Course Syllabus

Semester & Location:	Spring 2025 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Core Course - 3 credits
Study Tours:	Western Denmark Helsinki, Finland
Major Disciplines:	Child Development, Education/Educational Studies, Human Development
Prerequisites:	None
Faculty Members:	Nanna Duchêne (current students please contact via the Canvas Inbox)
Program Contact:	Department email address psy.cns@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Time: Mondays 8.30-11.25 Classroom: V23-301

Course Description

This course focuses on central ideas and practices when working with children and youth in educational and social contexts in Scandinavia. It addresses the contemporary issues facing professionals working with children and youth, as well as how education, upbringing and care in Scandinavian countries differ from approaches in the rest of the world. Class discussions are addressed through the lenses of public policy, educational theories, and practitioner perspectives. In class you will investigate burning issues such as how to include children’s and youths’ perspectives on their own lives, and how to implement values such as trust, freedom, independence and solidarity in families, schools and general education in a Scandinavian contexts. In class you will also gain an insight into topics such as pros and cons of free play, the role of nature in childhood development and general education, democracy in schools, the views of childhood and youth in Scandinavian film and literature, family and social politics, and diversity and cultural differences in an educational and social context amongst other. Overall, this course will focus on theories and practices related to early childhood education and care (ECEC), up through public school and adolescence (children ages 0-16) and High Schools.   A foundation for the course is exploring the theories for each topic presented, and then consider how to apply them to professional practice when working with children and youth in a variety of capacities.   The experiences and observations from study tours and field studies, as well as cases and video observations will be integrated into discussions to highlight the connections between theory and practice. 

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course students in this class will...

• Identify the main characteristics of a Nordic pedagogical approach to childhood development and education as it is understood within a larger international context.

• Apply the terms and concepts discussed in class to hands-on experiences and observations from field studies, study tour visits, and practical examples.

• Analyze how approaches to childhood, care-taking and education can be challenged from a cross-cultural perspective.

• Creatively and critically evaluate how Nordic perspectives can be used to investigate policies, pedagogies, and cultural structures related to education in the US and abroad.

• Engage with the course material based on their own interdisciplinary perspectives, both individually as an active participant in the course, as well as cooperatively with peers.

• practice active participation as seen in a Scandinavian context

Faculty

Nanna Duchêne: Associate professor, Philosophy of Education. External lecturer for several years at Aarhus University and Associated Professor at University Colleges  within disciplines: Philosophy of Education, General Education and Children with special needs. Several years of experience as Editor of Nordic Journals on Education. With DIS since 2021. Teaches the subjects: 'Childhood Development and Education - general and practicum' and 'Playful Learning in Scandinavian Classrooms'.

Study Tours

Core Course week and study tours are an integral part of the core course and the aim is to build the bridge between theory from classes to practice in the field. You will travel with your classmates and DIS faculty/staff on two study tours; a short study tour in Denmark during Core Course Week and a long study tour to Finland.

While on a program study tour, DIS will provide accommodation, transportation to and from destinations, 1 meal per day and entrances, guides, and visits relevant to your area of study or the destination. You will receive a more detailed itinerary prior to departure.

Core Course Week & Short Tour

• Destination: Odense and Billund (Lego-House)
• Activities: Visit a Children's theatre, an Efterskole, H.C. Andersen's Play Universe, Lego House, and participate in group cooking and dining at a cooking school.
• Purpose: Gain a more in-depth understanding of childhood, care and education outside of Copenhagen, and get to know your classmates and faculty. The visits will be integrated into the academic content of the course.   

Long Study Tour

• Destination: Helsinki and Rovaniemi 
• Activities: Visit Daycare, Schools and Cultural opportunities for children and young people, and participate in outdoor activities – including winter bathing and sauna, hiking in the forest, playing with Huskies, and hopefully seeing the Northern Lights.
• Purpose: Gain an insight into Finnish Education and Culture and investigate what the contributing factors are for one of the highest evaluated education systems in the world, while also comparing it to Denmark and the US,  and get to know your classmates and faculty even better.
• Please note: you should anticipate temperatures ranging from +5 to -15 degrees Celsius, with the possibility of rain and snow. You should therefor bring warm and rainproof clothing + Sturdy, Non-Slip Footwear.

