Course Objectives

The study of social studies will enable students to view children and kindergartens in a larger social context. They will be able to view the functioning of kindergartens in a larger social context and understand the development of kindergartens in the light of the welfare state's growth. Various approaches and concepts within the field of social studies will provide students with tools to enable them to understand the social relations and processes that will form part of their working day in their future profession.

The concepts, theories and approaches of social sciences

Students will:

• Gain knowledge of the most important concepts, approaches and theories in the field of social sciences, which may be utilised in kindergartens.
• Develop the ability to be able to carry out surveys that may be used in the professional development of kindergartens.
• Be able to evaluate results from current research, and make use of them.

Childhood and family

Students will:

• Gain knowledge of the fundamental aspects of children’s living conditions throughout history.
• Gain insight into childhood in a complex and diverse society.
• Gain knowledge of children's rights and acquire a reflected attitude towards children’s participation in a democratic society.
• Be able to describe and explain typical changes in cohabitation patterns and the function of the family.
• Learn to understand the relationship between economic and cultural development, and variations in the family as a social phenomenon.
• Gain a reflected attitude towards fundamental concepts such as gender, equality and social inequality.
• Be able to explain the development of the modern kindergarten.
• Be able to analyse current factors that affect children and families in modern society, highlighting the role of the mass media in particular.

Multicultural Norway

Students will:

• Gain knowledge of the Sámi people as an indigenous minority population in Norway, and be able to describe in the kindergarten certain aspects of the Sámi people’s culture and traditions.
• Be aware of the fundamental attitudes and strategies that ethnic minorities may be confronted with in Norway.
• Understand the problems that may arise when people with various cultural backgrounds communicate and interact with one another.
• Develop an ability to discuss ethnocentrism and racism, and to present arguments against them.
• Gain insight into the various forms of cross-cultural pressure children of ethnic minorities can and may experience.
• Be able to show respect and tolerance for other traditions, cultures and religions – on the presumption that they are in accordance with human rights, Norwegian law and the principles of equality.
• Have an awareness of their own cultural background and the ways in which it affects the way they interact with others who do not share this background.

The pre-school teacher’s professional role

Students will:

• Develop skills in leadership, based on an awareness of their own role and the specific challenges in the local area, with regards to co-operation and adaptation in kindergartens.
• Acquire knowledge of management, administrative practices and relevant political processes.
• Be able to demonstrate an ability to analyse his/her own role, from both practical and ethical viewpoints.
• Learn to demonstrate the ability to make use of various forms of communication when in contact with parents, colleagues, the local community and the media.

Course Description

Social Studies in the pre-school teacher education is based on a selection of concepts, perspectives, knowledge and theories from academic subjects such as history, sociology, social-anthropology and political science. Consequently, the main aim of the subject is to develop a greater and deeper understanding of history, society and culture, and to examine people’s interactions with each other and with the social institutions that affect their lives. Knowledge of public administration, management, political processes and legislation represents an important resource for understanding the pre-school teacher’s role and its practice.

The course will focus on children’s living conditions throughout history, changes in the structure and function of families, as well as the cultural gap between children and their parents. The study of social studies will enable students to reflect over their own roles in children’s socialisation, co-operation with colleagues and parents, and their relationships with other professions and institutions that are involved in providing a quality childhood.

Today’s society is characterised by rapid change, the exchange of large amounts of information via the mass media, high mobility and globalisation. This has also resulted in a much greater diversity in ethnic minority groups, their languages and traditions, values and norms, and their social needs and requirements in a multicultural society.

Equality between the sexes and between various minority groups are important principles of modern democracies, and pre-school teachers should be prepared for the pedagogical challenges, communicative problems, conflicts and ethical dilemmas that they will be confronted with in kindergartens.

Students will gain knowledge of variation in society and develop the necessary social competence in order to be able to create the most inclusive environment possible in the kindergarten, for example through critical self-reflection, an understanding of different cultures and the will to think differently. Social studies play an extremely important role in this learning process.

Learning Methods

Details regarding the organisation of the course will be provided in the semester plan. Teaching and learning methods will be adapted and varied according to content of the course. It is important that the main goals of pre-school teacher education, such as promoting students’ ability to work together, understanding of the relationship between theory and practice, ability to accept other people’s values and to be critical of their own views and opinions, are reflected in the methods that are used.

The course includes lectures, discussions and group-work.

Many of the topics studied in Social Studies will also be touched on in the teaching of other subjects. Some areas of study are consequently suited to an interdisciplinary approach; for example, Social Studies and pedagogical theory complement each other particularly well. Students will complete an obligatory project in groups of 3 to 5 students. The course teacher must approve the project topic. The project will be included in the assessment.

Assessment Methods

The final assessment will be based on an individual written assignment (4 hours). Students will carry out assignments based on problems and syllabus texts from all parts of the course. Insight and knowledge of the subject and methodical reflection in relation to specific, concrete tasks within the area of pre-school teachers’ work will be emphasised in the assessment of the students’ work.

Final grades are based on the following:

• Group project, 40%.
• Individual written assignment (4 hours), 60%.

Grades A-F will be awarded, where A is the highest and E the lowest passing grade. Students must achieve a passing grade in all parts of the assessment in order to achieve a final passing grade for the course. Please 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