Course Objectives

In their study of outdoor life theory, outdoor life pedagogy and outdoor life management students will develop their personal skills, gain insight into the interdependency between man and nature and increase their ecological awareness by hiking and camping in natural surroundings.

Course Description

3 ECTS, 1st year of study / one-year programme

Content

Work on outdoor life activities, 1st year of study, will provide an introduction and form the basis for further work in the 2nd year. The course emphasises basic skills related to various physical environments and seasons. Outdoor Life, 1st year, is mainly aimed at work in the lower secondary school.
The target area includes the following topics:

• Development of outdoor life in primary and lower secondary schools and the subject’s role in the National Curriculum (L97) for primary and lower secondary schools.
• The Norwegian Outdoor Recreation Act
• Trip planning and follow-up work
• Group processes
• Orienteering and choice of routes
• Shelter and camps
• Plants and animal life
• Clothing and equipment
• Life saving and rescue of comrades

12 ECTS, 2nd year of study

Work on this target area builds on the content of the 1st year of study (3 ECTS).

Content

The target area emphasises the following three topics:

Outdoor life theory:

• Knowledge of basic skills with regard to various natural environments and types of trail activities.
• Safety and consequences-analysis. Planning trips, trips according to ability and trip norms.
• Outdoor life traditions, characteristics and values, and the development of “modern” outdoor life.
• Experiencing nature and attitudes towards nature.

Outdoor life pedagogy:

• • The role of outdoor activities in various types of schools, organisations and institutions. The educational opportunities and limitations of outdoor activities.
  • Guidance in outdoor activities; guide role. Didactic and methodological issues related to guidance as a teaching and learning method.
    Socialisation in and through outdoor activities.

Outdoor life management:

• The importance of outdoor activities in Norwegian society.
• Outdoor life policies, legislation and public administration of outdoor activities at different levels.
• Key problem areas in the management of outdoor activities. Conflicting interests with other users of nature.

In addition, various nature and cultural themes will be highlighted during the field courses, for example, landscape forms, flora and fauna, cultural traces, cultural heritage, legends and folklore.

3 ECTS, 1st year of study / one-year programme

Content

Work on outdoor life activities, 1st year of study, will provide an introduction and form the basis for further work in the 2nd year. The course emphasises basic skills related to various physical environments and seasons. Outdoor Life, 1st year, is mainly aimed at work in the lower secondary school.
The target area includes the following topics:

• Development of outdoor life in primary and lower secondary schools and the subject’s role in the National Curriculum (L97) for primary and lower secondary schools.
• The Norwegian Outdoor Recreation Act
• Trip planning and follow-up work
• Group processes
• Orienteering and choice of routes
• Shelter and camps
• Plants and animal life
• Clothing and equipment
• Life saving and rescue of comrades

12 ECTS, 2nd year of study

Work on this target area builds on the content of the 1st year of study (3 ECTS).

Content

The target area emphasises the following three topics:

Outdoor life theory:

· Knowledge of basic skills with regard to various natural environments and types of trail activities.

· Safety and consequences-analysis. Planning trips, trips according to ability and trip norms.

· Outdoor life traditions, characteristics and values, and the development of “modern” outdoor life.

· Experiencing nature and attitudes towards nature.

Outdoor life pedagogy:

• • The role of outdoor activities in various types of schools, organisations and institutions. The educational opportunities and limitations of outdoor activities.
  • Guidance in outdoor activities; guide role. Didactic and methodological issues related to guidance as a teaching and learning method.
    Socialisation in and through outdoor activities.

Outdoor life management:

• The importance of outdoor activities in Norwegian society.
• Outdoor life policies, legislation and public administration of outdoor activities at different levels.
• Key problem areas in the management of outdoor activities. Conflicting interests with other users of nature.

In addition, various nature and cultural themes will be highlighted during the field courses, for example, landscape forms, flora and fauna, cultural traces, cultural heritage, legends and folklore.

Learning Methods

3 ECTS, 1st year of study / one-year programme

Experience and learning will, to the greatest extent possible, take place outdoors, and during the first year of study, Outdoor Life will be organised around three walks in addition to one or more days in the local community. The autumn trip consists of three days in forests and mountains; the winter trip consists of four days and the spring trip two days of canoeing on flat water. The work will be based on the use of guidance as a tool for the students' experiences and learning. The role of guide as a pedagogical teaching and learning method is used in outdoor life activities, and the students will gain awareness of what this role entails. This requires commitment, initiative and the maturing of each student.

12 ECTS, 2nd year of study

Work on this study unit will have both a practical and theoretical approach. Various teaching and learning methods will be used such as, lectures and seminars; group work and group exercises; problem-based learning and discovery learning; guidance; individual work and field courses.
The field courses consists of:

• A 4-day autumn trip walking and cycling, with an emphasis on outdoor life theory, outdoor life management, and theory of nature and culture.
• A 4-day winter trip in the mountains with an emphasis on outdoor life theory and nature studies. Camping in snow.
• A 3-day river-canoeing trip. Outdoor life theory will be emphasised.

A 4-day group trip without supervision with an emphasis on trip planning, cultural history and outdoor life management.

3 ECTS, 1st year of study / one-year programme

Experience and learning will, to the greatest extent possible, take place outdoors, and during the first year of study, Outdoor Life will be organised around three walks in addition to one or more days in the local community. The autumn trip consists of three days in forests and mountains; the winter trip consists of four days and the spring trip two days of canoeing on flat water. The work will be based on the use of guidance as a tool for the students' experiences and learning. The role of guide as a pedagogical teaching and learning method is used in outdoor life activities, and the students will gain awareness of what this role entails. This requires commitment, initiative and the maturing of each student.

12 ECTS, 2nd year of study

Work on this study unit will have both a practical and theoretical approach. Various teaching and learning methods will be used such as, lectures and seminars; group work and group exercises; problem-based learning and discovery learning; guidance; individual work and field courses.
The field courses consists of:

• A 4-day autumn trip walking and cycling, with an emphasis on outdoor life theory, outdoor life management, and theory of nature and culture.
• A 4-day winter trip in the mountains with an emphasis on outdoor life theory and nature studies. Camping in snow.
• A 3-day river-canoeing trip. Outdoor life theory will be emphasised.

A 4-day group trip without supervision with an emphasis on trip planning, cultural history and outdoor life management.

Assessment Methods

3 ECTS, 1st year of study / one-year programme

The first year of study includes the following course requirements:

• All the teaching during the first year of study is obligatory. This includes both pre-work and follow-up work in connection with the trips and other parts of the teaching.
• Before the student may take the final examination in the 2nd year, all the obligatory work must be completed and passed.

Each course unit must have received a passing mark before students can be given a passing mark for the major course unit.

Please refer to Telemark University College’s Examination Regulations.

12 ECTS, 2nd year of study

Both continuous assessment and a final examination will be used to assess the course. A single grade will be given for the course; the continuous assessment counts for 40% and the final examination counts for 60% of the final grade. All the field courses are obligatory. This includes pre-work and follow-up work (plans, reports and journals) for each course. Some of the lectures and seminars may be obligatory. Before students may take the examination, all the field courses and group assignments must have received passing marks.

This includes obligatory work from the 1st year of study.
The assessment will be made on the basis of the following elements:

• Continuous assessment (40% of the final grade):

• Plan for trip (without supervision). Group mark, 1/3 of continuous assessment mark.
• Journal for winter trip. Individual mark, 1/3 of continuous assessment mark.
• Completion of canoe river trip. Individual mark, 1/3 of continuous assessment.
  Each assignment has its own assessment criteria.
• Final examination (60% of the final grade)
• 4-hour individual written examination.
  All the other course units will be assessed on a pass / fail basis, and each course unit must receive a passing mark in order to achieve a passing mark for the major course unit.

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