THE LIFE-CYCLE AND DISABILITY IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY 060-071

Course Objectives

The objectives of major course unit I are taken from the goals of the General Curriculum.

Major course unit I will help students to:

Become familiar with the framework for their own professional group and the allocation of responsibilities between the health and social professions.
Become acquainted with the decision-making structures and administrative levels in the health and social sector, and the relevant laws, regulations and agreements.
Be able to identify ethical dilemmas on the social level, in practical health care and in social work.
Demonstrate a comprehensive view of man and respect for the integrity and rights of the individual.
Gain insight into normal development, developmental disorders and the consequences of various functional disabilities.
Gain an understanding of health and social problems, the welfare state and its professions.
Gain knowledge of welfare policy.
Meet the users with empathy and respect based on the principle of equal human worth regardless of age, gender, culture, beliefs and perception of reality.
Be able to plan and carry out methodical milieu work together with the functionally disabled

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 interpretations of the social educator’s responsibilities, 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 social educator profession, and its professional roles, ideological base and ethical principles in a multicultural perspective. 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 social activities will ensure that students become acquainted with fellow students at different stages of their education. 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, meetings with social educators from the field of practical training and individual written assignments.

Assessment methods: Course Unit 1 includes two documentation assignments

Course unit code: 060-071 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: 060-071 DO2

Documentation 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.

COURSE UNIT 2: DEVELOPMENT, CHILDHOOD AND IDENTITY

15 ECTS

Students will:

Gain an understanding of the growth environments of children and adolescents, normal development, developmental disorders and various types of functional disabilities.
Acquire knowledge of the consequences of different functional disabilities.
Develop basic skills in data acquisition.
Be able to discuss various approaches to developmental psychology and pedagogical, sociological and cultural issues. Acquire an understanding of learning, socialisation and various growth environments.
Develop higher awareness of potential conflicts rooted in various educational ideologies, and their possible consequences when attempting to ensure optimal conditions for the socialisation of children and adolescents in Norway.
Develop an awareness of their own communication methods.

The content of the course unit includes developmental psychology; basic pedagogical, sociological and cultural principles and approaches in a multicultural society, various observation methods and knowledge of various functional disorders.

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

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

Course unit code: 060-071 DO3

Documentation assignment: A group project where the objective is to shed light on various functional disabilities. 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: 060-071 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.

Course Unit code: 060-071 2-2

Assessment assignment 2-2: Foundation knowledge

The response will demonstrate the student’s understanding of foundation knowledge. Individual assignment. 2000 words. The grade will constitute 20% of the grade for major course unit I.

COURSE UNIT 3: SOCIAL FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS

10 ECTS

When students have completed course unit 3 they will:

Have a basic understanding of how public administration organises and delegates responsibilities on national, regional, county and local levels.
Have gained insight into legal methods, administrative law and the relevant knowledge of special laws.
Have acquired 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.
Have gained knowledge of poverty as a welfare policy topic and have acquired knowledge of social differences.
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, 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: 060-071 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 policies. In the assessment, emphasis will be placed on the degree of detailed knowledge within the above field, 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 20% of the grade for major course unit I.

COURSE UNIT 4: MILIEU WORK AND DISABILITY

30 ECTS

When students have completed course unit 3 they will:

Have knowledge and understanding of the various cognitive functional difficulties and perceptions of reality.
Be able to identify interests, resources and limits in cooperation with users.
Exhibit understanding of the rights of users.
Be able to plan, execute and assess milieu and habilitation work which will ensure life quality and the highest level of mastering skills.
Be aware of the various dilemmas which occur in a multicultural society in relation to social integration, inclusion and participation.
Have knowledge and understanding of the methodical means available in the work with people with various functional disabilities.
Have knowledge of the importance of personal qualities as a part of professional competency.
Be able to develop an understanding of the connection between knowledge, attitudes and skills of the various methodical approaches in cooperation with people with functional disability, their families and networks.
Be able to plan and arrange leisure activities and cultural initiatives.
Be aware of the social framework conditions under which social educational work is carried out.

The content of the course unit is knowledge and understanding of developmental disorders and other cognitive functional difficulties. The course unit will provide students with a basic introduction to various professionally recognised theoretical perspectives, methods and practical knowledge which characterises professional milieu work. Further, the course unit contains ethics, communication, interaction and welfare work. The introduction will form a basis for later practical training studies related to skills and behaviour training and habilitation work. The course unit also includes knowledge of the legal frameworks for milieu work in the public sector, and it examines individual plans and limiting the use of force.

Teaching and learning methods: Lectures and self-study, practical skills’ training and instruction in use of activities and cultural initiatives, group work, supervision and written and oral presentations.

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

Course unit code: 060-071 4-1

Assessment assignment 4-1: Individual plan.

The assessment assignment is based on work with individual plans for the functionally disabled in various practical training contexts. Individual assignment (1500 words). Pass/fail.

Course unit code: 060-071 4-2

Assessment assignment 4-2: Milieu work with vulnerable groups in society and an oral examination.

The assessment assignment is based on the relevant theoretical perspectives taken from course unit 4 as a basis for justification and choice of action in milieu work on individual and social levels. Group assignment (4000 words). The written part of the assignment (4-2) must receive a passing grade prior to taking the oral part.

The individual oral examination is based on the assessment assignment 4-2: Milieu work with vulnerable groups in society, but also includes questions from the knowledge foundation in major course unit I. The final grade will be determined after the oral examination. The oral examination may influence the grade for the assessment assignment, however, it is also possible allocate a failing grade for the assignment on the basis of the candidate’s oral performance.

The letter grade counts for 60% of the course grade for major course unit I.