Course Description

Introduction

The course will qualify students who have one or more social studies’ subjects in their range of subjects (history, geography, sociology, social anthropology, political science, international politics) to teach social studies in the lower secondary school, and history, geography, and social studies/civics in the upper secondary school.

Social studies subjects encompass a study of people and society in the present, past and future. Students will study topics that, combined with the students’ own knowledge of the subjects, will provide the basis and skills necessary to plan and execute varied and well-thought-out teaching plans based on the current curriculum.

Students taking 30 ECTS in Social Studies will write an individual project assignment in addition to completing the requirements for the 15 ECTS course.

Objectives

The subjects' distinctive qualities, development, and legitimisation

Students will

• Acquire knowledge of the various social studies subjects’ distinctive qualities and development, both as academic and school subjects
• Learn about the importance of social studies as a school subject
• Become familiar with and be able to analyse various social studies curricula

Analysis and critical reflection concerning subject didactics approaches

Students will

• Learn about important trends and perspectives in subject didactics in the disciplines within social studies
• Be able to formulate goals and show subject didactic reflection in connection with the planning of teaching and projects
• Develop a reflected attitude to interdisciplinary challenges in social studies
• Be able to evaluate the relationship between the aims of the curriculum and the practical demands of teaching in schools on a day-to-day basis
• Become aware of social studies’ significance for developing viewpoints concerning, among other things, equality, human rights, democracy, environmental questions, and the multicultural society
• Be able to assess and contribute ideas for development projects which focus on social studies in school

Teaching and learning methods, ICT and other teaching aids

Students will

• Be able to recognise and evaluate the use of teaching and learning methods which are in part common to all social studies subjects, and in part subject-specific
• Be able to plan and prepare teaching and learning based on subject traditions, the curriculum, and using various teaching aids
• Be able to prepare investigative and problem-oriented teaching and learning methods, in order to develop pupils’ ability to think critically, and to understand causal relations and possible solutions
• Develop an active and conscious interest to ICT, including the Internet
• Recognise and be able to evaluate the use of various types of sources: written and oral sources, images, various types of maps, statistics, and diagrams
• Be able to use the local community as a learning resource, among other things in relation to study trips/field work, museums and exhibitions
• Be able to reflect on the use of teaching and learning methods and various aids regarding the use of time, and pupils’ backgrounds and interests

Assessment and supervision

Students will

• Recognise and reflect on the various forms of evaluation used in social studies
• Be able to evaluate the relationship between goals, teaching and learning methods, learning aids and forms of assessment

Assessment Methods

In order to take the examination students are required to have received approval of their mandatory assignments and met all other course requirements (as described in the semester plan).

Students who take 15 ECTS in Social Studies Didactics

The final grade is awarded on the basis of:

• A 5-hour written individual examination (60%).
• Portfolio assessment (40%).

The “CURRENT NEWS DISCUSSION” (20%) and the teaching plan (20%) will be included in the portfolio.

Students who take 30 ECTS in Social Studies Didactics

The final grade is awarded on the basis of:

• The grade from the 15 ECTS course (55%)
• The individual in-depth project assignment (25%)
• The oral examination (20%)

A single final grade is entered on the diploma, graded from A to F, where A represents the highest grade, and E the lowest passing grade. Students must have received a passing grade on each part of the assessment in order to achieve a final passing grade.

Please refer to Telemark University College Examination Regulation for further information.

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