Learning outcome

Social studies disciplines in primary and lower secondary schools include history, geography and civics. The course in Social Studies will provide an understanding of interaction and conflict between people, society and nature in different eras and in different parts of the world.

The course will develop skills for teaching social studies at the 5 to 10 year level. It will qualify students to work independently with both didactic and subject-specific challenges.

The course will focus on Norwegian history, and examine Middle Eastern topics - with an emphasis on the Palestine conflict. The course (code: SAM 502) builds further on the SAM 501 course.

KNOWLEDGE

The student will acquire knowledge of:

• Democracy and gain insight into children and young people's rights and political and economic participation.
• Middle Eastern geography, history and social conditions from 1804 and up until the present time - with a focus on the Palestine conflict and Egypt’s recent history.
• “Political Islam” and an understanding of the various consequences of this phenomenon.
• Norwegian history from 1814 to 1905.
• Water as an important resource - and as a source of conflict.
  

SKILLS

The student will be able to:

• Use knowledge of the subject and didactic skills when teaching social studies in years 5-7.
• Plan, lead and evaluate pupils’ learning activities and provide learning-oriented feedback.
• Help pupils work independently within the framework of the school subject.
  

SKILLS

The student will be able to:

• Critically evaluate textbooks, other teaching aids and sources for use in teaching.
• Evaluate and use contrasting source material.
• Describe and analyse the different ways of life and living conditions in different parts of the world.
  

GENERAL SKILLS

The student will be able to:

• Reflect upon practical training and renew themselves professionally.
• Reflect critically upon social studies’ topics and stimulate critical thinking.
  

Course Description

The course focuses on conditions in Norway and the Middle East. It will provide students with skills to enable them to teach social studies in years 5-10. In addition to Norwegian history in the 1800s, the course will also include topics related to the Palestine conflict, such as freshwater issues and children’s rights and influence.

In the study of HISTORY, the course will focus on Middle Eastern history from 1804 up until the present day - with a focus on the Palestinian conflict as a regional and international conflict, as well as Egypt’s modern history. Norwegian history from 1814 to 1905 will also be discussed. In the study of GEOGRAPHY, the outline of the natural and social geography of Israel / Palestine and Egypt will be focused on. The scarcity of freshwater resources, and as a source of conflict, will also be discussed. In the study of CIVICS, the topic “political Islam” - background, extent and relevant examples will be discussed. The course will also focus on the theme of “democracy” and examine children and young people’s rights and political and economic participation.

The course will also focus on DIDACTIC challenges related to the various subjects - including work with controversial material, source criticism and actualisation.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course will use varied and active learning methods such as, class discussions, lectures, seminars, working with sources, ICT, writing assignments and participation in field trips / fieldwork.

In connection with the seminar, the students will work in groups with assignments / questions, which will be presented to the class. The possibility of a field trip to the Middle East will also be considered.

Part of teaching is mandatory. This includes the seminars with presentations, and teaching involving practical and didactic activities. More information can be found in the semester schedule concerning what parts of the course are mandatory.

Assessment Methods

• Group oral and written presentations, which counts 1 / 3 of the final grade.
• Final oral examination which counts 2 / 3 of the final grade.

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