders
• has ability to facilitate inclusive practices in groups characterized by diversity
• has ability to observe and compare different educational settings 

General competence

The student

• is able to reflect upon experiences of languages and cultures of other international students
• has an awareness of the implications of living in a globalized world
• is able to develop an awareness of challenges and possibilities within multicultural perspectives in education
• is able to reflect upon experiences of the multiple cultural settings in kindergartens / schools in Oslo

Contents

The course is concerned with the topics of Culture and Identity with special reference to Childhood and Education, and will address some basic questions:

• What is Cultural Identity?
• How to live in a changing Globalized World?
• How to develop Multi-cultural Competence? 

These fundamental questions will be treated through the following topics:

• Cultural Identity and Cultural Awareness
• Childhood and Identity Construction
• Intercultural Communication, theory and practical experience
• Culture and World-view
• Culture and Religion
• Culture and Ethics
• Human Rights and Childhood
• Cultural Identity and Racism
• Traditions, Festivals, and Rituals
• Processes of Globalization
• Global Consciousness
• Cross-cultural Competence
• Social Commitment in a Globalized World

Multicultural Identity in a Global World is a full-time study-program, where the topics will be treated through lectures, seminars, student-presentations and discussions. In addition to the period of regular hours of teaching, there will be a period of fieldwork, report-writing, and presentations. There will also be a variety of excursions to museums, cultural and other institutions relevant to the course. 

The students are expected to share aspects of culture and language from their own countries as a basis for their own presentation and the discussions in the class. 

The course will give opportunities to interact with Norwegian students, who will be able to assist in practical matters and give some guidance for exploring the Oslo region. 

Fieldwork in schools and kindergartens is an integrated part of the course. The students spend 4 weeks of fieldwork, where they observe and analyse different educational and cultural aspects of the classes or children's groups they attend.

Vedlegg: Presisering av studieforløpet for interne studenter

Emnet er åpent for interne studenter fra barnehagelærerutdanningen (heltidsstudenter samt deltidsstudenter som har tatt fordypning på heltid og kan starte på MCI i januar) i sjette semester. Studentene følger den godkjente fagplanen for MCI på 30 studiepoeng. (Engelsk betegnelse: Study Plan for Multi-cultural Identity in a Global World (30 ECTS).

Følgende presiseringer gjelder for de interne studenter:

• Interne studenter må gjennomføre fire uker veiledet lederpraksis i løpet av MCI-emnet.  To av disse ukene gjennomføres før studiestart i januar.
• Interne studenter fritas for andre periode med feltarbeid i MCI-emnet for å kunne starte sitt arbeid med den avsluttende oppgaven (kalt "Fieldwork paper"). Denne vil telle som deres bacheloroppgave. Oppgaven skrives på engelsk med tematikk tilknyttet MCI-emnet.
• Interne studenter skal, så langt det er mulig, få tildelt bachelorveileder blant lærerteamet på MCI.

For øvrig følger de interne studentene det samme studieprogrammet og arbeidskrav som de eksterne studentene, inklusiv den avsluttende muntlige eksamen som sammen med den skriftlige oppgaven utgjør karakteren for MCI-kurset.

• Active participation in classes and discussions (minimum 80% attendance)
• Individual presentation of one's own culture with reference to educational challenges     
• One paper on a subject treated in the course, of approx. 2000 words 

Course requirements shall be met within fixed deadlines. Course requirements are evaluated Passed/Not Passed.

The right to take the examination depends on the successful fulfilment of course requirements. Obligatory course assignments which are not completed by the agreed closing date will not be accepted, and the students lose their right to take the examination. Students are responsible themselves for keeping informed about relevant deadlines. In cases of illness or other inconveniences, students must make an appointment with their tutors for an extension, within the time limit of the course requirement. Requirements which have been handed in at the right time but which have not been accepted, will be given a new deadline.

In cases where course requirements are on time but are not accepted, students are entitled to maximum two new attempts. Students who have lost their right to take the examination because of unaccepted course requirements, must get in touch with their tutors to make another appointment about completing the requirement the following term/study year.

The final assessment consists of the following units:

• Fieldwork paper, of 6000-7000 words, based on an expanded period of fieldwork, followed by a 20 min. presentation in class (50% of the final grade)
• Oral examination based on fieldwork report and course syllabus (50% of the final grade)

The grades in the two units are equally weighted and used in the calculation of the aggregate grade for this course. The final certificate of 30 ECTS will be awarded upon the completion of the above-mentioned requirements and examinations. 

Suitability assessment

(Applicable to Norwegian students only)

The teacher training institution is obliged to assess whether the students are suitable for the profession. Students who show poor aptitude in mastering the teaching profession, must as early as possible during the study, be informed about their position in relation to the requirements of teacher suitability, and, if applicable, obtain advice and guidance on how to improve, or be advised to terminate their study. Assessments on suitability may be made throughout the study period. The assessment of suitability must be based on a comprehensive evaluation which includes academic as well as pedagogic and personal qualities necessary to be able to function as a teacher.

See also regulations concerning assessment of suitability for teacher training.

All

Grading will be according to the ECTS-grading scale, with A-E as pass grades and F as fail grade. Criteria for the different grades will be presented to the students at the beginning of the course. 

Re-examination

In case of failing the exam or in case of valid absence at the time of the exam, the student is entitledto make a renewed attempt the next semester. The re-examination will be arranged in the same manner as the regular exam. The students are themselves responsible for registering for the re-examination within given deadlines.

Final assessment will be reviewed and approved by internal and external examiners.