The course is designed for international and local teacher students, pre-school teacher students and students of related study programmes. For the students of Nord University the study is part of the concurrent and integrated teacher education programmes (7th term) and pre-school teacher education programme (5th term).

This is a course intended to develop knowledge about and understanding of Nordic and international perspectives on teaching and learning in nursery schools/kindergarten, primary and lower secondary education.

It has a particular emphasis on the region's geographical position and natural surroundings in terms of wildlife, environmental issues, coastal tradition and indigenous culture and how these conditions influence aspects of childhood and education. The course offers an important contrastive dimension in terms of developing awareness of own culture and other cultures' perspectives and attitudes to childhood, teaching and learning.

Knowledge
Upon completion, the student will have:

Knowledge about contrastive elements in attitudes regarding education, teaching and learning
Knowledge about Norway and Scandinavia (geography, history, religion and society)
Knowledge about different outdoor learning arenas
Knowledge about cultural artefacts, folklore and traditions in a comparative and educational perspective
Knowledge about the region's Sámi population today and historically
Knowledge about the region's wildlife and issues related to sustainability and the environment
Knowledge about basic structures of the Norwegian language and some basic methodology of foreign language teaching

Skills
Upon completion, the student should be able to:

identify, compare and contrast attitudes regarding childhood, teaching and learning in their own culture and other cultures
describe and explain the position of the Sámi population in Central Scandinavia
describe and explain issues related to sustainability
master a range of skills related to outdoor activities
organize outdoor activities for children in kindergarten and school
plan, carry out and evaluate practice teaching in chosen subjects in consultation with a practice supervisor
understand simple Norwegian texts and communicate orally in basic Norwegian

General competence
Upon completion, the student will:

understand the importance of sustainable education
understand the value of ethical and responsible attitudes towards nature
understand the value of intercultural understanding
understand the value of outdoor education
be able to reflect upon one's own culture and other cultures' perspectives on teaching and learning

No tuition fees.

Semester fee: All students studying at Nord University, except ERASMUS Plus students and exchange students from other partner institutions, must pay the semester fee.

Cost of course literature apply.

The Norwegian system for grading and assessment using the letter grades A - F, in which A denotes the best/highest grade and F denotes "not passed". Work can also be assessed as "passed", "not passed", "approved" and "not approved".

Assessment tasks (AK)

• 1-2 written reports in accordance with the teachers - approved/ not approved
• Minimum 1 presentation in lecture, seminar or other planned learning activities - approved/ not approved
• Minimum 80 % attendance in lectures, seminars, excursions and other planned learning activities. Active participation and cooperation between students is essential for attaining the skills and competencies described in the learning outcomes. Approved/ not approved

Professional practice (PR)

• Practice placement in school, kindergarten or other relevant institution - passed/not passed

Examination

Compound assessment (SV):

• Written school examination (SK), 4 Hours. Worth 50/100 of the grade - A-F
• Written assignment (OP): Teaching practice report, worth 50/100 of the grade - A-F