Learning outcome

Module 1: The Aesthetic Creative Area (30 ECTS)

Knowledge:

• Have advanced knowledge of how aesthetic visual, material and functional elements are used in creative activities
• Be able to explain the different approaches and methods in design processes

Skills:

• Document and present newly acquired knowledge gained through theoretical studies and creative and artistic work
• Be able to examine the distinctive characteristics of aesthetic experience, and of creative processes as a form of understanding
• Be able to show insight concerning didactic questions in relation to art theory and creative and artistic work

General competence:

• Have in-depth knowledge and skills concerning how art theory and creative and artistic work mutually enrich each other

Module 2: The Pedagogical and Didactic Area (12 ECTS)

Knowledge:

• Have thorough knowledge of general curriculum theory and curriculum development and insight into relevant subject curricula
• Have insight into cultural understanding, cultural transference and the development of culture

Skills:

• Be able to apply the relevant fundamental philosophical and didactic thinking and principal concepts orally and in writing
• Be able to apply knowledge and skills to justify, plan and evaluate teaching tasks

General competence:

• Be able to communicate considered and advanced knowledge of the teacher’s responsibilities as supervisor for students’ creative and artistic work

Module 3: Scientific Theory and Methodology Area (18 ECTS)

Knowledge:

• Gain insight into the various scientific traditions
• Gain insight into the relevant research methods

Skills:

• Be able to apply research methods in theoretical and aesthetic creative projects
• Be able to systematize and document research and development work

General competence:

• Be able to apply critical judgment and evaluate relevant research reports

Course Description

Module 1: The Aesthetic Creative Area (30 ECTS)

Module 1 is a major course unit consisting of two course units which mutually enrich each other.

a Creative and artistic work

• Based on one or more forms of expression such as images, sculpture and installation, utility objects and design, architecture and the physical environment
• Viewed in relation to ideas, content, function and context
• Related to form, colour, space and composition, as well as materials and techniques

b Art theory

• Related to forms of expression in the contemporary period and selected historical periods
• Principal trends in contemporary art
• Art as a form of cognition: understanding, analysing and experiencing art
• Perception, thinking and communication
• The distinctive character of art, aesthetic objects, utility forms and architecture related to:Form, colour, space and composition
• Materials, techniques and tools

Module 2: The Pedagogical and Didactic Area (12 ECTS)

Module 2 is a major course unit that consists of four topics. The module provides the premises, justification for and possibilities of design, art and handicrafts in relation to education and training in a changing society.

a Basic didactic issues

Main pedagogical trends and basic didactic issues in design, art and handicrafts

• An examination of important concepts such as experience and action
• Basic skills in the subject area
• Education, knowledge and cultural transference
• Creative activity
• Aesthetic education

b Curriculum theory and knowledge of the subject

• Construction and implementation of curricula
• Analysis of plans and practice
• Recent history of the subject

c Cultural understanding, cultural transference and culture-building

• Cultural theory and understanding
• Cultural transference and dissemination of art
• Multicultural aspects of the subject area
• Culture-building (creative) activities
• The dual didactic aspect and formation of identity

d The teacher as organiser of the interaction between cultural material and creative and artistic work

• The teacher’s task in disseminating culture and as a leader of the pupils’ creative and artistic work
• Relevant perspectives on learning
• School textbooks and learning materials
• Supervision and assessment

Module 3: Scientific Theory and Methodology (18 ECTS)

Module 3 includes two topics in which both scientific theory and methodology are related to the special characteristics of design, art and handicrafts as a field of research.

a Knowledge of the most important trends in scientific theory

This topic focuses research in the various fields of science:

• Natural sciences
• The humanities
• The social sciences

It examines various approaches:

• Positivism
• Hermeneutics
• Phenomenology

b Knowledge of the principal methods of research within the subject field

• The research methods for the relevant subject areas
• Design, art and handicrafts as a field of research; strategy; and use of methodology
• Design in the research process: choice of research question, theoretical foundation, methodology, methods of analysis and forms of documentation
• Elementary statistics

Teaching and Learning Methods

The general component of the programme is taught during the first and second semesters. The three modules which make up the general component differ in scope and nature. Consequently, the teaching and learning methods and the organisation are varied. The modules complement each other, and should be viewed in relation to each other and/or integrated. The teaching is partly organised as projects and partly as subject themes. The teaching and learning methods include: lectures, discussions, seminars, group projects with supervision, group discussions and various forms of individual work with supervision. The teaching and learning methods alternate between practical, aesthetic and creative work and studies of a more theoretical nature.

