Study plan - Fjords and Glaciers

The course is interdisciplinary and consists of nature studies and culture studies on top of outdoor life (the Norwegian tradition of friluftsliv). The didactics of outdoor life, the philosophy of outdoor life and the link between outdoor life and environmental issues are the basic elements of the course. Another aim of the course is to make students realize how man affects nature and how nature affects culture in terms of past and present development in society. Through excursions, students will experience the typical landscape of western Norway, its fauna and flora, and will learn how this landscape was formed and modified. The students will do this by exploring mountains, lakes, fjords and glaciers.

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course in Fjords and Glaciers, the candidate will have acquired the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge
The student has knowledge about:

• the tradition of mountain and glacier walking in Norwegian outdoor life
• glaciers, mountains, forest and watery systems in a cultural perspective
• regional geography and natural history, Western Norway
• biological diversity of species and landscape, Western Norway
• conservation policy, ecophilosophy and relation to outdoor life
• harvesting from nature
• outdoor life pedagogy
• value playing games in nature

Skills
The student has basic skills:

• for glacier hiking and climbing
• for mountain hiking, spending nights in lavvos or cabins
• for canoeing/kayaking in a landscape of forests and watery systems
• for living in nature
• for fishing, sailing and rowing
• play and games in nature

General competence
The student can:

• plan, lead and evaluate outdoor education trips/excursions in a safe manner for beginners
• reflect on different methods and didactics of outdoor education
• identify dangers and take care of safety in different environments
• swim and rescue, conduct CPR and first aid

Content

The course provides additional qualifications for teacher education, pre-school teacher education, physical education and environmental sciences students. Successful completion of the course qualifies for 30 ECTS credits.

The course is structured around four different 2-3-day excursions and the following types of nature are visited:

• glacier
• mountain
• lakes, water systems and forest
• sea- and fjordsystems

In addition, students are going for individual trips for 1-3 days, and different day-excursions.

Teaching

Outdoor activities is the basic method and starting point for all other methods in use throughout the course

• excursions in various types of nature
• lectures
• seminars
• group- and individual work
• an organized trip with the Norwegian Mountain Trekking Association, locally or centrally

Assessment

To take the exam the students have to:

 

• Participate in lectures, seminars and practical activities
• Pass lifesaving test and heart and lung rescue
• Hand in the reports from:
  • Group/individual from the four obligatory friluftsliv trips
  • Individual report from a personal friluftsliv trip
  • Individual report from an organized friluftsliv trip
  • Individual report from "area of special interest"
  • Group report from practice

Skills

• Passed on practical skills and effort. Skills must be evaluated with the student's background in mind.

 

The requirements for the different components will be specified in separate documents.

 

Final assessment

• Individual oral and practical exam. Graded from A-F (A is the best). Part of total 60 %
• Project. Graded from A-F (A is the best). Part of total 40%