Learning outcome

After completion of the course the student will be able to:

• Develop the pupils’ senses, joy of discovery, and curiosity related to the target area, “the young scientist”.
• Facilitate learning that promotes pupils’ love of nature, knowledge and concern for the environment.
• Relate to the pupils’ everyday experiences when planning teaching, using local learning arenas in such a way that the subject matter is made more relevant.
• Plan, implement and evaluate teaching in natural sciences at various levels for years 5 to 10.

The course will emphasise oral presentations, argumentation, reading and interpretation of natural sciences texts and written reports from field work and experiments. Calculations will be used to record and produce results from students’ research and to create tables and charts relating to natural sciences. Digital skills in natural sciences will be used in experiments and fieldwork, as well as mediation, communication and visualisation.

Learning objectives for Natural Sciences (NAT 502):

Botany: Systematics and morphology of flowering plants, ferns, mosses, algae, lichens and fungi. Students will be able to explain the characteristics of a range of plant families. They should be able to identify a range of mosses, ferns, flowering plants, lichens and fungi, and describe the principles of the formation of these groups. They should be familiar with a variety of Norwegian plant species and families.
Zoology: Animal groups’ systematics, morphology and anatomy. Students should be familiar with the anatomical and morphological characteristics of a range of animal groups. They should be able to identify animals from different groups.
Physics: Introduction to motion, forces, energy, sound and physical properties of water and air. Students will be able to explain the forces and the relationship between forces and motion. They should have knowledge of the main principles of sound and energy and physical phenomena related to water and air.

Course Description

Please refer to "learning outcome".

Teaching and Learning Methods

The teaching methods will alternate between lectures, guidance, practical assignments individually and in groups and written assignments. Field studies include a 3-day excursion in coastal habitats. The field studies and practical exercises are compulsory.

The course also includes several day excursions to forests, lakes and areas of geological interest in the local area. Attendance in field studies and practical exercises is compulsory. The semester schedule available at the beginning of each semester provides information concerning the teaching that requires mandatory attendance.

Course requirements

Completed field training

Physics: 1 assignment

GLU 5-10 students (General Teacher Education Years 5-10): Subject didactics assignment in groups 2.5 ECTS. Students will continue the work they started on in the course Natural Sciences 1 (course code: NAT 501).

ALU (General Teacher Education) 3^rd year students: Bachelor’s thesis 2.5 ECTS. Students will continue the work they started on in the course Natural Sciences 1 (course code: NAT 501).

Other students: Specialisation assignment 2.5 ECTS. Students will continue the work they started on in the course Natural Sciences 1 (course code: NAT 501).

Course requirements will be defined in detail in the semester schedule.

Assessment Methods

Reports and assignments are assessed on a pass / fail basis.

The oral examination in botany and zoology will be assessed with a graded mark.

The written examination in physics will be assessed with a graded mark.

GLU 5-10 students: The subject didactics assignment will be assessed on a pass/fail basis.

ALU 3^rd year students: The Bachelor’s thesis will be assessed with a graded mark.

Other students: The specialisation assignment will be assessed with a graded mark.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean