BVV3010 Creative methods and activities in child welfare and social work Course description

Creative methods in child welfare and social work is an international course for students taking the Bachelor Programme in Child Care and Welfare, the Bachelor's Programme in Social Work and students from OsloMet’s international partner institutions. All teaching and skills training, and the pertaining project report, will be in English if students from abroad are participating.

Knowledge and experience related to creative and aesthetic work methods will be in focus, and the course also covers knowledge of human rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In small groups, the students will plan and carry out a project in the field of practice based on activities and creative, aesthetic methods.

Language of instruction is English.

The student must have completed and passed the second year of the Bachelor Programme in Child Care and Welfare Work or the Bachelor's Programme in Social Work.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of how and why creative and aesthetic methods can be used in child welfare and social therapy work
• has knowledge of how activities and aesthetic forms of expression can be linked to human rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• has knowledge of child welfare and social work in a multicultural perspective
• has knowledge of how aesthetic learning processes/methods can challenge people to reflect on their own attitudes, allow self-development and expand professional understanding
• has knowledge of how to help children and young people to understand their experiences and feelings and put them into words through aesthetic and symbolic expression

Skills

The student

• can employ activities that promote play, learning, inclusion, mastery and participation
• can apply knowledge and professional judgement in multicultural settings for children and young people
• has an understanding of how creative and aesthetic methods can shift boundaries and make room for self-reflection and alternative ways of thinking and acting
• can cooperate and work on tasks in international (multicultural) and interprofessional contexts

General competence

The student

• has knowledge of their own creativity and how to develop creative solutions in professional interaction with children and young people in child welfare and social work
• has knowledge of how to develop and apply creative solutions and use aesthetic methods in professional interaction with children and young people in arenas for child welfare and social work
• has knowledge of the importance of being able to communicate in English in a multicultural and interdisciplinary knowledge area
• has knowledge of the importance of cooperating with other professional groups

The teaching takes place with in-person attendance on campus. The course is taught through lectures, self-study, group work and other teaching methods as needed. The students will plan and carry out a project in small groups, where creative and aesthetic methods are used in work with children and young people. A large degree of student activity is required throughout the course. The course will be taught in English if students from abroad are enrolled.

No coursework requirements or compulsory activities.

The exam in the course consists of two parts: a project report in groups of 3-5 students and a joint oral presentation. The exam parts are weighted 50/50.

1) The project report must have a scope of 10 pages. Font and font size: Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1,5. The approved citation style APA for assignments must be complied with. Students are required to contribute equally. The report must be submitted before the oral presentation.

2) The oral presentation is prepared through a process-oriented workshop and is presented with the entire class. Active participation is required from all students in the preparation and completion of the presentation in order to pass this part of the exam.

The students will receive feedback and grade on both their project report and on the oral presentation after the oral presentation. Both exam parts must be passed in order to pass the course.

Groups awarded a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the project report for assessment. A student with valid absence from the oral presentation may attend a postponed individual oral presentation.

If there are students from abroad participating in the course, the oral presentation will be conducted in English. Project groups with students from abroad will write their project report in English.

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

Pass/fail.

All the project reports and the oral presentations are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

Svein Fuglestad