The aim of main course II is to ensure that students gain practical experience in methodical work and are able to develop their ability to integrate practical experience, theoretical knowledge and reflection in their professional work in a multicultural context.
The first part of this main course prepares students for their practice placement by providing them with introductory knowledge regarding the various areas of activity of child welfare work; and also possible explanations regarding why the families of ethnic minorities may require child welfare assistance, and the relevant differentiated relief initiatives which are aimed at this user-group. Cultural understanding and ethnicity in child welfare work forms an important framework of understanding.
The main course will also provide students with a deeper knowledge and understanding of ethical action plans in practical multicultural and methodical work in a wide sense, and connected to a specific practice location in Norway. The aim is to increase awareness and improve the quality of child welfare work with ethnic minority families generally; and to improve skills in the ability to evaluate vulnerable children and youths’ care situations, and parents, and/or other responsible persons, care skills especially. In addition, students will acquire an understanding of the characteristics of high-risk children and youth, their families and social networks; they will develop an understanding of the relationship between the conditions relating to individuals, groups and society, and methodical initiatives considered in a coping perspective.
The aim of course unit 6 is that students will learn to identify the diversity of multicultural child welfare work, and develop a professional foundation for work with the families of ethnic minorities. Students will also learn to give an account of the reasons that families of ethnic minorities, and single refugees and asylum seekers who are minors, may be in the need of assistance from the child welfare services; also considered together with the important conditions and realities of preventative and client-focus work aimed at ensuring and improving this group’s life quality and conditions. Through practice studies the course unit will enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the relationships between theory, research and practice. The students’ practice studies will contribute to students developing knowledge, attitudes and skills, as well as interpersonal skills in the practical execution of methodical child welfare work in a multicultural society.
Further, the practice studies will help students to develop their knowledge and experience with regard to their future professional roles, and also to develop their ability to integrate practical experience, theoretical knowledge and reflection in professional practice through continual processes.
The course unit deals with knowledge relating to multicultural child welfare within various areas of practice in which the relationship between methodical work, ethnicity, cultural understanding and legal frameworks will be emphasised. This is considered in relation to the consequences of Norwegian immigration and integration policies. The course unit also includes practice studies in various arenas in a multicultural context, and reflection regarding knowledge and experience gathered from the period of practice.
The course unit includes lectures, group work, role-play, discussions, reflective work, communication and interaction exercises, and practice studies. The practice studies will include preparatory and summative seminars.
The practice studies are assessed as pass/fail. Course unit 6 contributes three assignments in the assessment portfolio and two assignments in the documentation portfolio:
Course unit code: 869HEMN2 6-1
Assessment assignment 6-1: Information brochure
A response which, in content, is related to drafting an information brochure on one’s practice placement. Individual answer. 1000 words. Pass/fail.
Course unit code: 869HEMN2 6-2
Assessment assignment 6-2: Recognition as multicultural practice
This assignment requires that the student provides an explanation of the concept ‘recognition as practice’. Individual responses. Pass/fail.
Course unit code: 869HEMN2 DO1
Documentation assignment:The individual student must document a minimum of 75% participation in the seminars, both before and after the practical training.
Course unit code: 869HEMN2 6-3
Assessment assignment 6-3: Ethical dilemma
This response is based on the students’ ethical dilemmas from the practice period, which will form a foundation for group work and result in an individual report. 3000 words. Pass/fail.
Course unit code: 869HEMN2 DO2
Documentation assignment: Students will submit a written ethical problem approach drawn from the period of practice studies. The content in this documentation portfolio will form a basis for assessment assignment 6-3.
Course code: 869 PRA1 METHODICAL CHILD WELFARE AND PRACTICE STUDIES
The objective for the practice studies is for students to gain experience with methodical child welfare work; to be challenged to professional, personal and ethical reflection; and to reassess their own attitudes and skills. The practice studies will contribute to the development of the students’ professional skills in various areas, and serve as preparation for their future professional roles.
