BLH3250 Fairytales and creativity - Nordic Childhoods Course description

Fairytales and Creativity is one of the courses under Nordic Childhoods. It focuses on Nordic culture where nature plays an important role in society, aesthetics and in work with children. Joint events with the other Nordic Childhoods courses, are integrated as overnight trips and outdoor excursions. We also visit schools, kindergartens and other institutions. We focus on play, learning by doing, experience and workshops.

In the Fairytales and Creativity course we ask: Why do stories appeal to modern man? In what way can stories contribute to increasing knowledge about today's cultural expressions, and about ourselves? How can we use stories in contexts relevant to different pedagogical approaches? The objective of the course is to introduce students to the storytelling tradition of western culture and the main theories of myths and basic mythology. Important elements in the course are: the difference between myths, fairytales and legends; structural theories, psychological theories, eclectic theories; myths and religion.

The language of all teaching and supervision is English, and the students should therefore have a working knowledge of both spoken and written English.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge,in terms of skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

· has developed knowledge of myths, fairytales and legends

· has achieved an understanding of the content of the narratives, both the structure and motives and the psychological ramifications

· has acquired insight into the role of oral society for the emergence of fairy tales

Skills

The student is able to

· understand how narrative patterns can be used in aesthetic productions

· work creatively with music, art, drama etc.

· create different story based performances

General competence

The student

· has developed an awareness of cultural heritage

· is able to write an individual paper on a chosen topic within the main subject of the course

· is able to use myths, fairy tales and legends in a didactic context

· can reflect on and produce authentic texts and media products aimed at authentic target groups

· can reflect on and contribute to entrepreneurship related to the course contents

• Literature studies/theory
• Lectures and supervision
• Excursions
• Workshops
• Seminars/discussions
• Cultural exchanges and real life encounters
• Reflective journal
• Individual and group papers/performances

Four of the following individual coursework requirements must be approved. The purpose of these coursework requirements is to gain experience of storytelling, to practise creating enthusiasm for theory, to gain international experience beyond the ordinary lectures and workshops, to acquire practical skills in connection with a vocation, and to get first-hand experiences of the local context of the course.

1 Favourite story presentation (2-5 minutes)

2 Theory presentation (5-10 minutes)

3 Participation in International Week (week 43) 3-4 days workshops

4 Practical work in connection with arts and craft classes, 5 days of workshops

5 Participation in excursions (stipulated appr. 10 days, only 1 day`s absence is acceptable)

Four of the following group coursework requirements must be approved:

1 Production of a drama (5 days of workshop)

2 Production of radio theatre (5 days of workshop)

3 Production of stop-motion animation (5 days of workshop)

4 Blog production (a diary that will require at least five minutes from every student every week)

5 Practical work in connection with International Week (2-6 hours of preparation)

Students who know about absence must notify the teacher. In special cases compensatory assignments can be used.

The final assessment consists of an individual paper on a chosen topic (4000-4500 words). If the student makes a practical product, the written part only needs to be 2000 words). The individual paper should

• have an individually chosen topic
• be an in-depth study of the individually chosen topic
• focus on the central parts of the course and make meaningful use of at least 3 texts from the syllabus.

The paper can

• be a purely theoretical study/analysis
• include practical studies
• test out educational ideas linked to the subject
• be a performance etc., including theoretical reflections on the choices made
• focus on the central parts of the course and make meaningful use of at least 3 texts from the syllabus

The topic must be approved by the course leader(s).

New or postponed examinations

If a student fail the exam or in case absence at the time of the exam for a valid reason, the student is entitled to resit the exam make the following semester. The re-examination will be organised in the same manner as the ordinary exam. Students who fail the exam, may submit an improved paper for the resit exam. The regulations for resit and rescheduled exam are available in the Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet. Students must register for a resit or rescheduled examination.

All aids are permitted. However, sources must be stated in accordance with the applicable rules on source references.

Grading scale, A-F.

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.

Final assessment is graded and by one internal and one external examiners.