EPN-V2

BLH3330 Fairytales and creativity - Nordic Childhoods Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Fairytales and creativity - Nordic Childhoods
Study programme
Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care
Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care - Web- and Campus-based
Bachelor Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care
Fairytales and creativity - Nordic Childhoods
Weight
30.0 ECTS
Year of study
2024/2025
Curriculum
FALL 2024
Schedule
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

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.

Recommended preliminary courses

7 credits overlap with the course BIO2200 Medical Microbiology and Immunological Diagnostics

Learning outcomes

In order to be permitted to take the exam, the following must have been approved:

  • a minimum of 90 per cent attendance in laboratory work
  • a minimum of 80 per cent attendance in scheduled group work
  • laboratory reports in accordance with specified criteria

Content

The course is organised as a full-time programme of study for one semester. The students are expected to work approximately 40 hours per week. The course has the 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, and traditional stories as cultural expressions

· The student's own academic background, cultural identity and stories

· Hero tales and contemporary mass media narratives

Applications

Cultural exchanges

Excursions; museums, schools, kindergartens

Stories as background for various artistic expressions

· Puppet making and performing

· Storytelling

· Stop-motion animation

· Dramatizing

· Stories and music

· Digital mediation of myths, fairy tales and legends

Didactic perspectives

· The uses of fairy tales in education and therapy

· Didactic reflections on the use of myths and fairy tales

· Practical work with traditional narratives

· Visits to schools and kindergartens

· Literature studies/theory

· Lectures and supervision

· Excursions, workshops, seminars

· Cultural exchanges/discussions

· Individual and group papers/performances

Teaching and learning methods

Combined assessment:

Part 1) Individual practical exam, 3 hours.

Part 2) Supervised individual written exam, 2 hours.

One overall grade is awarded based on the following weighting of the parts of the exam: Part 1, practical exam, 70 per cent; part 2, written exam, 30 per cent. Students must be awarded a pass grade A-E for both parts of the exam in order for a student to pass the course.

Resit exam: If the student is awarded an F in one part of the exam, this part of the exam must be retaken.

Students can appeal the grade awarded for part 2 of the exam.

Course requirements

No aids are permitted.

Assessment

A-F.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

All examination support materials are allowed. However, Sources must be stated in accordance with applicable rules for source references.

Grading scale

Grade scale, A-F

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

Examiners

The course consists of the following subject areas, specified below as the number of credits:

  • Microbiology, 7 credits
  • Infection immunology, 3 credits

Admission requirements

The course is designed to offer a full-time programme in English for students of Early Childhood and Primary School Teacher Education, but is also relevant for students of other professions, including museum education officers, hospital workers and social workers. The period of study is three months. The students may decide to prolong their stay from three to four months after arrival.

Admission

Applicants are admitted as international students at the Faculty of Education and International Studies. Studentsfrom 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.