Field Studies

Field studies will include visits and topics of common interest for this class. The idea is to have a shared experience that will both examine the prior knowledge and bring in new experiences in the area of educating and working with children.

Approach to Teaching

The class will be seen as a community of learners, who have the opportunity to share interests and learn from one another, and is highly dialogical.  A class will be planned based on theory and research articles students have read prior to the class, and analyzed in a quiz beforehand. Different pedagogical and didactical tools will be used, and students will be asked to bring back ideas, thoughts and reflections from field studies, study tours and everyday life and link these experiences with theory and research discussed in class. 

Expectations of the Students

You are expected to:

• Complete readings or other assigned materials prior to each class.
• Demonstrate engagement, responsibility, and independence.
• Contribute to an open, respectful, and encouraging class environment where all members of the class community participate actively and thoughtfully. This include 
  • listening to classmates' perspectives, asking questions that deepen understanding, and providing constructive feedback.
  • Be ready to approach discussions with an open mind, willing to challenge your own preconceptions and engage critically with the material and the perspectives shared by peers.
• Navigate Canvas to find Assignment Guidelines and Syllabus information throughout the semester.

Class Representatives

Each semester DIS looks for class representatives to become an official spokesperson for their class, addressing any concerns that may arise (in academic or related matters), suggesting improvements and coming up with new ideas. Class representatives are a great way for DIS faculty to ensure better and timelier feedback on their courses, assessments and teaching styles, and as such perform an invaluable role in connecting student needs with faculty instruction during term time. Class Representatives will be elected in class at the beginning of the semester (during the short trip).

Guest Lecturers

At certain points in the course, guest lecturers may be invited to provide their experience and expertise on select topics being covered in class

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated throughout the term using a variety of methods.  All students are expected to actively participate in class, which will form part of their grading.  Students will also be required to complete various individual or group assignments throughout the term. Absence from class will only be excused in serious situations but informing your faculty regarding your attendance is always necessary. Unexcused absences include travelling or an absence that has not been discussed with the faculty.

Regarding late assignments:  5 points for each late day (submission will be an F if it is more than 1½ week late) To be eligible for a passing grade in this class, you must complete all of the assigned work.

Assignment	Percent
Attendance, Active participation and Engagement	30%
Reading Mastery	20%
Exploring Finnish Education and Child Development	20%
Assignment C: Create a children's book	30%
Total	100%

 

Active participation and engagement. In Scandinavia most teachers base their didactical decisions on the believe that when students experience an influence on the teaching, that is what (content) and how (methods) and with who they might be working together with (organization), it increases their engagement or motivation to participate, and they experience having a more active role. At the same time, it also means that the teacher expects and encourage the students to be actively co-determining in their own learning process, that they participate in class discussions, that they provide input in the form of questions to the teacher and peers, that they seek to have an impact on teaching methods, teaching content and overall  curriculum design, and last but not least: that they support everybody's feeling of belonging to a community in the classroom. Please note that since this course has its center around Scandinavian pedagogy active participation and engagement as described above counts more than usual.

Reading Mastery: Before class each week, you are required to complete a reading comprehension quiz through canvas, based on the assigned readings for class that day.  The quiz is targeted to help you outline your understanding of readings and core concepts, and you have the ability to re-take the quiz as many times as necessary to reach a total of approximately 90% correct.  Once you reach 90%, the quiz for the following week will be 'unlocked'.  Your score from each week is totaled into the final grade for this assignment. 

Exploring Finnish Education and Child Development: This assignment involves a comprehensive exploration of Finnish education and child development through a multi-part project, integrating pre-travel research, active engagement during the trip, and post-travel synthesis. The goal is to foster collaborative learning and creative presentation skills.

