7704.11 - Teaching at the Elementary Level


Course number
7704.11
Title
Teaching at the Elementary Level
ECTS
9
Purpose
In this course, students acquire knowledge of and skills in teaching at the elementary level; they will • gain an understanding of what the school and everyday school life requires of children, 6-7 years of age • become aware of the socialisation process children go through in their first years of schooling • acquire knowledge of the academic, personal and social competence of pupils at the elementary level and how they develop these competences • familiarise themselves with and evaluate learning processes and teaching methods used at the elementary level • gain insight into teaching the mother tongue and arithmetic at the elementary level • gain thorough knowledge of the advantages and challenges in cross-disciplinary cooperation (both between teachers in different subjects and between teachers and social educators) • learn to reflect and use didactic documentation • learn to put together a development plan for pupils, 7-9 years of age, which purpose is to give pupils a good and meaningful elementary education • have the opportunity to try this plan hands-on and to evaluate and document its results
Content
The course consists of a theoretical part and a practicum. The subjects covered are: • The public school as a socialisation context • The law for the Faroese primary school, and lesson plans • Didactic reflection and varied learning processes • Elementary education – teaching in letters, symbols and numbers • Pupil focused education • Teaching material for grades 1 to 3. • Evaluation as pedagogical tool • Practicum – working professionally and didactically with children at the elementary level
Assessment method
Students complete a 3 week practicum in the 1., 2. or 3. grade. The practicum will be based on a well-founded lesson plan, which the students have prepared beforehand. On completion of the practicum, students write a paper, in which they integrate theory and didactic goals with their practicum experience. (Further instruction on the paper will be provided in class). In order to pass the course, students must pass the practicum. Grades will be awarded according to the current grading scale and will be based on the paper.