PHUV9470 Inclusion and Diversity Course description

This PhD course addresses some fundamental contemporary questions within the inclusion and diversity debate and relates these to some main controversies in the field of education. 

More specifically, the course focus on theories, methods, and ethical considerations regarding cultural diversity, social class, gender, language, religion, and disabilities. The aim is to provide the participants with a profound understanding of inclusion and diversity based on international research and the Nordic education traditions. In addition, the aim is to develop participants' understanding of how intercultural issues and participation pertaining to inclusive education in light of the special education tradition.

The course goal is to develop participants' knowledge and understanding of posing fundamental questions on diversity and inclusion and to examine issues at stake in this field of research.

Teaching language: English (Norwegian, dependent on the language of the participants).

Approved by LUI's educational committee 23.02.2023.

This course is focusing on the development of basic programming techniques, analytical thinking, comprehension of code and problem-solving skills achieved through a programming-based approach. It also focuses on developing programming skills relevant for personal and professional use. It provides theoretical and practical exposure to different programming technologies and programming concepts such as object-oriented programming.

Spanish 2 is a Blended Learning course with digital learning combined with three periods of campus training at OsloMet and two at the University of Valencia (Spain). The first semester is structured in an initial face-to-face week in Spain, and online training, with regular online classes, and an intermediate face-to-face period (1-3 days) in Oslo. The second semester starts with a 1-3 days face-to-face training in Oslo, followed by online training, one week face-to face training in Valencia, and a final 1‒3 days’ face-to-face training in Oslo.

The course takes on a communicative approach, giving priority to the acquisition of skills in the teaching of Spanish as a Second Language, and will employ a mixed methodology (classroom and online) through the creation of a virtual space in a networked platform. In this way, tasks and assessments will be carried out from different methodological approaches that students can subsequently apply in their daily teaching.

Organised tuition is given in the form of lectures and seminars. Candidates are expected to actively participate in all the teaching activities, and to present and discuss their own research project in the light of the syllabus.

Participants must formulate a research question on the theme "Inclusion and diversity", including a brief draft of 250 words, for their individual essay no later than 10 days after the completion of the course. The research question and draft must be approved by the course instructors. The participants will receive feedback on the draft from a course instructor a week after the initial submission of their draft and need to be taken into consideration in the submission of their final paper (see ‘Assessment’ for details).

80 % attendance of the time of the course is required. If a participant has attended at least 60 % of the course but less than 80 %, he/she must submit an extra paper of at least 2,000 words plus a reference list on a given topic.

After completing this course the student should have the following learning outcome:

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course the student has:

• basic understanding of the operation and capabilities of computers
• ability to use algorithmic problem-solving
• knowledge of the methods used to debug programs
• basic knowledge of automating processes using computers
• understanding of writing basic programs using modern programming languages

Skills

On successful completion of this course the student is:

• able to format and write basic code
• able to identify and remediate bugs
• able to apply problem solving principles to the development computer programs
• able to solve and design solutions to (simple) programming problems
• proficient at efficiently translate solutions into computer programs

General Competence On successful completion of this course the student is:

• proficient in planning and implementing a project plan for software development
• able to explain problem-solving principles
• able to recognise the place programming has within a professional domain

The target group for the programme is in-service teachers teaching at years 8‒10 in Norwegian schools, and also teachers who wish to qualify for teaching at the lower secondary level.

None.

Examination system:

1. An oral group-presentation of a project and a code repository. Each group may consist of 2-3 students. The presentation and code repository counts for 50% of the final grade.
2. An individual portfolio consisting of a 4,000 to 8,000 words report and a code repository. This project counts for 50% of the final grade.

Each partial exam must be assed to E or better for the course as a whole to be given a passing grade.

The oral presentation cannot be appealed.

Admission

The admission requirement is a five-year master’s degree (three years + two years) or equivalent qualifications in teacher education, other pedagogical education, educational science, development studies, or other education on equivalent level in subjects relevant for teacher education.

In case of a large number of applicants, PhD-students enrolled in the PhD programme in Educational Sciences for Teacher Education and PhD-students at Centre for Welfare and Labour Research (SVA) will be prioritized, then students at collaborating universities and in other PhD programmes, then academic employees at the Faculty of Teacher Education and International Studies.

Applicants that are not enrolled on the PhD-programme at the Faculty of Education and International Studies at OsloMet must send a summary in English of maximum 500 words with relevant information about their own project/area of interest, containing topic, methodology, theoretical approach, and why this course might be relevant for their project.

Target group

The target group is PhD-candidates at OsloMet, as well as PhD-candidates associated with the Center for Welfare and Labour Research (SVA) and candidates from collaborating universities and university colleges. In addition, non-PhD-candidates can be admitted if there are available study places.