Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate can:

• Give an account of the profession’s ethical guidelines and the standards required of a professional pre-school teacher
• Develop the kindergarten and its educational activities in relation to the social environment
• Analyse and reflect on the processes of education, care, play and learning in order to develop pedagogical work
• Give an account of change, development and innovation processes in the kindergarten.

Skills

The candidate can:

• Manage and develop the kindergarten as a learning organization
• Develop and stimulate children’s play, wonder and all-round development
• Develop their knowledge of children with different abilities and needs
• Master guidance, personnel work, interaction and management of collaboration in a learning kindergarten
• Reflect critically on their own pedagogical practices and make adjustments to their professional practices under supervision.
  

General competence

The candidate can:

• Ensure participation and the development of democratic understanding in the kindergarten
• Express themselves professionally, both in writing and orally
• Update their knowledge of national and international research and development relevant to the kindergarten teaching profession.

Course Description

The knowledge area of BULL 2 builds on BULL 1 and its four main areas. In addition, the main area ‘The professional kindergarten teacher’ is also introduced. All parts of BULL 1 and BULL 2 are interrelated and build on each other.

Main area 1. Introduction to the area of knowledge
We introduce the knowledge area and the subject of pedagogy by studying the kindergarten as a learning organization. We discuss the role of the student based on the National Curriculum, and will focus on ‘The investigative student’.

Main area 2. Children’s development and education
We focus on the youngest children’s development and educational requirements, and discuss themes related to children with special abilities and needs.

Main area 3. The kindergarten’s content and responsibilities
The area further develops topics from BULL 1, such as content, planning, implementation, and documentation, and we look deeper into the themes of play, wonder, learning, care and education.

Main area 4. Pedagogical leadership
The central point here is management and the development of pedagogical work, with a particular focus on analysis and critical reflection, and the development and management of a learning kindergarten environment. We further develop topics related to supervision, personnel work, interaction and the management of collaboration.

Main area 5. The professional kindergarten teacher
Within this part of the study program, we will go deeper into perspectives related to professional skills and competencies, and the importance and responsibility of the adult’s role. We will also place particular significance on the notion of the investigative kindergarten teacher.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The BULL course emphasizes student-centred teaching and learning methods; the student will plan, implement, evaluate, document and interact with others. The teaching methods are varied and adapted to different topics within the knowledge area. Cooperation, understanding of the relationship between theory and practice, understanding of others’ values and the student’s ability to be critical of their own positions will be developed in the methods used. Practical training, lectures, discussions, field trips, seminars and group work are examples of methods that students will use.

There are special requirements associated with the practical training; please refer to the practical training notes for more information on these. Students will be given professional assignments during the course of the study program. Such assignments will be presented as oral presentations in plenary or as academic texts, and considered as coursework requirements in the knowledge area. The assignments that are graded and included in the overall assessment of the course are described below under ‘Assessment methods’, as well as in the semester plans. Also, other details in connection with the organization of the course will be given in the semester plans.

The parts of the course instruction that are mandatory are described in the semester plans.

Assessment Methods

The course includes both written and oral assessment and the final course grade for BULL 2 is based on:

• Individual written examination (six hours)

A single letter grade (A to F) will be entered on the diploma, where A represents the highest and E the lowest passing grade. Please refer to the Telemark University College Examination Regulations for further information.
The course is subject to minor changes.

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