MBA504C Sustainable and health promoting practices

Contents and structure

The course is offered in the second semester of the programme and is one of several elective courses.

Sustainable and health promoting practices emphasise a critical perspective of society and are examined in connection with the emergence of global environmental and health problems. Sustainable and health promoting practices and actions are aimed at improving quality of life and well-being by improving the physical, psychological and social environment in ways that do not damage the environment or that destroy natural resources.

The course is open to incoming students with relevant prerequisites.

The course examines the topics of sustainability and health promoting practices in kindergartens in an analytical manner and discusses how sustainable and health promoting processes can be initiated in interaction with children and in line with the values of the framework plan and tasks.

The course examines didactic practices that promote physical and psychological health. In terms of health promoting practices, emphasis is placed on the social and pedagogic challenges relating to meals and physical activity. The importance of diversity, social equality, democracy, gender equality and inclusion will be highlighted in relation to the development of pedagogic quality and kindergarten research.

Learning Outcome

Upon completing the course the student shall have the following overall learning outcomes:

K

The student

• Has in-depth knowledge about ecology and human interaction with nature from a present day and future perspective.
• Has in-depth knowledge about how food, meals and physical activity can contribute to social equality and well-being in kindergartens
• Has in-depth knowledge about what didactic practices may mean for gender equality, diversity and inclusion and for the development of pedagogic quality in kindergartens.
• Has advanced knowledge about research relating to sustainability and promoting health in kindergartens.

The student

• Can analyse and critically assess the kindergarten's work on sustainable development, based on ecological, economic, social and cultural perspectives.
• Can analyse and conduct development work that emphasises equality and strengthens the children and their families.
• Can independently apply relevant methods for research and professional development work on sustainability and health promoting activities in kindergartens.

The student

• Can formulate and disseminate sustainable and health promoting topics and issues to both experts in the field and to a broader audience.
• Can contribute to new ideas for kindergartens by using nature, meals and physical activity as arenas for cultural formation.
• Can apply knowledge and skills to develop democratic, sustainable and health promoting practices.

Entry requirements

The students must have successfully completed the three compulsory courses in the first semester of the programme.

Teaching methods

The teaching takes place as a combination of lectures, self-study, discussions of texts in seminars, practical trials and demonstrations and a two week project period in a kindergarten.

There are requirements for active student participation and emphasis is placed on critiquing, critical reflection and discussion.

Compulsory learning activities

The student shall

• Prepare an outline for a didactic programme that places emphasis on one or more of the factors that are part of sustainable and/or health promoting practices in kindergartens.
• Test the programme in a kindergarten and later present the findings at a seminar.

The guidelines for the coursework requirement will be specified at the start of the course.

Approved coursework requirements are valid for 2 years following approval.

Assessment

Home exam, 5 days.

The student shall submit a response of up to 5,000 words on a specified topic.

The dates for collecting and submitting the exam will be provided in Studentweb and in the digital examination system.

Grade scale of A-F, where F is equivalent to a fail grade.