Demokrati og utdanning: Perspektiver på utdanningssosiologi

Social interactions in pedagogical practices will highlight the preferred contents, methods and organizational or institutional characteristics within pedagogic practices. Pedagogic practices in formal, informal and non-formal education will also be considered. Pedagogic practices are embedded in contextual conditions at a macro level of specific social, political, economic and cultural realities and trends. These macro conditions are in constant interplay with micro realities making change possible both on the micro as well as the macro levels. This change will be partly influenced by the degree of participation and marginalization occurring in pedagogical practices ranging from reproduction of dominant contents to conscientization and praxis fundamental to participative democracy.

The course renders knowledge about and theoretical perspectives on:
- Theoretical insights into the relationship between pedagogic interactions and contextual conditions.
- Understanding of the relations between formal, informal and non-formal education.
- How pedagogic practices contribute to change in contextual conditions at a macro level.
- How pedagogic practices reproduce contextual conditions at a macro level.

This is a selfstudy course with four seminars during the semester. Compulsory activity: Contribution in one seminar or written assignment (4-6 pages). The written assignments limited to the extent of maximum 15 pages (Times New Roman 12pt., line spacing 1.5). The responsible course coordinator determines whether the subject of the assignment is a) optional or b) bound to a limited set of issues. Arrangements are made for an ongoing interaction between seminars and the student`s development of the project topic. The topic, research question must be approved by the responsible course coordinator before 1st of November. Deadline for submission is 10th of December.

If less than 10 students sign up for the course it may be cancelled.