Critical reflection in child care work (BBA303)
The course aims to help create a connection between theory and practice, and give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the professional role. Students will draw on social pedagogical and child welfare knowledge from previous courses in the study program as well as experiences from their own practice period.
Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.
Course code
BBA303
Version
1
Credits (ECTS)
15
Semester tution start
Spring
Number of semesters
1
Exam semester
Spring
Language of instruction
Norwegian
Content
Central to the course are the themes of critical reflection, change, innovation and diversity. Students are challenged to apply relevant knowledge, skills and general competence in the course to acquire experience in practicing professional criticism, new thinking and innovation in relevant areas. The course requires a high level of student activity.
Teaching is generally organized through lectures, seminars and group work.
The child welfare education program is a full-time program. Learning outcomes are achieved through participation in the various forms of teaching, completion of compulsory activities and independent work with curriculum literature.
Learning outcome
A candidate who has completed and passed a course shall have achieved the following learning outcomes
Knowledge
- Have a broad and multidisciplinary knowledge of key child welfare topics, issues and processes
- Has broad knowledge of implementing, coordinating and evaluating measures in an interdisciplinary perspective
- Is familiar with relevant academic debates, research and development work, including new thinking and innovation processes that apply to the child welfare field.
- Has knowledge that contributes to identifying and addressing how contextual conditions affect children, young people and their families, as well as professional practitioners.
- Has knowledge of inclusion, non-discrimination and equality that contributes to ensuring equitable services for children and young people in vulnerable situations and their families.
Skills
- Can apply experience and professional knowledge in the field of child welfare, as well as reflect critically on their own and the service's practice for the benefit of children, young people and their families
- Can critically reflect on change and innovation processes in the child welfare field using knowledge-based methods, theories and professional judgment
- Be able to apply experiential knowledge from children and young people and their families as part of the basis for ensuring the participation and involvement of children and young people
- Can analyze child welfare challenges and initiate ethical and legally sound decisions
- Can apply professional knowledge to promote professional development, quality improvement and service innovation
- Be able to build relationships, collaborate and communicate in a way that promotes inclusion, participation and involvement of children and young people and their families.
- Can reflect critically on power relations, professionalism and one's own role as a practitioner when working with children, young people and families
- Can reflect on how social categories such as gender, ethnicity, religion and beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and age interact and affect an individual's life
General competence
- Has insight into and can handle ethical issues within the field of child welfare and their own service provision
- Has insight into power relations, professionalism and his/her own role as a professional in meeting children, young people and families
- Has insight into and masters systematic work to ensure the participation and involvement of children and young people
- Has insight into and can safeguard the rights of children, young people and families to help ensure equal services in a society characterized by diversity
Required prerequisite knowledge
Recommended prerequisites
Exam
Portfolio exam and oral exam
| Form of assessment | Weight | Duration | Marks | Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written assignement | 0/1 | Letter grades | All | |
| Oral exam | 1/1 | 30 Minutes | Letter grades | None permitted |
The examination consists of a written part and an oral part.Written examination: Written individual assignment. The topic is defined by the subject managers. Scope: max. 3,500 words excl. table of contents and literature references. Reference style: APA 7th.The assignment must receive a pass grade before students can take the oral examination. The preliminary grade given on the written assignment must be announced no later than 24 hours before the oral examination takes place.Oral examination: The oral examination is used for possible adjustment of the grade. The oral grade can be used to adjust the written examination grade up a whole grade or down a whole grade.Students who fail the re-sit or re-scheduled course examination must take the next ordinary examination together with the subsequent year group. The compulsory activities that have already been approved do not have to be retaken. Students must take the examination in accordance with any new and revised course description, but decide themselves whether to follow teaching in the new examination semester.
Coursework requirements
This compulsory activity must be approved in order for students to take the examination. Approval/non-approval of compulsory activities is announced on Studentweb, normally no later than 7 days before the examination. Students who lack approval will be withdrawn from the oral examination.
Attendance requirements: At least 75% attendance at defined teaching activities is required. See announcement on Canvas. If attendance requirements are not met, students lose the right to take the examination, regardless of the reason.