Main course I will contribute to students gaining basic knowledge and skills in the areas of child welfare which concern children and adolescents’ survival, growth and development, in both multicultural and international contexts.
The course will help students to develop a conscious awareness of their role as students; to acquire relevant academic skills; to work cooperatively in groups and to gain insight into the theory and practice of child welfare in a multicultural context.
Further, students will acquire knowledge and understanding of the importance of the social framework conditions which children, adolescents and their social networks find themselves in within national and international contexts.
In addition, the course will provide students with fundamental knowledge of practical child welfare issues in local, regional and national public services.
Course unit 1 aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of their role as students in a professionally oriented education environment at Telemark University College. Students will acquire relevant skills in the use of modern technology in their academic pursuits, as well as an elementary understanding of group processes as a learning method. In addition, students will be introduced to historical and contemporary discussions regarding the child welfare worker’s field of activity, its theoretical foundations and professional ethics. Students will also develop a basic understanding of the concepts, teaching, learning and culture.
Students pursuing the programme in multicultural child welfare will be provided with a separate introduction that will address the challenges posed by child welfare work in a global, international and multicultural context; and will gain a basic awareness of this as constituting a focal point for the programme’s structure, content and values’ foundation.
The course unit discusses the new student role in a wide sense, including a special focus on the concepts of teaching, learning and culture. In addition, the course unit includes a basic understanding of professional development in child welfare, professional roles and ideological and ethical foundations in a multicultural context.
Knowledge regarding important global, developmental, and cultural challenges, perspectives, theories, concepts and empirical data will constitute an important part of the course unit. This will provide the foundation for the development of the students’ reflections regarding their perceptions of the world and understanding of reality, which in turn may be used as a tool when operating in the complex and complicated field of child welfare.
The course unit is organised so as to enable students to familiarise themselves with the inner workings of Telemark University College, the Faculty of Health and Social Studies and the Department of Social Work Studies. They will be introduced to the various student-environment initiatives as well as to the organisation of student democracy. A joint introductory programme, buddy programme and various activity plans will ensure that new students will get to know their fellow students as well as their new classmates. In addition, they will be offered instruction in the use of computers if necessary, be introduced to Classfronter as a communication tool, and be familiarised with the use of the library. The induction also includes lectures, an introduction to group work, self-study, individual written assignments and meetings with child welfare workers from the practical experience area.
Course unit 1 is to a large degree organised in unison with the Bachelor programmes in Child Welfare and Social Education Studies. Students taking Multicultural Child Welfare will form a separate class and work in separate groups if this is suitable.
Course unit 1 includes two assignments for the documentation portfolio:
Course unit code: 869HEMN1 DO1
Documentation assignment: A reflective commentary which will encourage students to become more consciously aware of their motivation for studying multicultural child welfare, their learning expectations, what they expect of themselves and the academic environment and the type of employment they hope to pursue in the future. Individual responses. 700 words.
Course unit code: 869HEMN1 DO2
Documentation assignment: An assignment which considers the concepts of teaching and learning as a starting point for students’ reflections regarding identifiable factors that promote learning. Individual responses. (1500 words)
Course unit 2 aims to provide students with knowledge of conditions regarding children and adolescents’ survival and normal development; to help students develop skills in the use of observation as a method; and to provide them with knowledge regarding various types of disability. Students will learn to give an account of developmental psychological and pedagogical approaches and will acquire knowledge regarding learning and socialisation. Students will become acquainted with cultural similarities and differences between ethnic majority and minority cultures in the context of the children’s growth and development, and families. They will also become aware of the sources of conflicts that may exist within various ideologies regarding children’s growth and development, and the possible consequences of this in relation to the efforts to secure all children and adolescents optimal socialisation conditions in Norway.
The course unit covers basic knowledge of and approaches to developmental psychology and pedagogy, especially considered in a multicultural context. Observation as a method will also be considered, and knowledge of various types of disability with a focus on particularly relevant diagnoses will be considered in a relational perspective.
The course unit is in part organised together with the BA in Social Education Studies and the BA in Multicultural Child Welfare. Learning methods include individual study, lectures, development of skills in observing children, group work, individual written assignments and presentations in class.
Course unit 2 requires two assignments in an assessment portfolio and one assignment in a documentation portfolio.
Course unit code 869HEMN1 DO3
Documentation assignment. A group assignment in which the subject material should shed light upon various types of disability. The work should be presented by groups in plenary. Each student must document a minimum of 75% participation in group work.
