Course Objectives

Objective, major course unit 1
Major course unit 1 will provide students with basic knowledge of the welfare state in a national and international perspective, and a fundamental understanding of how perception of society and themselves as professionals is perceived in a cultural context. On completing major course unit 1, students, on the basis of current user groups, will be able to discuss and justify professional action choices rooted in the relevant theory.
When students have completed major course unit 1, Childhood and Development in a Multicultural Society, they will:

• Gain fundamental knowledge and understanding of the relationship between social structures and processes, and social and psychosocial problems of children, young people and their families.
• Acquire knowledge and understanding of children and young people's development and learning, and learn what promotes and hinders good growing-up conditions.
• Acquire knowledge of the public services as a basis for efforts to reduce children and young people's social problems in cooperation with other professions and users / clients.
• Acquire precise knowledge of the public administration, basic knowledge of public administration law, and an overview of the relevant special laws.
• Acquire knowledge of developments in the welfare state and understanding of welfare policies.
• Be able to identify ethical dilemmas in society and in social educational work.
• Gain knowledge of normal development and the consequences of various development disorders.
• Gain insight in relation to meeting users with empathy and respect based on equality, regardless of age, gender, culture, views on life and perception of reality.
• Gain an understanding of, and training in, social educational work and the use of activities in communication and cooperation with children, young people, their families and networks.
• Acquire knowledge of the laws that deal with children and young people, with particular emphasis on the laws relating to child welfare services, and gain insight into practical child welfare in municipalities and at national level.

Course Description

COURSE UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION

5 ECTS

Students will:

• Gain an understanding of the student role in a professionally oriented university college education with Telemark University College as an educational arena.
• Acquire adequate skills in the use of appropriate technology when pursuing their studies.
• Be introduced to historical and present-day knowledge regarding the field of childcare, its knowledge base and professional ethics.
• Gain a fundamental understanding of groups and group-processes as teaching and learning approaches.
• Acquire a basic understanding of the concepts of culture, teaching and learning.

The content of the course unit involves the establishment of the new student role in a broad sense, with particular emphasis on concepts such as teaching, learning and culture. In addition, the course unit will introduce fundamental aspects of the development of the child welfare profession, and its professional roles, ideological base and ethical principles. Students will be given an opportunity to become acquainted with Telemark University College, the Faculty of Health and Social Studies and the Department of Social Studies, and be introduced to a variety of student environment initiatives and to the organisation of student democracy. A joint introductory programme, student-sponsor programme and various activities will ensure that students become acquainted with fellow students at the university college and their own class. They will be offered necessary assistance in the use of computers and Classfronter as tools of communication, and in accessing the library system.

Knowledge of development-related and cultural challenges will be emphasised, and will form a basis for the cultivation of a reflective approach.

Teaching and learning methods: The course unit includes lectures, an introduction to group work, reflective processes, self-study, and meetings with child welfare workers from the field of practical training and individual written assignments.

Assessment methods: Course Unit 1 includes one documentation assignment and one assessment assignment.

Course unit code: 070-071 DO1

Documentation assignment: A reflection essay which will help the individual students to become more aware of their own motives for taking up this study. The papers should include an analysis of the students’ own expectations with respect to learning, the academic environment and themselves, and their future professional plans. Individual responses. 700 words.

Course unit code: 070-071 1-1

Assessment assignment 1-1: Reflection assignment

An assignment which addresses the concepts “teaching” and “learning” as underlying principles for the student’s reflections on identifiable factors which will promote learning. Individual responses. 1500 words. Pass/fail (5 ECTS).

COURSE UNIT 2: DEVELOPMENT, CHILDHOOD AND IDENTITY.

15 ECTS

Students will:

• Gain an understanding of the growth environments of children and adolescents, normal development and various types of developmental disorders.
• Gain knowledge regarding the consequences of functional disabilities.
• Be able to provide an account of psychological, educational and sociological / socio-anthropological perspectives and concepts.
• Acquire skills in learning, socialisation and various growing-up environments.
• Develop knowledge about different child rearing ideologies as a starting point for childhood development.
• Develop an awareness of their own communication methods.
• Develop basic skills in data collection.

The content of the course unit includes basic psychological, pedagogical and sociological/socio-anthropological principles and approaches in a multicultural society, various observation methods and knowledge of various functional disorders.

Teaching and learning methods: Self-study, lectures, seminars, practice of observation skills and communication, group work and written and oral presentations.

Assessment methods: Course Unit 2 includes two assessment assignments and one documentation assignment.

Course unit code: 070-071 DO2

Documentation assignment: A group project where the objective is to shed light on children and youth’s development. The work will be presented by the group in class. The individual students must document an attendance rate of at least 75% in the group meetings.

Course unit code: 070-071 2-1

Assessment assignment 2-1: Observation as a method

The response should contain a description of an observation. Individual answer. 1200 words. Pass/Fail. (5 ECTS).

Course Unit code: 070-071 2-2

Assessment assignment 2-2: Basic knowledge

The response will demonstrate the student’s understanding of the course unit’s basic knowledge, principal approaches and concepts. Individual assignment. 2000 words. The grade will constitute 25% of the grade for major course unit I (10 ECTS).

