BLH3220 Culture and Identity - Nordic Childhoods Course description

The course is based on a blended learning approach: there will be a combination of face-to-face and on-line learning activities. It includes lectures, discussions, multimodal presentations, and group work. The students are also expected to do a considerable amount of self-study. The face-to-face learning activities will be organized as two sessions, one of these sessions will take place in Tbilisi (Georgia) and one in Oslo.

The curriculum, lectures, and all written and oral activities will be in English.

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 students’ active contribution with experiences and reflections are essential learning resources in the course. Therefore, a minimum of 80 % attendance in all learning activities is required before examination. Attendance at both face-to-face sessions (in Tbilisi and Oslo) is mandatory.

During the course, the students must submit obligatory course assignments within the deadlines given by the teachers. The following requirements must be approved before examination:

• An individual multimodal presentation of the important features of the student’s culture and identity (approx. 5 minutes). The purpose of this work requirement is to stimulate awareness and reflection about students’ own cultural background, and to stimulate discussion and reflection in the student group.
• Submission of one individual term paper draft for feedback within given deadlines. The purpose of this work requirement is to stimulate and structure the student’s own work on the term paper and promote self-awareness and reflection on the course topics. Individual feedback from academic supervisors and peer students on the term paper drafts will aid this process. The students are supposed to work further on their drafts, revise and finalize their term paper to submit for the final assessment in the course. The paper draft should be 2000 words (+/-10 %).
• Peer-feedback: Each student will comment one co-student’s paper draft, in writing (approx. 500 words). The purpose of this work requirement is to stimulate critical thinking and reflection about one’s own and other students’ writing.
• On-line discussions: Students must participate in web-based discussions, which constitute an important part of the course. Topics for web-based discussions are given by teachers. For each discussion, each student should write at least one contribution (approx. 100-150 words) and at least three comments to co-students’ contributions (more than ten words). The purpose of this work requirement is to apply one’s own experience and knowledge

Students who are prevented from meeting the work requirements within the fixed deadlines due to illness or other valid and documented reasons, may be given a new deadline. A new deadline is in each case given by the course teacher. Course work requirements are evaluated Accepted/Not accepted. Students who submit their work requirements within the set deadline but are not accepted, are entitled to a maximum of two new attempts to fulfil the course requirements. A new deadline for meeting the work requirements is in each individual case given by the teacher.

The course is concerned with the topics of culture and identity with special reference to childhood and education, and will address some basic topics:

· Childhood and identity

o Multilingualism and communication

o Special needs

o Gender

o Sociology of childhood

o Play

· Cultural and religious diversity

o Concept of culture

o Religion and worldviews

o Critical multiculturalism

· Human rights / Children as citizens

o Children’s rights

o Human rights

o Democracy and young children

· Discrimination / racism

o Politics of assimilation

o Racism and racialisation

o Power / knowledge

o Post-colonial perspectives

· The Sami - indigenous people of Norway

o Indigenous rights

o Sami kindergartens

o Sami music and diversity in education

The candidate will write an individual term paper based on the individual term paper draft and the comments by staff and peer-feedback by a co-student. The paper should be of 4000 words (+/- 10 %), plus reference list. The paper must be written in English.

New or postponed examination

Students who fail the exam, may submit an improved term paper for the new exam (maximum two times).

Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet. Students must register for a new or postponed examination.

Examination support material is permitted.

Grading scale will be according to the ECTS grading scale, with A-E as pass grades and F as fail grade.

Criterias for grading

A, Outstanding: An outstanding performance. The assignment paper/performancedocuments outstanding subject knowledge and an outstandingdegree of independence and ability in relating subject knowledgeto the educational goals of the course.

B, Very good: A very good performance, well above the average. The assignmentpaper/performance documents very good subject knowledge anda high degree of independence and ability in relating subjectknowledge to the educational goals of the course.

C, Good: An average performance. The assignment paper/performancedocuments a fair level of subject knowledge and some degreeindependence and ability in relating subject knowledge to theeducational goals of the course.

D, Fairly good: A performance below average. The assignment paper/performancedocuments a level of subject knowledge with some deficiency, andshows a lesser degree of independence and ability in relatingsubject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

E, Adequate: A performance satisfying the minimum requirements. Theassignment paper/performance documents low degree of subjectknowledge, and shows a low level of independence and ability inrelating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

F, Not approved: The assignment paper/performance does not satisfy minimumrequirements.

The paper will be graded by one internal and one external examiner.

Target Group

People working, or planning to work, in and with culturally diverse settings. Good command of English and knowledge of academic writing is a prerequisite for participation in the course.

Admission Requirement

Bachelor degree (180 ETCS). Candidates with a bachelor degree from the four partner institutions will be prioritized in the recruitment process.

The course comprises two main areas:

1. Conceptualizing and promoting competence in intercultural interaction

• Culture, subculture, identity, ethnicity
• Intercultural communication, intercultural competence, language and culture

1. Prejudices and hate speech

• Definitions of hate speech, extreme ideologies and conspiracy theories
• Hate speech on-line and off-line
• Stereotypes and prejudices (homophobia, misogyny, racism, islamophobia and antisemitism)
• Migration and its challenges related to prejudices and hate speech

The target group is

• Students in the third year of the (full-time) Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education at OsloMet.
• International exchange students at the 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 programme in English for students of Early Childhood and Primary School Teacher Education. The period of study will be four 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 programme by students in their final year of the Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education and students in their third or fourth year of the General Teacher Education Programme, at OsloMet.

Admission

For international students:

- students must have completed at least one year of their undergraduate degree studies at their home institution.