Current active course description (last updated 2024/25)
Identity, community and participation
SAM1016
Current active course description (last updated 2024/25)

Identity, community and participation

SAM1016
Why is electoral turnout falling among young people? Why is child poverty increasing in Norway? How does artificial intelligence affect students' critical thinking skills? How can we educate for community engagement, democracy and participation? These are among the questions you will get to explore in this course.
This course gives an introduction to select perspectives from within social science on the relationship between individual and society, the Norwegian political system, the welfare state, media and democracy. You will gain research based knowledge and be introduced to new perspective through exploring the effects of power, social background and class, and mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion. Throughout the course you will learn various didactical approaches, train your critical thinking, debate and dialogue skills.
The program is open to anyone who has general study competence.

KNOWLEDGE

The student

  • has subject knowledge about how people engage in different forms of interaction and form communities, focusing on childhood and youth.
  • has insight into how social background and distribution of resources and power matter to inclusion and exclusion, participation and conflict.
  • knows of theories from within the social sciences regarding multiculturalism and racism.
  • has subject knolwedge about the Norwegian political system and the welfare state.
  • has subject knowledge about different perspectives on democracy and citizenship in education.

SKILLS

The student

  • is able to summarize and present social scientific research concerning Norwegian society today.
  • is able to apply adequate scientific terminology in a discussion about important societal challenges.
  • is able to identify and discuss questions of multiculturalism, racism and discrimination with regard to education, applying theoretical perspectives and terms.
  • is able to discuss political challenges, including ethical questions and questions about values and attitiudes.
  • is able to reflect critically about different aspects of democracy and education for democracy.
  • is able to reflect critically and independently about different information, and differences in outlook and ways of reasoning in public space.

GENERAL COMPETANCE

The student

  • is able to identify and analyze important social scientific questions.
  • is able to give and receive feedback on academic work.
  • is able to reflect critically and independently about important social studies didactical questions.
  • is able to participate in debates and academic conversation about important questions treated in the course.
No tuition fees. Semester fees and cost of course literature apply. Students must have access to adequate technical equipment.
Elective

This course is online, and requires digital attendance and participation throughout the academic year. Active participation and dialogue is necessary to achieve the learning outcomes of the course. This includes the work assignments (AK).

In addition to digital participation, there will be voluntary excursions, visits to institutions, and practical work.

There are three work assignments (AK) during the semester.

Evaluation using mid-term and final surveys. Students are also encouraged to participate in the central quality surveys.
There is no practice in schools related to the study.

Composite assessment (SV)

The final grade in the course is composed of two exam components:

  • Work requirements (AK): Three assignments will be given as work requirements during the semester. There may be both individual tasks and group tasks. Assessment expression: Approved/not approved.
  • Oral exam (MU): Individual oral exam. Duration about 30 minutes. Assessment terms A-F. Weighted 100 percent of final grade.

All AK must be approved before the student can receive a final grade in the course

All aids permitted.

Exception:

Generating text using Chat-GTP or other artificial intelligence and submitting it as one's own work, partly or fully, will be counted as cheating.

No prior knowledge is required beyond the admission requirement.

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:

SAM1012 - Social Studies 1 - 15 credits

SAM1022 - Social Studies 1B - Identity and Community - 7.5 credits

Choose start semester
Course language
Norwegian
Credits
15
Online
Responsible faculty
The Faculty of Education and Arts
Course coordinator
Information about the course coordinator for the selected semester is no longer available. Please contact the current course coordinator.