BLH3260 Myths, Fairy Tales and Legends Course description

Why do stories appeal to modern man? In what way can stories contribute to increased knowledge about today-s cultural expressions, and about ourselves? The objective of the course is to introduce students to the story traditions 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, eclectically theories; myths and religion. 

Target group

Target groups are

• Students in the third year of the full time/seventh year of the part time Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education at Oslo and Akershus University College.
• 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.

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 - Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet). 

Admission

For students at Department of Early Childhood Education:

• Admission to Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education. Special requirements applies, please see "Programplan for bachelorstudium i barnehagelærerutdanning, heltid"/"Programplan for bachelorstudium i barnehagelærerutdanning, deltid".

For international exchange students:

• Admission as an international student at Faculty of Education and International Studies. Students from other academic areas may also be accepted. Students must have completed at least one year of their undergraduate degree studies at their home institution in order to be accepted. 

No prerequisites

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

Knowledge

The student

• have developed knowledge about myths, fairytales and legends
• have achieved an understanding of the content of the narratives, both the structure and motives and the psychological ramifications
• have acquired insight into the role of oral society for the emergence of fairy tales 

Skills

The student are able to

• understand how narrative patterns can be used in aesthetic Productions
• work creatively with music, art, drama etc.
• create different story based performances
• reflect on the use of different genres, for instance multimodal texts when communicating with students, children and others 

General competence

The student

• have developed consciousness about cultural Heritage
• are able to write an individual paper on a chosen subject within the main subject of the course
• are able to use myths, fairy tales and legends in a didactic context

have a deeper understanding of the importance of receiver orientation in written

The course is organized as a full time study for one semester. The students are expected to work approximately 40 hours per week.

The course have to following content:

Theory

• The differences between myths, fairy tales and legends
• Structural theories, psychological theories, eclectic theories
• Myths and religions
• Psychology of importance and meaning in fairy tales 

Traditional stories as cultural expressions

• The student-s own cultural identity and stories
• Hero tales and contemporary mass media narratives
• Cultural exchanges
• Excursions; museums, schools, kindergartens 

Stories as background for various artistic expressions

• Puppet making and performing
• Storytelling
• Stop motion and animation
• Dramatization
• Stories and music
• Digital mediation of myths, fairy tales and legends 

Stories in a didactic perspective

• The uses of fairy tales in education and therapy
• Didactic reflections on the use of myths and fairy tales
• Practical work with traditional narratives
• Excursions; schools, kindergartens 

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

Practical Training

(Applicable to Norwegian students only)

Five mandatory days supervised practical training in kindergarten. 

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.

Not.

Final assessment is accomplished in the fall semester. Final assessment is based on two units. The completion of the two units will result in one final overall grade. The final grade for the course will be calculated as the sum of the grades for the first unit and the second unit worth respectively 60% and 40%. 

Unit 1, 20 ECTS (BLH3250)

The first assessment consists of an individual paper on a chosen subject (4000-4500 words). The individual paper should

• have an individually chosen theme
• be a deeper study of this individually chosen subject 

The paper can

• be a purely theoretic study/analysis
• include practice studies
• be a tryout of educational ideas connected to the subject
• be a performance etc., including theoretic reflections about the choices made 

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

Unit 2, 10 ECTS (BLH3260)

The second assessment consists of an individual paper or multimodal text on a chosen subject (2000-4500 words).

The individual paper should

• have an individually chosen theme
• be a deeper study of this individually chosen subject
• focus on the group it is written for
• include a meta text about genre, medium and target group 

The paper can

• be a purely theoretic study/analysis
• include practice studies
• be a tryout of educational ideas connected to the subject
• be a performance etc., including theoretic reflections about the choices made 

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

New or postponed examinations

In case of failing the exam or in case of valid absence at the time of the exam, the student is entitled to make a renewed attempt the next semester. The re-examination will be arranged in the same manner as the regular exam, but the group exam will be individual. 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.

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. 

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.

The first assessment will be reviewed and approved by internal and external examiners. 

The second assessment will be reviewed and approved by internal examiners.