Child Development in Scandinavia Practicum A

Semester & Location:	Spring 2019 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Core Course Co-requisite - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:	Child Development, Education/Educational Studies
Faculty Members:	Jennifer Duncan-Bendix - jdu@dis.dk
Program Director:	Neringa B. Vendelbo - nb@dis.dk
Program Assistant:	Shannon Schooley - sks@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Thursdays

 

Description of Course

This course emphasizes and integrates application of research, critical reflection, and hands-on experience in Danish pedagogy in order to explore the connection between pedagogical approaches and professional practices with children. Students enrolled in this section are placed exclusively in early childhood settings - either nursery or preschools.  Students visit their site one day a week for a total of 45-55 hours per semester. This course builds the bridge between the theories you explore in your core class, and the experiences you have in practice.

Note: Criminal clearance from state or local authorities prior to leaving the U.S. (or your country of citizenship) is required.

Learning Objectives

In this course, students will examine current research and assessments in relation to pedagogy in a Danish context. By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a knowledge of the major elements, theoretical perspectives, and interdisciplinary approaches to the field of ‘pedagogy’
• Gain experience in actively participating in the everyday life in a Danish children’s institution
• Understand and reflect on current challenges and debates within Danish pedagogy and see these in the light of theory and research presented in the core course
• Assess practical observations and experiences through the development of observational, analytical, and creative thinking skills

Faculty

Instructor Information:

Jennifer Duncan-Bendix

MA. Dagtilbuds- og Indskolings Didaktik – Early Childhood Education and Curriculum Studies (Aarhus University, 2014). BA (Early Childhood Development and Education, University of Connecticut, 2006). External Lecturer, Aarhus University (Fall 2016). Assistant Program Director, Child Development and Diversity (2014 – Present).  DIS Program Coordinator (2011-2014). Pædagog in International and Danish communities in Copenhagen (2008-2010). DIS CDD Program Assistant (2007-2008). With DIS since 2007.

Readings

Readings are uploaded onto Canvas. Readings must be completed prior to workshops and/or advising, and students must be prepared with notes and reflections to contribute to group discussions.

• Biesta, G. (2009). Good education in an age of measurement: on the need to reconnect with the question of purpose in education. Educational Assessment, Evaluation & Accountability, 21(1), 33-46.
• Cohen, L. M., & Manion, L. l. & Morrison, K.(2007). Research methods in education, 6. p. 349-382 + 396-413
• Heckman, J. J. (2006). Skill Formation and the Economics of Investing in Disadvantaged Children. Science, 312(5782), 1900-1902. 
• Larrivee, B. (2008). Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Reflective Practitioners. New Educator, 4(2), 87-106.

Field Studies

As the majority of the course component is your weekly visit to your site, field studies are not included for this course.

Guest Lecturers

As the majority of the course component is your weekly visit to your site, guest lectures are not included for this course. 

Approach to Teaching

Aside from your independent visits to your practicum site, this course is structured with workshops as well as advising sessions. The workshops will include theoretical and practical topics and activities to help foster learning at the practicum visits. The advising days are centered on central concepts and themes from your experiences at your site, and are designed as an opportunity to use your faculty and fellow students as professional resources.

Expectations of the Students

In this course, each person has the equal and unique responsibility to facilitate the most optimal learning outcomes. You are expected to:

• Complete all readings prior to coming to workshops and advising
• Be respectful and inclusive to faculty and peers
• Contribute to discussions and group activities
• Draw upon your interactions and observations from daily life in Denmark to the theory, research, and practices of Danish pedagogy presented in the practicum course as well as your core course
• Be punctual and attend all workshops, advising sessions and visits
• Use your logbook for written experiences, observations and reflections at every practicum visit
• Be a positive role model for the children at your practicum site with high engagement and initiating behavior
• Be a positive representative of DIS at your practicum site showing respect and engagement with children and staff

Practicum

Students are placed in a Danish Vuggestue (infant-toddler center) or Børnehave (pre-school). Students will observe and interact with children each week, working under the guidance of a supervising pedagogue or teacher.  Although students will be appointed a practicum supervisor at the site, they are also expected to consult the other staff to ask for help, instruction and guidance when needed.