Assessment assignment 2-1: Observation report. The assignment should describe an observation session. Individual paper. 1200 words. Pass/fail.
Course unit code 869HEMN1 2-2
Assessment assignment 2-3: Psychological development.
The assignment should show that students have a basic understanding of developmental psychology. Individual paper. 2000 words. This paper is given a letter grade which constitutes 25% of the final grade for Main Course 1.
The aim of course unit 3 is to provide students with a basic understanding of how public administration organises and delegates responsibilities on national, regional and local levels. It will also provide them with insight into legal methods, administrative law and relevant knowledge of special laws. Another goal is that students should acquire an interest in health and socio-political issues in the context of the development of the Norwegian welfare state and the global framework conditions. Students will become acquainted with Norwegian welfare policies in a comparative perspective, and be able to give an account of relevant multicultural challenges in the welfare state. Students will also become familiar with the development of poverty on a national basis and learn about social differences. The course unit will help students to understand the importance of professionals who reflect on their activities, and participate actively in discussions concerning the living conditions and quality of life of children, youth and other vulnerable groups.
The contentof the course unit includes topics chosen from national and local government, legal topics, sociology, and health, social and welfare policies. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the relationships between the aforementioned topics, including the significance of the relationship between the profession/management and public administration policies.
The course unit is, to a large degree, organised together with the BA in Child Welfare and the BA in Social Education Studies. In addition to self-study, there will also be lectures, supervised-study lectures, work in groups and presentations in plenary. The study lectures will provide an understanding of social framework conditions which are particular relevant to the child welfare worker’s professional practice in international and multicultural contexts.
Course unit 3 contributes one assignment to the assessment portfolio.
Course unit code: 869HEMN1 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, 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 course grade for Main Course I.
The aim of course unit 4 is to help students develop their basic knowledge of the complex social pedagogical subject area and to learn to use activities in child welfare work in a multicultural society. Students will develop an understanding of the connection between knowledge, attitudes and skills in relation to the various approaches to vulnerable children, youth, their families and social networks. There will be a specific focus on the development of skills in relation to the use of cultural activities and measures that have been developed within the subject field.
The course unit takes as its starting point the assumption that the role of the child welfare worker is socially constructed, and aims at making the students more aware of the social framework within which social pedagogical work is carried out.
The course unit covers social pedagogical theory and empirical findings, including a social-pedagogical 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, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and relevant Norwegian integration and inclusion policies.
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.
Course unit 4 has one assignment in the assessment portfolio and 3 assignments in the documentation portfolio.
Course unit code: 070HEMN1 4-1
Assessment assignment 4-1: Use of activities in social pedagogical work
This is a group assignment that will be based on the use of activities in work with children and youth in multicultural Norway.
The assignment should be carried out with regard to the principles of methodological social-pedagogical work. The result will be presented in plenary and then finally presented in a written report which should be based on relevant subject literature.
5500 words. Letter grade which constitutes 25% of the final grade for Main course 1.
Documentation assignment: The individual student must document a minimum of 75% attendance for the group work in connection with assessment assignment 4-1.
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 code: 070HEMN1 DO6
Documentation assignment:An individual reflective commentary on one’s own contribution and skills in the group’s work throughout the execution of assessment assignment 4-1.
The aim of course unit 5 is for the students to acquire basic knowledge of the areas of responsibility assigned to the child welfare administration, its organisation and practices. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding vulnerable children, youth and their families in multicultural Norway. Emphasis is also placed on the ethical dilemmas which develop in practical child welfare work. Students will gain an understanding of the social conditions that contribute to social differences, and of problems which have significance for practical welfare work.
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, particularly those of the municipal child welfare services which address a multicultural issue. Further, preventative initiatives and assistance aimed at high-risk children and youths, their families and their social networks are also discussed.
The course unit includes lectures, group work, supervision and practical exercises in which the students will receive training in working with the Child Welfare Act and the challenges which this involves.
Course unit 5 contributes two assignments to the assessment portfolio, and one assignment to the documentation portfolio:
Course unit code: 869HEMN1 5-1
Assessment assignment 5-1: Practical child welfare work
The assessment portfolio should contain a written answer related to an example (a ‘case’) from practical child welfare work. Group answer. 3000 words. Letter grade which constitutes 25% of the grade for Main Course 1.
Course unit code: 869HEMN1 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.
Course unit code: 869HEMN1 DO7
Documentation assignment: The individual student must document a minimum of 75% attendance at the group work that forms the basis of assessment for assessment assignment 5-1.
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