PHUV9480 Contemporary Research in Nordic Early Childhood Education and Care Course description

This course will describe historical, political and pedagogical ideas in the Nordic welfare model for kindergarten and explore their ramifications within the broader international debates of early childhood education and care (ECEC). The course will provide a theoretical overview and analytical competence and contribute to academic concentration and depth through its focus on research methodology. In this way, the course will strengthen the candidate’s knowledge base for working on his or her thesis and provide sufficient breadth for future research in ECEC.

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

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

Knowledge

The student

• is in the forefront of knowledge about the body of Norwegian and Nordic ECEC research
• has methodological insights into research in early childhood education and can evaluate how different epistemological and methodological positions influence that research
• has state-of the art knowledge of tendencies and critical topics in Nordic and international research in the field

Skills

The student

• can identify problems and challenges in the field and formulate research questions
• can analyse different empirical and theoretical approaches to research in ECEC and the relations between them
• can provide academic texts and presentations demonstrating epistemological and methodological insights

General competence

The student

• can document the ability to identify new research areas in early childhood education
• can position his or her project within the field of ECEC research

See programme description.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student should master these learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student

• knows the main analytical approaches and key themes and terms in the study of media and development on a global scale.
• knows different perspectives on how media is connected to social change and development.

Skills

The student

• can reflect critically on various types of perspectives on the relationship between media and development.
• is able to build transferable analytical skills of media and development across the global South.

General competence

The student

• knows how to link media and development to cross-cultural issues.
• is able to apply this knowledge in new academic contexts.

To qualify to sit for the final exam, students shall as a group task produce a podcast over a given part of the curriculum. Alternatively, If the student is unable to attend such a group, s/he must write an academic paper of 2000 words (+/-10 %) on a given topic. This will enable the student to engage with the course literature and critically reflect on a particular topic. Papers must be handed in digitally through OsloMet's Learning Management System and within the stipulated deadline. No individual supervision will be provided for this paper, but students will be able to work on their papers in course seminars.

The podcast/paper will be assessed as either "approved" or "not approved". Students who do not get the required pass, may revise their podcast or rewrite and resubmit their paper once within a given deadline. Students who due to illness or other documented reasons for legal absence fail to submit this coursework requirement with the set deadline, will be given a new submission deadline. In this case, the student must present the documents confirming his/her illness.

The final assessment of this module consists of a four-hour written exam.

New/postponed exam

In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student can apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exam is offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. Submission and assessment of this will be in accordance with the conditions originally applicable. The student is responsible for applying to sit for a new or postponed exam within the deadlines stipulated by OsloMet and the Faculty of Education and International Studies.

The grades are pass or fail.

The exam will be jointly marked by an internal and an external examiner. The external examiner will read a selection of the exam papers and collaborate with the internal examiner in a way that benefits all the students.