Introduction

Arts and Crafts is an arts and culture subject and one which allows communication and expression, especially in ensuring the practical-aesthetic aspect of pedagogical work with children. In accordance with the national curriculum the study programme focuses on images, crafts, architecture and design. The programme is built on the idea that creative activity takes place in a cultural context. The subject has a particular aim in developing awareness of aesthetic qualities. The students’ own creative work with various materials is a fundamental element of the programme. Experimenting with creative processes will provide a foundation for experience, varied forms of expression and new insights, and will give the students training in and an understanding of creative processes. In this context, one goal of the programme is personal development.

The study programme is an extension and specialisation of the subject-pedagogical study in arts and crafts in accordance with the curriculum for arts and crafts specialisation in pre-school teacher education of March 3rd, 1997. The objective of the study programme is to further equip students for pedagogical work with children in pre-school, primary school (grades 1-4), after-school programmes, culture schools and art institutions that work with children.

Target Group and Admission Requirements

The study programme is intended primarily for:

• Students enrolled on the 3-year pre-school teacher education programme with 10 ECTS credits in arts and crafts.
• Students taking a post-graduate programme for pre-school teachers. The objective of the study programme is to further equip students for pedagogical work with children in pre-school, primary school (grades 1-4), after-school programmes, culture schools and art institutions that work with children.

Aim of the Programme

The study programme aims to further equip students for pedagogical work with children in pre-school, primary school (grades 1-4), after-school programmes, culture schools and art institutions that work with children.

The study programme will provide students with the self-confidence and skills necessary to apply the subject in working situations. They will also acquire the prerequisites required to stimulate the creative activities of children, and to work systematically with arts and crafts and art and cultural mediation in schools and pre-schools.

Students will learn to document and reflect upon their own creative work and their professional arts and crafts activities with children. Students will:

• Further develop their aesthetic appreciation and ability to express themselves through practical creative work with images, handicrafts, architecture and design. Students should be able to carry out their own arts and crafts development activities.
• Students will gain experience of subject didactics which includes observation, planning, execution, documentation and evaluation of arts and crafts activities. The student shall also be able to visualise pedagogical processes by using exhibitions as a form of documentation.
• Be able to reflect upon the development of the kindergarten’s physical environment.
• Be able to work independently and flexibly with pedagogical arts and crafts activities with children, and be able to relate theory to the practical work.

Curriculum and structure

Code Course title Credits O/V *) Credits pr. semester   S1(A) S2(V) S3(A) S4(V) S5(A) S6(V) 30FOFØ Arts and Crafts – Specialisation for Pre-School Teachers 30.00 O 15 15         Total: 15 15 0 0 0 0 *) O - Mandatory course, V - Optional course

The year of study is organised into four workshops lasting two days each at Telemark University College, Notodden.
Between the Notodden workshop sessions, students will be offered the opportunity of attending workshop sessions in the region where they live. The study programme will be Web-based and managed by the students in the periods between the workshops.

The study programme is divided into the following target areas:

• Subject knowledge; images, sculpture and spatial form; art, media and design
• Educational work with children
• Interaction and reflection

Teaching and Learning Methods

The study programme will be dominated by learning methods in which the students are actively involved. Creative work will often be preceded by a theoretical introduction and demonstration of work with various kinds of material and techniques. Subject-theoretical themes will be presented in the lectures and in supervision related to students’ work. The students’ own practical and theoretical work will be done individually or in groups. Throughout the course of the study programme each student is responsible for studying the theoretical subject material. The student needs time to become acquainted with the material, tools and techniques. It is expected that he/she works independently and seeks the teacher’s supervision. The student is also responsible for the college’s material, equipment and workshops.

Theory and Practical Training

Refer to the Plan for Practical Training for the Pre-School Teacher Education study programme.

Assessment Methods

Throughout the whole of the study programme students and teachers will participate in an informal evaluation of the practical creative work, assignments, programme plan and teaching and learning methods. The Academic Affairs Committee will approve this evaluation.

Coursework requirements

• All the assignments should be carried out under supervision and be approved before final assessment can be given.
• The professional development project should be carried out in a day-care centre, primary school (grades 1-4) or a children’s group in a culture school or equivalent. It must receive a passing mark.
• The documentation exhibition with report from the professional development project.

Practical creative work may be done in groups, but the written part, which comprises a log and didactic/theoretical response, should be done individually. Student products which have not been presented to the teacher during supervision may be rejected as a component of the final assessment.

Assessment criteria

Criteria for the evaluation of practical creative work with log are:

Work effort, technical execution, use of materials, creative idea, aesthetic design and function for student product and log.

Criteria for didactic/theoretical description are:

Theoretical basis, didactic understanding and reflection.

Final assessment

A formal assessment with graded mark is awarded for three selected practical pieces of work with didactic/theoretical written parts. The subject teacher chooses two periods, and the student one. The professional development project is also assessed and awarded a graded mark which is included in the final assessment. In the assessment of each period the practical creative work is weighted 2 and the didactic/theoretical description 1. The student will receive information concerning which assignments will be drawn two weeks before the date of submission.

	Weighted
Partial grade from selected work 1	20%
Partial grade from selected work 2	20%
Partial grade from selected work 3	20%
Partial grade from the documentation exhibition with report, professional development project	40%

A single grade is entered on the diploma, graded from A to F, where A is the highest, and E the lowest passing grade. In order to receive a final passing grade, each course unit must also receive a passing grade.

Refer to Telemark University College’s examination regulations for further information.

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