BLH3280 Childhood in a Nordic Perspective, Unit 2 Emneplan

The Nordic countries have a long tradition for outdoor education. The academic course in Childhood in a Nordic Perspective, have focus on play - movement, and experimental work related to a variety of environments in educational contexts. The course will treat the topics both theoretically and practically. Central in the course is self-experiences from acting, moving and living in nature. Field trips and hiking tours are embedded.

The course content is based on the two disciplines Natural science and Physical education. With kindergartens and schools as the target area, the course seeks to give insight in and competency in out-door education, play and movement and how to organize didactic courses and activities for children. Furthermore, the students will have to compare the achieved knowledge to the pedagogical traditions in own country. The focus for the pedagogical project is problem based regarding play, movement, nature and/or outdoor education. Duration: One semester.

Target Groups

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 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.

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 and Akershus University College.

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 OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) 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.

The learning takes place in cooperation with others. It therefore presupposes that the student, in general, is present and familiar with the content of the teaching. The course is highly process-oriented and based on the students' own activity. The course places emphasis on the practical aspects of the field by allowing the student to tell stories and lay the foundations for storytelling situations.

All coursework requirements and compulsory attendance must be met and assessed to be approved before the students can prepare for the exam.

Coursework requirements

- Planning, implementation and presentation of 10 hours oral storytelling practice, carried out individually

- eight informal oral storytelling sessions in the local area and one brief log presented through a digital medium.

- three oral storytelling storytelling performances in a public context

- prepare a written note discussing their own experience, as well as observation of storytellers against theory

The coursework requirements are considered approved / not approved. Not approved cousework requirements can be improved and prepared for reconsideration.

Compulsory attendance in teaching:

Students can have no more than 20% absence in teaching and supervision situations where there is a requirement for attendance. including:

five storytelling performances with professional storytellers

skills training in oral storytelling

Oral storytelling performances with group work

See the syllabus for more information on compulsory teaching and supervision.

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.
• 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

The exam in the course is twofold:

1. An oral presentation

The oral presentation has a duration of 15 minutes and will discuss a topic within the subject that the candidate finds relevant. In the oral presentation, the student will discuss his / her experience from the study against theory.

The assessment counts 20 percent of the final grade.

2. Individual assessment of the student in a oral storytelling performance with pertaining oral exams. Three-weeks of preparation time is given. The artistic expression lasts for 20 minutes. The oral exam lasts for 10 minutes. The exam is defined as an oral/practical exam, and cannot therefore be appealed. The assessment of the artistic solo expression with oral exam counts for 80 per cent of the final grade.

Both parts of the exam must be awarded a grade E or better in order for the student to be awarded a final grade. The two parts of the exam in the final exam result in one final grade. This will be stated on the transcript of grades/diploma.

Students who due to valid absence do not take one or several exam parts that make up the ordinary exam, or who are awarded an F in one or more of the exam parts that make up the exam, can register for a resit/rescheduled exam. If the student is taking a rescheduled exam in part 1, the in-depth assignment is written as in the ordinary exam.

If the student is taking a resit exam, the in-depth assignment graded F in the ordinary exam must be significantly reworked/improved - e.g. based on the explanation of grades. If the student is taking a resit/rescheduled exam in part 2, it must be taken pursuant to agreement with the faculty administration. Four weeks’ preparation time is given. The students are responsible for contacting the administration themselves.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied With.

Grade scale A-F.

Exam part 1) Assessed by two internal examiners. External examiners are used regularly. Exam part 2) Assessed by one internal and one external examiner

Passed DT1000 Drama and Theatrecommunication or equivalent and DT2000 Dramaturgy or equivalent for students in bachelorprogramme.

Recommended studies before admission: Passed 90 ECTS in relevant studies.