Diversity and belonging (BLU370)

The course will contribute to developing kindergarten as an inclusive arena for children, parents and employees. A society with increasing mobility and globalization creates a new framework for kindergartens. Social changes generate opportunities and present challenges for the institution. In order to take advantage of these opportunities and solve the challenges, the employees need intercultural competence. This specialization will contribute to this through theoretical and comparative perspectives and facilitate that this can be put into practice.

Kindergartens need intercultural competence in their encounters with children, parents and staff. This competence entails knowledge of various aspects of cultural encounters such as power perspectives and discrimination, but also perspective expansion and formation. The kindergarten is, with its broad scope, a central institution for realizing the vision of an inclusive society.

After completing the course, the student has acquired the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student has knowledge of:

• the concepts of diversity, inclusion and belonging and kindergarten practices associated with them.
• Interculturality
• the Norwegian kindergarten in a comparative perspective, as well as thinking about kindergartens in different contexts
• how kindergarten practices and material equipment such as books, toys and art can help promote inclusion and counteract hegemony
• the kindergarten's role as a meeting place for different families

Skills

The student can:

• give an account of and translate theory of intercultural perspectives into practice
• see the kindergarten in with an outside view
• create good communities in a diverse kindergarten
• see and further develop the kindergarten's role as an arena where belonging to the local community is created for the whole family

General Competence

The student can:

• apply their professional knowledge to relevant practical issues
• facilitate inclusive practices in meetings with children, parents and colleagues
• detect, analyze and counter discriminatory practices

Fagperson(er)

Course coordinator:

Study Adviser:

Placement coordinator:

The specialization has varied, challenging and topic-relevant teaching and work methods that include

• Seminars with student presentations
• Work with practice narratives/cases
• Lectures
• Use of various digital tools
• Group assignments and practice assignments use of film and fiction
• Practical training is an integral part of the specialization.

See separate chapter on practice, as well as practice plan