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 has knowledge of:

• The distinctive qualities and development of social studies subjects, both as academic and school subjects
• Key perspectives and trends in didactics in social studies subjects
• Teaching and learning methods which are partly common to all social studies subjects, and partly subject-specific
• The local community as a learning resource, including in conjunction with field trips/fieldwork, museums, exhibitions
• Social studies’ significance for developing viewpoints, including in relation to gender equality, human rights, democracy, environmental issues and multicultural society

Skills

The candidate can:

• Formulate goals and demonstrate didactic reflection in the planning of teaching/project planning
• Assess the relationship between the intentions of the curriculum and the practical demands of teaching in schools on a day-to-day basis
• Plan and facilitate teaching and learning based on subject traditions, the curriculum and using various learning materials
• Evaluate and has knowledge of the use of sources: written and oral, images, different kinds of maps and statistics
• Assess the relationship between objectives, teaching methods and materials, and assessment

General competence

The candidate:

• Has knowledge of the important justifications of social studies as a school subject
• Has knowledge of and can analyse the various curricula for social studies
• Has a reflective approach to interdisciplinary challenges for social studies
• Can assess and contribute ideas for development projects related to social studies in schools
• Can facilitate investigative and problem-oriented methods in order to develop pupils’ ability to think critically, and to understand causal relations and possible solutions

Course Description

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

Students will study the special characteristics of the three social studies subjects: geography, history and civics, as academic and school subjects. Teaching and learning methods used in social studies will be focused on. Sources of different types are important in social studies, and the course will examine how different sources may be used in schools.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Lectures, student presentations, discussions and work on assignments individually and in groups will be focused on. The course will include field trips and museum visits - intended as an orientation of the important methods in social studies.

Assessment Methods

In order to be permitted to sit the examination, the student must have completed his/her teaching practice, as well as the mandatory assignments and course components as shown in the semester schedule.

The final grade will be based on:

• Individual written examination, 5 hours - counts 60 %
• portfolio assessment - counts 40 %

The portfolio will include teaching plans and “current news discussion”.

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 regulations for further information.

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