Create a Children's book:  In this assignment you must create a book. Your book should use storytelling and visuals to present your topic engagingly, reflecting your the Scandinavian view of the child and role of children's literature in a Scandinavian context.

Additional Policies

Use of laptops or phones: Students are expected to be fully present and engaged during the entire class period. This entails that all phones must be set on silent and put away and laptops are allowed only by agreement with faculty. 

Readings

The texts for this course can be found in 'Modules' through Canvas. In Canvas Calendar you can see which text to prepare for each class. Note that some of the text mentioned below will be optional.

• Brogaard-Clausen and Ringsmose (2017): The Professional Identity of the Danish Pedagogue: Historical Root in an Education with Focus on Democracy, Creativity, Dannelse and a ‘Childhood Logic’. In: Nordic Social Pedagogical Approach to Early Years
• Bundy, A. (2010). Ten Ways to Restrict Children's Freedom to Play: The Problem of Surplus Safety. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 11(3), 263-277.
• Hedegaard-Sørensen, Lotte and Sine penthin Grumløse (2021): …But it is a completely different school - The status of inclusion in the Danish Folkeskole in a learning-focused school policy (p.74-82). You’re welcome. An introduction to the Danish Folkeskole. UP Nr.2.
• Horst, Christian & Thomas Gitz‐Johansen (2010): Education of ethnic minority children in Denmark: monocultural hegemony and counter positions, Intercultural Education, 137-151.
• Hygum, Erik (2010): To be or not to be – the child as a human being. In: Erik Hygum and Peter Møller Pedersen: Early Childhood Education - Values and Practices in Denmark. Hans Reitzels Forlag.
• Højholt, Charlotte (2018): Children’s perspectives and learning communities: Hedegaard (Ed.):Children, Childhood, and Everyday Life: Children’s Perspectives, 2nd Edition, 2018 (p.93-111).
• Jensen, B.B. & Schnack, K. (1994). Action Competence as an Educational Challenge. I: K. Schnack (red.), Action and action competence as key concepts in critical pedagogy (s. 5-18 af 214 s.). Royal Danish School of Educational Studies.
• Kragh-Müller, Grethe and Rebecca Isbell (2017): Children’s Perspectives on Their Everyday Lives in Child Care in Two Cultures: Denmark and the United State. In:  C. Ringsmose, G. Kragh-Müller (eds.), Nordic Social Pedagogical Approach to Early Years, International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Development.
• Ministry of Children and Education (2022): Early Childhood Education and Care system. The Danish ECEC System & Primary and Lower Secondary Education. The Folkeskole, private schools and more.
• Ministry of Children and Education (2022): Ministerial directions for Sex Education
• Oetingen, A. von (2021): Terrible Play. Terrible pedagogy. Reitzels forlag, Copenhagen
• Oettingen, Alexander von: Didaktik and Citizenship - principles for a didactic on citizenship (p. 17-28). In: UP (2021). You're welcome. An introduction to the Danish Folkeskole. UP Nr.2
• Sandseter, Ellen and Olav Lysklett: Chapter 7. Outdoor Education in the Nordic Region. In:  C. Ringsmose, G. Kragh-Müller (eds.), Nordic Social Pedagogical Approach to Early Years, International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Development 
• The national wellbeing survey amongst Danish children and youth (2022).
• Volmari: Basic education in the Nordic region. similar values. Different politics.
• Wagner, J. T. (2006). An outsider’s perspective. Childhoods and early education in the Nordic countries. W: J. Einarsdottir. JT Wagner (red.), Nordic childhoods and early education, 289-306.
• Wilson, R. (2012). Nature and young children: Encouraging creative play and learning in natural environments (second edition).  New York,
• Winther-Lindqvist, D. A. (2017). The role of play in Danish childcare. Nordic social pedagogical approach to early years(pp. 95-114). Springer, Cham.

Academic Accommodations 

Your learning experience in this class is important to me.  If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter within two weeks from the start of classes. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk to me. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support academicsupport@dis.dk

Academic Regulations

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org