COURSE UNIT 3: SOCIAL FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS

10 ECTS

Students will:

• Gain a basic understanding of how public administration organises and delegates responsibilities on national, regional, county and local levels.
• Gain insight into legal methods, administrative law and the relevant knowledge of special laws.
• Acquire knowledge of the central health and socio-political issues, the development of the welfare state, the various professions of the welfare state and social policies in an international perspective.
• Gain knowledge of poverty as a welfare policy topic and acquire knowledge of social differences in a multicultural society.
• Understand the importance of professionals who reflect on their activities, and participate actively in discussions concerning the living conditions and quality of life of vulnerable groups.

The content of this course unit includes topics chosen from national and local government, legal topics, and health, social and welfare policies. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the relationships between the above-mentioned areas, including the significance of the relationship between the profession/management and public administration policies.

Teaching and learning methods: Self study, lectures, group work and presentations.

Assessment methods: Course unit 3 includes one assessment assignment:

Course unit code: 070-071 3-1

Assessment-assignment 3-1: Basic knowledge of public administration practices

This assignment takes the form of questions from the professional fields of national and local government, legal topics and health and social, and welfare policies. In the assessment, emphasis will be placed on the degree of detailed knowledge within the above fields, and on students’ familiarity with the basic principles of public administration.

Individual responses within a time frame of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., without invigilation. All examination aids are permitted. The letter grades received will make up 25% of the grade for major course unit I (10 ECTS).

COURSE UNIT 4: SOCIAL EDUCATIONAL WORK AND THE USE OF ACTIVITIES

20 ECTS

Students will:

• Meet the users with empathy and respect, based on the view of equality regardless of age, class, sex, culture, beliefs, and perception of reality.
• Show awareness of the various dilemmas that may occur in a multicultural society in relation to identity policies and social integration, inclusion and participation.
• Gain knowledge of preventive activities in various contexts in the areas of child welfare and social work and education.
• Be able to plan, implement and evaluate measures from a user involvement perspective.
• Develop an understanding of the relationship between knowledge, attitudes and skills with regard to the various methodical approaches concerning vulnerable children, youth, their families and social networks.
• Develop skills in the use of cultural measures and activities, and have understanding of how these may be used in a series of measures in a professional child welfare context.
• Gain awareness regarding the social framework conditions in which social educational work is carried out.

The content of the course unit covers social educational theory and empirical findings, including a social educational working model, and issues in sociology, with a special focus on the understanding of roles, children and youth’s culture and conditions for growth and development in a multicultural society. The development of knowledge and the use of activities in communication and interaction with children, youth, their families and social networks will also be important. Emphasis will be given to students developing their interpersonal skills. The student will be made aware of relevant laws and regulations regarding children and parents, education, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Teaching and learning methods: the course unit will make use of group work, skills training, fieldwork and lectures. Field work and skills training will be related to activities and dialogue with children and youths, as well as to assignments in systematic social educational work through observation, planning, the execution of evaluations of activities arrangements, reporting, and presentations.

Assessment methods: Course unit 4 has one assessment assignment and two documentation assignments.

Course unit code: 070-071 4-1

Assessment assignment 4-1: Use of activities in social educational work

This is a group assignment that will be based on the use of activities in work with children and youth.

The assignment should be carried out with regard to the principles of methodical social educational work. The result will be presented in plenary and then finally presented in a written report which should be based on relevant specialist literature.

Group assignment. 5500 words. The work process, creativity, effort, organisation, submission / presentation and report will form the basis for the grade. Letter grade which accounts for 25% of units 1 and provides 20 ECTS.

Course unit code: 070-071 DO3

Documentation assignment: The individual student must document a minimum of 75% attendance for the group work in connection with assessment assignment 4-1.

Course unit code: 070-071 DO4

Documentation assignment: The student must document a minimum of 75% attendance at the learning sessions regarding training in skills concerning the use of culture and activities relevant to the subject. Obligatory lectures will be specified in the timetable.

COURSE UNIT 5: PRACTICAL CHILD WELFARE WORK IN MUNICIPAL AND NATIONAL CHILD WELFARE SERVICES

10 ECTS

Students will:

• Become acquainted with laws that deal with children and young people and the child welfare services especially.
• Learn how to carry out effective casework that secures the rights and needs of children and adolescents.
• Gain knowledge of the areas of responsibility, organisation and practice of the child welfare profession.
• Gain an understanding of the ethical dilemmas that occur in practical child welfare work.
• Acquire knowledge of minor refugees and the asylum-seeker’s situation, and the responsibilities of the child welfare authorities in relation to these.

The content of the course unit focuses on practical child welfare work with respect to the Child Welfare Act, and legal guidelines and practice regarding current international laws and regulations. In this context, the course unit considers interpretation of laws and regulations as well as administrative procedures and initiatives in the municipal child welfare services, where the focus is on risk children and young people, their families and social networks.

Teaching and learning methods: Lectures, group work, supervision and practical exercises.

Assessment methods: Course unit 5 contributes two assessment assignments and one documentation assignment:

Course unit code: 070-071 5-1

Assessment assignment 5-1: Practical child welfare work

The assessment assignment should contain a written answer related to an example from practical child welfare work. Group answer. 3000 words. Letter grade which constitutes 25% of the grade for major course unit 1 (5 ECTS).

Course unit code: 070-071 5-2

Assessment assignment 5-2: The Child Welfare Act

Individual examination within a time frame of 3 hours with invigilation. Permitted examination aid is the text of The Child Welfare Act. Pass/Fail. 5 ECTS

Course unit code: 070-71 DO5

Documentation assignment: The individual student must document a minimum of 75% attendance in the group work that forms the basis of assessment for assessment assignment 5-1.

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