Course Objectives

Major course unit II aims to provide students with practical skills and theoretical knowledge in methodical social educational care. This includes making the appropriate choice of methods for changes in the framework conditions that best suit clients and user-groups, and choice of methods based on communicative competence and ethical reflection in cooperation with individual users, families and relations, social networks and local communities. Main Course II provides the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable students to provide services to people with different levels of disability. Students will, through their work with Main Course II, gradually develop an understanding that combines various approaches enabling the student to make careful methodical choices and carry out various types of initiatives at both individual and social levels. This aim requires TelemarkUniversityCollege to assume social responsibility with regard to its professional educational programmes, and the students to be willing and open to take part in process-oriented learning.

Course Description

Major course unit II is organised into two course units. Course unit 4 includes an introduction to various aspects of methodical social educational care and internship. As a basis for methodical care, course unit 5 examines the understanding of people and systems.

COURSE UNIT 4 – METHODICAL SOCIAL EDUCATIONAL CARE AND INTERNSHIP STUDIES

33 ECTS

Course unit 4 aims at providing students with basic competence in methodical social educational care by means of theoretical and practical studies. Professional competence in social education is anchored in practical interaction, and the subject evolves where practical and theoretical knowledge traditions coincide. Knowledge relating to social educational care develops through a continuous process, in which the ability to integrate practical experience, theoretical knowledge, and reflection regarding professional practices are among the most important elements.

Content

The course unit provides an introduction to various theoretical approaches that characterise methodical social educational care. Professionally recognised approaches and methods will provide a foundation for the course unit’s internship placement. In addition, an examination of ethical issues in the practice of methodical social educational care will be emphasised.

The course unit will further develop students’ knowledge of legal and framework conditions for methodical social educational care when providing public services, and clarify the conditions of student positions in this context. Internships in course unit 4 take place in various institutions where students will come into direct contact with clients.

Teaching and learning methods

Course unit 4 includes a broad variety of teaching and learning methods. In addition to lectures, individual study, practical skills training and training in the use of activities and cultural initiatives, the learning methods are characterised by group work, supervision of individual and group written work. Internships are supervised by one hour of supervision per student per week from the internship placement, and followed by individual and group reflection supervised by the university college’s contact teacher.

Assessment: Course unit 4 requires two assignments in the assessment portfolio and two assignments in the documentation portfolio.

Course unit code 060HEMN2 4-1

Assessment assignment 4-1: Ethical questions

The assessment portfolio is based on knowledge of basic ethics, and will provide students with the opportunity to reflect over central issues regarding methodical social educational care. Individual assignment. 1200-1500 words. Letter grade which comprises 25% of the final grade in main course 2.

Course unit code 060HEMN2 DO1

Documentation assignment: Students write a reflective note on the importance of group work for personal development and learning in connection with assessment assignment 4-1 – ‘ethical issues’.

The reflective note should describe students’ expectations of the group process, the group’s role in individual assignments, and provide an evaluation of the group process.

Course unit code 060HEMN2 DO2

Documentation assignment: Each student must document a minimum of 75% participation in group work leading up to assessment assignment 4-1.

Course unit code 060HEMN 4-2

Assessment assignment 4-2:Internship assignment on methodical social educational care.

The assessment is based on the internship in methodical social educational care.

Course code 060PRA1 INTERNSHIP IN METHODICAL SOCIAL EDUCATIONAL CARE

The internship aims to provide students with experience and knowledge of functional disabilities through direct encounters with children, youth, and/or adults and their families, relatives and social networks. The internship in course unit 4 will contribute to the development of students’ professional skills in various arenas as a preparation for their future professional roles, responsibilities, and duties.

COURSE UNIT 5: QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELFARE

15 ECTS

The aim of course unit 5 is to enable students to further develop professional methodical competence, including the ability to map and analyse the relationship between social conditions and the life situations of disabled persons. Students will develop an effective ability to provide care, supervision, and services based on the individual client’s needs regarding an improved quality of life, good living conditions, and an appropriate development of disabled persons’ welfare.

Content

Course unit 5 includes professional ethical reflection based on the experiences from course unit 4: the internship in methodical social educational care. Specialisation and further development in methodical work includes a description and explanation of the methodical choices considered in light of each person’s need for individual treatment as well as their right to influence and control their own life. The course unit focuses on the need for coordinating services for disabled persons, with an emphasis on the social educator’s contribution to individual plans in cooperation with clients and professional groups. In addition, the course unit includes an introduction to basic knowledge of welfare work, with an emphasis on teamwork and cooperation skills, family theory, network theory, network building and ecological analyses.

Teaching and learning methods: The need for specialisation and reflection in methodical work oriented towards disabled people’s quality of life and welfare is recognised through emphasis on individual study, skills training, group work, supervision, and lectures.

Assessment: Course unit 5 requires two assignments in the assessment portfolio and one assignment in a documentation portfolio.

Course unit code: 060HEMN2 5-1

Assessment assignment 5-1: Individual plan

The assessment portfolio is grounded in practical work with individual plans for disabled persons in various internship arenas. Individual assignment 3000 words. Letter grade which comprises 25% of the final grade in main course 2.

Course unit code 060HEMN2 5-2

Assessment assignment 5-2: The methodical care of groups at risk and an oral examination.

The assessment portfolio includes theoretical approaches related to work with families, network building, and welfare work, as a basis for the justification and choice of action in methodical work at individual and social levels. Group assignment. 4000 words. Students must receive a passing grade in the written part of the assessment assignment 5.2 in order to take the individual oral examination.

Letter grade which comprises 50% of the final grade in Main Course 2. The individual oral examination is based on assessment assignment 5-2 – ‘The methodical care of vulnerable groups’, but also includes questions regarding basic theory from the whole of Main Course II. The final grade is assigned after the oral examination. The oral examination is primarily intended as an adjustment to the grade from the assessment portfolio, but it is also possible to assign the candidate a failing grade if the oral examination so indicates.

Course unit code 060HEMN2 DO3

Documentation assignment: Each student must document a minimum of 75% participation in group work leading up to the assessment assignment 5-2.

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