STEP6000 Stereotypes, Prejudice and Hate Speech in Intercultural Encounters Course description

The course description was approved by the Academic Affairs Committee 6 August 2019 at the Faculty of Education and International Studies, OsloMet. The course was established by the Dean 26 August 2019. Valid from spring semester 2020.

Introduction

The Faculty of Education and International Studies (LUI) at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University offers a one semester part-time course in Stereotypes, prejudice and hate speech in intercultural encounters (15 ECTS). The course is jointly developed by four universities: OsloMet, Tbilisi State University (TSU), Yerevan State University (YSU) and Khazar University (KHZ).

The course is designed for students at master level, working or planning to work in culturally diverse settings. The course presents various concepts related to intercultural interaction, and aims to develop and promote competence in intercultural communication. The course gives knowledge about how to recognize stereotypes, prejudice and hate speech in oneself and others, and shows connections between hate speech, prejudices and stereotypes in intercultural contexts, like for example academic settings and work settings. Particular attention will be given to contemporary contexts, like migration.

The course is based on blended learning methods (face-to-face and on-line learning activities) and academic mobility. One-week face-to-face session will be held in Oslo and one week in Tbilisi (Georgia). Students from all four universities will be gathered together in these face-to-face sessions. Both sessions are obligatory. Travel costs, accomodation and food will be covered by the project.

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

In-depth knowledge

• about concepts and perspectives in intercultural communication
• about migrating stereotypes, prejudice and hate speech across borders
• about effects and consequences of hate speech on individual and societal level

Skills

• ability to critically analyze and reflect upon challenges and opportunities related to intercultural communication
• ability to recognize stereotypes, prejudice, conspiracy theories and hate speech in oneself and others

General competence

• critically analyze different socio-cultural contexts of communication in culturally diverse environments

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 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 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.