Course Description

Social Studies in the pre-school teacher education are 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, social and cultural relations that characterize the peoples’ interactions and their relations with the social institutions that affect their everyday lives.

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 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 gender 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 day-care centres.

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 day-care centre, 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.

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 from the whole course unit. 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 are required to achieve a passing grade in all course components in order to achieve a final passing grade for the course. Please refer to Telemark University College’s Examination Regulation for further information.

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