You are required to go to your site at least 10 times and attain a minimum of 45 hours of practical experience.

Make-up hours: Visits to the sites will take place on 10 scheduled Thursdays; however, if you need to make up hours, you are responsible for scheduling them with your site. There are 11 possible Thursdays over the course of the semester – it is your responsibility to arrange with your site directly (in advance!) which 10 of the 11 Thursdays you will be present at your site. If other days than Thursdays are not in conflict with your other DIS classes or the site, you can arrange for other days as well. Beware that you might end up needing the extra 11^th date in case of illness during the course, so be aware of all 11 days!

Evaluation

• To be eligible for a passing grade in this class you must complete all of the assigned work.
• It is also a requirement that you submit a completed ‘time sheet’ with the signature of the supervising pedagogue to confirm that you have completed the required hours for this course (minimum 45 hours) distributed over 10 visits. Time sheets must uploaded via Canvas. It is the student’s responsibility to get this sheet signed by staff at the practicum site during each visit.

Grading

Assignment	Due	Percent
Attendance (Advising and Workshops) Timesheet	Timesheet due May 6 before midnight	15%
Learning Journal - Midway (Entries 1-5)	Friday, Feb 15 by noon	40%
Learning Journal - Final (Entries 6-11)	Wednesday, May 8 before midnight	45%
Total		100%

Attendance (15%)

Attendance is mandatory for all scheduled classes and field studies. This grade includes presence in class, being on time, and handing in papers on time. The final attendance grade will build on the system presented below:

Behavior	Points deducted out of 100
Excused late class	5 points
Unexcused late	10 points
Excused absence	15 points
Unexcused absence	20 points
Late assignments	5 points for each late day(submission will receive an F if it is more than 1 week late)

Absence 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.  Regardless of whether lateness is excused or unexcused, it is still disruptive to the class and you miss out on relevant information. Please note that since this course meets very seldom, missing classes are highly problematic and therefore counts down more than usual.

Advising

• Advising session 1:  Wednesday, Feb 20 (9:00-12:30 + potentially afternoon)
• Advising session 2:  Wednesday, April 3 (13:00-17:00 + potentially morning)

Through the semester, you will attend Practicum Advising twice. The content of the meetings will be to discuss any topics related to your practicum experiences and is done both in groups and individually. There will be 15 minutes per student per advising session.  As part of preparation for the individual meetings, each advising session will start with the WHOLE class for a 30-minute introduction and discussion session.

Learning Journals (Midway 40% and Final – 45% of total grade)

• Midway Journal (Entries 1-5) due:  Friday, Feb 15 by noon
• Final Journal (Entries 6-11) due:  Wednesday, May 8 by midnight

Journal Requirements:

• Approximately 300-400 words (prompt not included), due at 10AM the day following your visit.
• The portfolios are submitted as a word document, where you copy and paste the table and ‘add’ your most recent entry under the specific number of the visit – meaning that each of your uploads will contain all of your previous entries.
• There are 11 entries total.
• IF YOU MISS A VISIT:  Make a note about it in the worksheet and fill it in once you do the make-up visit.  (If you miss one of the first 4 visits, please contact the faculty before you submit the assignment.)

Your submissions should reflect your active participation at your site, which among other things entails staying engaged in the daily activities at the site, and consulting directly with pedagogues regarding what you can do to enhance the experience for both children, staff and you as a student.

Additional Policies

Confidentiality: Please note that you must respect confidentiality at your site, so it is forbidden to put names of institutions, children, parents or staff in assignments or on the internet. In order to take photos of children (please note U.N. Conventions on Children’s Rights), staff members or parents, students must ask for permission from the institution and must confirm with practicum instructors. The use of photos for anything must be confirmed by practicum supervisor or leader of the practicum site.

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 for note taking.

It is not allowed to use your phone while being with the children at your practicum site. It will affect your final grade if practicum sites report any use of phones etc. during time spent with children. 

 

Academic Regulations  

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

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Attendance
• Coursework, Exams, and Final Grade Reports
   

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