Course unit 7 aims to provide students with knowledge regarding the development, growth and life conditions of children and youth, and to acquaint them with the various perceptions and practices related to child care, growth and development in national and international contexts. Students will also acquire a basic understanding of which conditions contribute to children and youth finding themselves in situations where they do not receive adequate care. In addition, students will develop a basic understanding of, and ability to evaluate, children and youth’s life situation and their need for care; and they will develop their care skills in a multicultural context. They will also learn to understand the importance of relationships ties and the breakdown of relationships between care persons and children. The life situation of children and youth with ethnic backgrounds, and single refugees and asylum seekers who are minors, will also be dealt with. The course unit also aims to provide students with an understanding of how initiatives may be taken, and familiarity with the most relevant laws and regulations which regulate such initiatives.
The content in the course unit is associated with theories and research regarding childcare, care skills and children who suffer a loss of care in a multicultural context. In addition, the course unit includes knowledge regarding legal and framework conditions for methodical child welfare work related to care skills in a multicultural context. Emphasis is also placed on work with ethical problem approaches and dilemmas in the practical implementation of methodical child-welfare work.
The course unit employs self-tuition, lectures and work in groups associated with specific initiative efforts.
The course unit includes one assignment for the assessment portfolio, and two assignments for the documentation portfolio.
Course unit code: 869HEMN2 7-1
Assessment assignment 7-1: Assessment of the ability to nurture
An answer which in terms of subject content will emphasise the assessment of the ability to nurture. Group response. 4000 words. Graded mark, which will count for 50% of the course grade for main course II.
Course unit code: 869HEMN2 DO3
Documentation assignment: The individual student must document an attendance rate of at least 75% in the group work associated with assessment assignment 7-1.
Course unit code: 869HEMN2 DO4
Documentation assignment: Video recording of proficiency exercises from two different situations involving communication. Duration of maximum 2 x 3 minutes. Group answers. In addition, a short, individual reflective note which describes and justifies the choice of proficiency exercises.
Course unit 8 aims to provide students with an understanding of what is meant by the term ‘high-risk children and youth’ in a multicultural society. The course unit will contribute to students acquiring extensive knowledge and understanding of the individual, cultural and social reasons that result in a marginalised life situation, and the relation between these conditions and the choice of methodical approaches in the work with vulnerable children and youth. Students will also develop their understanding and use of social pedagogical working methods, and use of activities and cultural initiatives as part of the methodical work. Further, students will increase their understanding of communication, cooperation and conflict management and its importance in meetings with the relevant user-groups. The course unit will throw light on the many possibilities which methodical work with vulnerable children and youth provides, and show how child welfare workers may collaborate with other players in this work.
The content of the course unit consists of theories and research relating to the life situations of vulnerable children and youth, how marginalisation and deviation is constructed, and in-depth knowledge of various methodical approaches related to the individual, families/groups and society considered in a multicultural context. Social pedagogy and the use of activities and cultural initiatives in conjunction with challenges relating to students’ functional and interactive skills is of fundamental importance.
The course unit emphasises the use of various teaching and learning methods such as self-study, lectures, activities and cultural initiatives, group work, training in practical skills and fieldwork.
The course unit requires one assignment in the assessment portfolio and two assignments in the documentation portfolio:
Course unit code: 869HEMN2 8-1
Assessment assignment 8-1: The methodical care of vulnerable children and youth and an oral examination.
The response should contain a professionally grounded initiative built on knowledge and understanding of the relationship between individual/group situation and choice of methodical approach. Individual answers (3000 words). Letter grade which counts for 50% of the grade for main course II.
Course unit code: 869HEMN2 DO5
An individual oral examination in basic knowledge from main course II and the students’ understanding of their own subject. Assessment portfolio 8.1 must have received a passing grade before the student may take the oral examination. The final grade is assigned after the oral examination. The oral examination is primarily intended as an adjustment to the grade from the assessment portfolio, but it is also possible to assign the candidate a failing grade if the oral examination so indicates.
Course unit code: 070HEMN2 DO6
Documentation assignment: Video recordings of proficiency exercises from two different situations in communication. Length of maximum 2 x 3 minutes. Group response. In addition, a brief, individual reflection note which describes and justifies the choice of proficiency exercises.
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