Literature and Literature Education

The subject encompasses work with fictional and non-fiction literature, literary theory and literature education. It also comprises theories of, and work with, multimodal texts. Literature education is regarded in its connection with Norwegian L1 as a whole, and studied in the light of the production of texts and forms of communication among children, as well as to reading, writing, and working with language. Aesthetic theories and creative work forms are key to the subject.

Knowledge

The candidate

• has a broad theoretical and research-based knowledge of literature, various schools within literary studies, and literary genres
• has an advanced knowledge of literature education, the characteristics of children's and YA literature, and children as readers
• has knowledge of exploratory and creative (including digital) ways of working with language instruction, reading, and writing
• has thorough knowledge of multimodality, multimodal texts, and the text production and forms of communication of children in different media
• has advanced knowledge of, and theoretical perspectives on, Norwegian L1 as an aesthetic subject
• has thorough knowledge of approaches to literature education on primary and secondary school levels

Skills

The candidate

• is able to use relevant methods for research in Norwegian Education and academic development in an independent and critical way
• is able to carry out theory-based analyses of fictional and non-fictional literature as well as multimodal expressions from different epochs
• is able to plan, carry out, and analyze teaching schemes of a literary nature, as well as other schemes relevant to Norwegian L1, employing aesthetic and creative approaches
• is able to assess and use existing theories and methods in research on the multimodal text cultures of children, and critically reflect on the research in this field
• is able to use knowledge in literature education in teaching targeted towards specific age levels and heterogeneous student groups
• is able to choose and integrate digital learning tools and resources

General knowledge

The candidate

• is able to make use of relevant research within literary studies, literature education, and multimodality in his or her academic development, in the school context, and in research and development
• is able to communicate in writing and orally concerning problems, analyses, and conclusions within the field of literature education, with specialists as well as with teachers
• is able to create, adapt and utilize practical and aesthetic work forms in Norwegian L1, as well as using digital resources

The teaching is organized in seminary weeks. Each gathering lasts 3-4 days, covering central topics in Norwegian L1 Education. The distribution of seminary weeks will be announced before the start of term. Between each gathering students are expected to work independently, as well as working on various tasks and participation in online classrooms. The work forms will alternate between lectures, text seminars, work on tasks (individually and in groups), discussions, and student presentations. Academic interaction forms a vital basis for appropriation and use of the course content. All students are expected to be present and participate actively.

Mandatory activities

Mandatory activities that must be approved in order to sit for the exam:

• Introducing and leading academic discussions in the framework of a text seminar, at least once.
• Academic reflection after each seminary week, individually or group-based, after closer instruction

The activities will be assessed as approved/not approved.