The study programme includes arrangements that allow 4th year General Teacher Education students to complete their obligatory teaching practice.

Module 1: The Aesthetic Creative Area (30 ECTS)

The central focus of this module is on creative and artistic work.

Teaching and learning methods include:

• Individual research
• Intuitive and analytical approaches
• Critiques, refining and documentation of process and product
• Reflection and discussion of art theory in relation to creative work

The first semester will include student project(s). The second semester will focus on developing a pilot project for the Master’s thesis. Art theory will be integrated into projects and studied separately. Perspectives from the Pedagogical and Didactic Area and the Scientific Theory and Methodology Area will also be included in the project assignments.

The teaching and learning methods will also include experience with creative work using various materials and different forms of expression, depending on which approach is taken. Insight that has been gained will be documented systematically through design processes, products and reports. The alternation and interplay between artistic work and theoretical approaches related to the theory of art aims at creating a fruitful synthesis. The work will be undertaken in workshops, partly under supervision, and in group discussions.

The theoretical topics will be taught during lectures, seminars and discussions, and in the students’ work involving course materials.

Module 2: The Pedagogical and Didactic Area (12 ECTS)

This module is taught during the first semester. Part of the material should be viewed in relation to the project assignments described in Module 1 (first and second semesters). Teaching consists of lectures, discussions and individual studies.

Module 3: Scientific Theory and Methodology Area (18 ECTS)

Lectures and discussions are mainly held during the first and second semesters. Aspects of both scientific theory and methodology are related to creative and artistic projects. Parts of the subject material may be viewed in relation to project assignments described in Module 1. In the first and second semesters, candidates will gain methodological experience through an R & D methodology project. This project will be related to schools and/or other similar institutions. The teaching and learning methods include:

• Collection of material for the student’s R & D project
• Examination of specific methodology for the R & D project
• Knowledge pertaining to drafting and documentation of the student’s R & D project
• Critical analysis of a specific research report

Knowledge gained in this module will be integrated in the pilot project for the Master’s thesis described in Module 1.

Obligatory requirements

• Introduction to, and subject-related feedback/summation, of the modules/ projects and chosen subject topics. This will be described in the period plans.
• Group work
• Seminars
• Study trips

Obligatory parts of the course require 80% participation.

Assessment Methods

Evaluation criteria for projects and assignments will be drawn up, showing the candidate’s competence in relation to the study programme and course objectives and learning outcome descriptions.

Module 1: Aesthetic and Creative Area (30 ECTS)

Project(s) will be completed in the first semester; one of these will be assessed with a grade. See below for information concerning final assessment. The other project(s) will be assessed on a pass/fail basis, and constitute part of the continuous part-assessment.

Continuous part-assessment

If more than one art project is completed in the first semester, then these must receive passing grades before the student will be permitted to take the final examination.

• Other art projects in the first semester

• An art project completed in the first semester

• Pilot project for the Master’s thesis with oral examination in the second semester

• Individual written assignment (3 days) in the first semester

• R & D projects carried out in groups: written report, visual and oral communication. First and second semesters. Partial assessment: Pass/Fail.

• Seminar related to a critical analysis of research. Second semester. Partial assessment. Pass/Fail.

• Individual written assignment (3 days) in the second semester.

The final grade is calculated on the basis of the following weighting of the three modules:

• 25% = Art project

• 30% = Pilot Project for the Master’s thesis with an oral examination

• 20% = Individual written assignment

• 25% = Individual written assignment

Final assessment

The final grade will be graded from A to F, where A is the highest grade and E is the lowest passing grade. It will be based on:

Module 2: The Pedagogical and Didactic Area (12 ECTS)

Final assessment

The final grade will be graded from A to F, where A is the highest grade and E is the lowest passing grade. It will be based on:

Module 3: Scientific Theory and Methodology Area (18 ECTS)

Continuous part-assessment

Continual academic feedback will be given. Continual part-assessments must be given passing marks before the student will be permitted to sit the final examinations.

Final assessment

The final grade will be graded from A to F, where A is the highest grade and E is the lowest passing grade. It will be based on:

Final grade

An overall grade will be given for the completed General Component (60 ECTS); each module must receive passing marks. The General Component must be completed and passed before the student starts work on his/her Master’s degree thesis.

Module 1: Aesthetic Creative Area

Module 2: The Pedagogical and Didactic Area

Module 3: Scientific Theory and Methodology

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