Bachelor's Thesis
The course is a compulsory part of the kindergarten teacher education programme and includes insight, knowledge and skills that will help the student become aware of their responsibility as a person of knowledge in professional practice, and the role that R&D activities play in the development of the kindergarten field.
The content of the thesis must be professionally oriented, and linked to kindergarten as an educational institution and the kindergarten teacher’s professional practice. Through work on the bachelor’s thesis, students will plan and carry out an independent investigation based on a thesis statement they choose themselves.
The thesis will provide theoretical insight and practical exercise in academic work in accordance with scientific, methodological and ethical research requirements. The thesis must be rooted in the professional subject of pedagogy, and build on knowledge from one or more fields of study, and/or the area of specialisation.
Academic content:
• Kindergarten research and R&D activities
• R&D and kindergarten teachers as knowledge developers
• Philosophy of science, research methodology and research ethics
• Research design - planning and implementation of R&D work/ bachelor’s thesis
• Data collection and analysis of data
• Quality in R&D work
• Report writing and dissemination
Knowledge
Student
• have knowledge about and understanding of the importance of R&D activities for the development of their own professional identity as a person of knowledge and for the kindergarten field in general
• have basic knowledge about philosophy of science, research methods and research ethics relevant to studies of professional activities in and around kindergartens
• have knowledge about processes related to the collection and analysis of data material
• have in-depth knowledge about and insight into the topic of the bachelor’s thesis
• have up-to-date knowledge about Norwegian and international research in the kindergarten field
Skills
Student
• can academically update themselves through relevant theory and recent research on kindergartens
• can critically reflect and assess theoretical and empirical knowledge as a basis for professional practice in kindergartens
• can discuss and analyse a thesis statement related to kindergartens
• can identify, plan and carry out an independent piece of work over time and in accordance with scientific, methodological and ethical research requirements
• can disseminate knowledge in a professional, academic and ethically sound manner, both orally and in writing
General competence
Student
• can demonstrate knowledge about and insight into practical, professional and pedagogical challenges that exist in kindergarten activities
• can demonstrate academic involvement in current and relevant issues concerning kindergarten and the kindergarten teacher profession
• can use new knowledge to develop themselves as a knowledge developer, the profession and kindergarten
• can take professional responsibility for applying and disseminating scientific knowledge as a basis for the development of kindergarten
The work methods will vary between lectures, seminar work, student presentations, supervision and individual independent work. Courses in literature searches and EndNote will be included.
The teaching at campus Bodø is session-based. Session weeks are stated in the course schedule.
Composite assessment:
- Compulsory participation, 80% attendance requirement in teaching and scheduled activity. Assessed as approved/not approved, set as a condition for obtaining a final course grade.
- Compulsory supervision, minimum of 2 compulsory supervision sessions with a supervisor. Assessed as approved/not approved, set as a condition for obtaining a final course grade.
- Coursework 1, written submission of the thesis statement, preliminary research question and time schedule. A total of 1-2 pages. A first draft of this coursework is submitted for assessment, with the possibility of further revision before the final delivery. Assessed as pass/fail, set as a condition for taking the examination (submitting the bachelor’s thesis).
- Coursework 2, presentation of preliminary project description at supervision seminar. Assessed as pass/fail, set as a condition for taking the examination (submitting the bachelor’s thesis).
- Coursework 3, project description (3-5 pages). A first draft of this coursework is submitted for assessment, with the possibility of further revision before the final delivery. Assessed as pass/fail, set as a condition for taking the examination (submitting the bachelor’s thesis).
- Thesis, individual bachelor’s thesis, assessed according to specific criteria cf. Guidelines for the kindergarten teacher education bachelor’s thesis. Grading scale A-F. Weighted 100/100.
The main rule is that a maximum of two submission attempts are given on written coursework.
All examination support materials are allowed
Exception: Generating an answer using ChatGPT or similar artificial intelligence and submitting it wholly or partially as one's own answer is considered cheating
