Mythology, culture and identity in the Nordic and Baltic countries

Project summary

Relevance , objectives and innovation: 

TEN has within this project title organized three very successful intensive courses:   

Reykjavik 2011: Norse mythology through music and the arts. A multimedia performance of 20 minutes with the title Voluspa including music, drama and visual art/scenography was composed/created during the week and presented to an external audience.

Bergen 2013: Norse mythology through drama, dance, music and visual arts.  A multimedia performance of 20 minutes with the title SPOR – mythological traces in Norway was created/composed during the week and presented to an open audience. Both the process and the result was filmed by a professional film team ( Center for New Media, BUC )

Riga 2015: Autumn equinox celebration: Baltic and Nordic cultural identity through traditional seasonal celebration.

The overall aim is to strengthen the bonds between the Nordic and the Baltic countries through in-depth cultural studies.  Through an innovative approach where the students themselves will create a common festivity including the arts: music, dance, drama, arts/crafts in cross-cultural groups they do not only learn about other cultures, but they will also , because they have to work creatively in transnational groups, come closer and experience other cultures directly.

In addition to get the direct experience and a broader perspective concerning similarities and differences of traditional cultural heritage in the Baltic and Nordic countries through reflection and analyzing, the students also will get a broader understanding of the qualities in the special innovative pedagogical approach being used during the week – the sociocultural approach.

Students will:

-              discover the value of traditions and the necessity for develop them in an innovative manner

-            have a deeper insight about Baltic and Nordic traditions as an actual part of the contemporary culture

-              be  sensitive towards cultural diversity, understand their cultural identity and appreciate others one

-              develop and use their skills in a new context in an innovative way

-              realize the wholeness of the world (human/ nature/ culture)

-              have a holistic experience of the celebration, by preparing and taking part in traditional Baltic and Nordic Autumn Equinox festivity

-              have developed skills of singing, dancing, playing, presenting, teaching, cooking, constructing, observing the natural phenomena, 

        cooperating, discussing, reflecting, evaluating etc

-              experience the value of the cross-curricular learning

-              understand the sociocultural approach in pedagogy

 

Method

Organization and implementation

In the end of each day session students and teachers will have to respond to a questionnaire where they evaluate their experiences and learning outcomes.  On the last day they there will be a session with evaluation of the whole course where the students have to reflect both individually in writing and orally with the others . In a report after the course they have to present, discuss and analyze their learning experiences during the week. 

The work program of the course consists of 5 working days and has these ingredients:  1. Lectures about cultural approach, cross-cultural learning. 2. Sharing the knowledge and experiences of Nordic and Baltic traditions. 3. Different workshops in arts/crafts, music, drama etc. 4. Practical preparation of the Autumn equinox celebrity – preparing the place, dress, food, fire-sculptures, songs, music  etc. 5.     Celebration. 6.  Reflection and analysis of individual experiences, cultural similarities and differences and pedagogical perspectives of socio-cultural approach.

Preparations:  It is necessary that the participants prepare the topic before this course. They will get some literature about Baltic traditions to study. However they also try to find some concrete material connected to autumn equinox in their own country (songs, dances, special traditional food in this celebration, ritual attributes, costumes etc.) and prepare individual or group presentations in some creative way: performances, audio-video presentations, oral and visual presentations about these traditions to let all participants learn more about differences and similarities in traditional cultures across Baltic see.

Bergen University is the coordinator of the network and the coordinator Torunn Bakken Hauge is the leader of the project group responsible for the course concepts. The concept of course no 3 has been widely discussed both at internet and in meetings, and most partner institutions have agreed to include students and teachers from their institutions.

The project group consists of the following representatives/teachers:

Sabine Lam and Frantz Mathiesen, UCC, Copenhagen, Gunta Silina and Ilze Briska, RTTEMA, Riga, Siv Ødemotland, Anne Paulsen and Torunn Bakken Hauge, Bergen University College

RTTEMA, Riga Teacher Training and Management Academy is the host and Gunta Silina and Ilze Briska are the course leaders of the 3rd intensive course in cooperation with the coordinator Torunn Bakken Hauge.

The teachers in TEN are key persons in this course. They will have to organize and prepare the students at their home institution so they can have an interesting presentation in the program. They will also become responsible persons for different sessions and workshops and they will take an active part in all activities and discussions with the students during the week.  

Students have to prepare and participate 100 % plus deliver a well written report in order to have a grant and in order to get credits in the course.  The teachers will evaluate these reports.

The course will be evaluated both orally and in writing at the end of each week by course participants. The project group will evaluate both the daily questionnaires, the final evaluations and the reports and make a course report.  Later, in 2016, an article for  a peer- reviewed international research journal will be made.