Course description for 2021/22
Outdoor Life and Science
NA200L
Course description for 2021/22
Outdoor Life and Science
NA200L
The course mainly focuses on obtaining good skills and tools in order to give children good nature experiences and perform good learning strategies. Field trips and overnight trips in the surrounding area will be the basis for much of the teaching and learning activities. On some occasions, children are invited to test the student-planned activities. Classes are mainly practical, but the course also covers relevant theory. For further information have a look at the learning outcomes and syllabus.
The student must
- have basic knowledge of didactics within nature, health and movement
- have knowledge about children's learning through body and senses, and how to support and facilitate play and learning processes based on children's experiences, curiosity and initiative.
- have knowledge of scientific phenomena, biological diversity, connections in nature and sustainable development.
- have knowledge of the human body, motor skills, developmental psychology, health-promoting and preventive work and children's physical and mental health.
- have knowledge of food, cooking and meals for children's health, life skills and education.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
Knowledge:
- explain and identify the most common plant and animal species, and compare different ecosystems in the area
- have basic knowledge of natural phenomena
- have basic knowledge of how forces and processes in nature shape and influence landscape, environment and conditions for life
- have basic knowledge of ecological relations and sustainable development
- have basic knowledge of children's relationship with and understanding of nature
- have basic knowledge of how to work with shapes and numbers, classification, sorting, measuring and comparing in the nature
- have knowledge of outdoor life and outdoor learning activities, and be able to reflect on how and why include this in kindergarten/school every day-life
- have basic knowledge of management, professional competence and safety in outdoor life and outdoor learning activities for children
- have basic knowledge of rights and duties related to outdoor life with children
Skills:
- arrange for good nature experiences with the goal that children enjoy being in nature
- arrange for that children receive basic insight into nature, conservation, ecological relations and sustainable development
- being familiar with the use of technology in learning and playing in nature, both practical and theoretical
- arrange for children's joy of exploring and playing with shapes and numbers, gaining experience in classification, sorting, shapes, dimensions and comparing in nature
- identify common landforms, rocks, plants and animals in habitats nearby
- obtain professional competence in outdoor life and outdoor learning activities for children both practical and theoretical
- reflect on how to use outdoor life and outdoor learning activities as educational tools in relevant subjects, and the opportunities provided in relation to learning and development
- reflect on how to stimulate children to experience with all senses, observe and marvel at natural phenomena, experiment, systematize, describe and discuss the phenomena of nature
- reflect on professional competence in outdoor life and outdoor learning activities for children, and evaluate own knowledge and skills in relation to this
- reflect on own practice with children in nature
- relate to rights and duties related to outdoor-life with children
General competence:
- see knowledge and skills in context, and use a combination of these in practical situations
- communicate with others about subjects related to outdoor life and outdoor learning activities with background in professional knowledge
- plan, implement and evaluate tasks and projects related to outdoor life and outdoor learning activities
- discuss views and experiences with others with the same background and through that contribute to the development of good practice
Semester fee and relevant literature.
Elective
Outdoor Activities is a full-time study, organized in 5 - 8 weeks with classes during the semester (25 days in total). In addition to this, it is expected that the students study actively on their own and in groups between those weeks. A large part of the classes is practical and will take place in fields. A diverse range of methods and forms will be used. The course includes nevertheless lectures, group work and tasks related to practice.
The study programme is evaluated annually by students by way of course evaluation studies (mid-term evaluation and final evaluation). These evaluations are included in the university's quality assurance system.
Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:
NA167L - Outdoor activities - 30 credits
NA210L - Utefag - 30 credits