EPN-V2

BLH3270 Play, movement, nature and outdoor education – Nordic Childhoods Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Play, movement, nature and outdoor education – Nordic Childhoods
Study programme
Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care - Web- and Campus-based
Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care
Play, movement, nature and outdoor education – Nordic Childhoods
Play, movement, nature and outdoor education – Nordic Childhoods
Weight
20.0 ECTS
Year of study
2020/2021
Curriculum
SPRING 2021
FALL 2020
Schedule
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

Exam content: The learning outcomes

Exam form:

1) A written thesis in groups of 3-6 students. For groups of 3-4 students, the scope of the thesis should be approx. 10,000 words (+/- 10 %) and approx. 12,000 words (+/- 10 %) for groups of 5-6 students. The thesis can be written in either English or Norwegian.

2) Individual oral exam of up to 30 minutes. Students can take the oral exam in either English or Norwegian.

The written thesis must be awarded a grade of A-E in order for the student to be permitted to take the oral exam. The written thesis is awarded a preliminary grade. The final grade is set after the oral exam. The whole grade scale can be used when the final grade is set.

Students can appeal the grade awarded for the written part of the exam.

Recommended preliminary courses

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

Learning outcomes

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

The student has developed knowledge about

Knowledge

  • outdoor activities and environmental ethics in different aspects of pedagogical work
  • physical literacy
  • motor development and learning
  • different approaches to outdoor didactics
  • sustainable development
  • food-literacy

Skills

The student has developed

  • basic skills in friluftsliv
  • practical skills in (working with different approaches to) outdoor didactics
  • skills in working with play and bodily movement in different environments

General competence

The student has developed

  • consciousness and reflections on education and child welfare - values and practices in in a Nordic and comparative perspective
  • competencies to analyze and communicate gender-related professional issues related to outdoor education
  • knowledge about cultural and comparative pedagogical approaches in different educational programs

Content

The topics of study are:

Play, movement, nature and outdoor education.

  • Outdoor education in different natural environments
  • Play and movement in nature and outdoor environments
  • Practical work with natural science, food literacy and physical education
  • Practical work in selected biotopes
  • Motor behavior, physical activity play and risk-taking
  • Role model and gender awareness in pedagogical work outdoors
  • The Nordic concept of -friluftsliv-

Childhood in a Nordic welfare system

  • Education, cultural formation and childhood.
  • Welfare state, cultural formation and childhood
  • Critical reflective work with play, movement and outdoor education
  • Physical literacy and motor development
  • Different cultural traditions and pedagogical approaches to outdoor activities

Field experience, reflective practice and didactic regarding play, movement, nature, food and outdoor education

  • Different approaches to outdoor didactics and sustainable development
  • Development work connected to institutional work
  • Comparative approaches on cultural and pedagogical traditions

Teaching and learning methods

Grade scale A-F.

Course requirements

The following coursework requirements must be met before the examination may be sat:

  • Carry out a one-day hike or overnight stay in the forest and an oral presentation of experiences from the hike.
  • Group work (4- 6 people): A written paper based on a subjects treated in the course in agreement with teacher. (1500- 1900 words)
  • Make a poster in groups (four to six participants) within a selected topic in agreement with teacher. The poster is then to be presented at a presentation day with the class. Each group have to give a presentation of the poster to the class (approximately 10 minutes).

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

Coursework requirements shall be met within fixed deadlines. Valid absence documented by such as a medical certificate is not an excuse from not meeting the coursework requirements. Students who, due to illness or other valid and documented reasons, do not meet the coursework requirements within the fixed deadlines, may be given a postponed deadline. A new deadline for meeting the coursework requirements is in each case agreed upon with the relevant teacher.

Coursework requirements are evaluated Passed/Not Passed. Students who meet the coursework requirements within the fixed deadline, but are evaluated as Not Passed, shall be given the possibility to meet the coursework requirements one more time. A new deadline for meeting the coursework requirements is in each case agreed upon with the relevant teacher.

Assessment

Final assessment:

Individual oral examination (approximately 30 minutes). Each student has to prepare an individually presentation from one of the contents points (maximum 12 minutes).

New/postponed exam

Postponed/new examinations shall take place within reasonable time after the ordinary examination. Regulations for sitting a postponed/new examination are to be found in -Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University. The student shall be responsible for the registration for a postponed/new examination

Permitted exam materials and equipment

None

Grading scale

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

Examiners

The assessment is evaluated by two internal examiners.

Admission requirements

Target group

Target groups are:

  • Students in the third year of the full time/seventh semester of the part time Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education at OsloMet University.
  • 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 at Oslo Metropolitan University.

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-. Students in their third or fourth year of the Primary School Teacher Education program at Oslo Metropolitan University may also apply.

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 two year of their undergraduate degree studies at their home institution in order to be accepted.