Field Study and Problem Based Approaches in Social Work

2019/2020

Modulets indhold, forløb og pædagogik

During the module students will gain knowledge about the theories, methods and practices of Problem and Project Based Learning, skills to define, study, analyze and critically reflect on problems related to power relations and actor perspectives in a problem based way, and competences to do research/study in complex contexts in an independent, reflective and knowledge based way. This involves the student’s capability to use theories and research methods for doing field study in a problem based way. It also involves the student’s capability to creatively analyze and take responsibility for their own learning processes and academic advancement individually and in cooperation with other actors. During the Field Study, students will collect different sources of data that help them to discuss and apply different theoretical approaches in identifying and analyzing which actor perspectives and power relations are involved in the practical production of welfare within the specific setting. In particular, students are expected to identify consequences of conflicting interests and different actors pursuing different perspectives. After having collected their data, the students will present their fieldwork reflections (initial analysis) and the key ‘problematic’ characterizing the institutional setting in a seminar. Since problem and project based learning always relates to a specific issue or topic in focus, the teaching and learning activities of this module will be closely related to the other modules in semester 2. For example, when learning about the theories and methods of PBL, students will be encouraged to study, analyze and critically integrate reflections on power relations and actor perspectives within social work and welfare systems that they have learnt in Module 5 (Power relations and actor perspectives). Additionally, the Field Study will be an integrated part of the PBL approach. These links between PBL and Field Study are will enable students to conduct a problem based project integrating knowledge, skills, experience and competences from different modules.

Undervisningsform

During the module students will gain knowledge about the theories, methods and practices of Problem and Project Based Learning, skills to define, study, analyze and critically reflect on problems related to power relations and actor perspectives in a problem based way, and competences to do research/study in complex contexts in an independent, reflective and knowledge based way. This involves the student’s capability to use theories and research methods for doing field study in a problem based way. It also involves the student’s capability to creatively analyze and take responsibility for their own learning processes and academic advancement individually and in cooperation with other actors. During the Field Study, students will collect different sources of data that help them to discuss and apply different theoretical approaches in identifying and analyzing which actor perspectives and power relations are involved in the practical production of welfare within the specific setting. In particular, students are expected to identify consequences of conflicting interests and different actors pursuing different perspectives. After having collected their data, the students will present their fieldwork reflections (initial analysis) and the key ‘problematic’ characterizing the institutional setting in a seminar. Since problem and project based learning always relates to a specific issue or topic in focus, the teaching and learning activities of this module will be closely related to the other modules in semester 2. For example, when learning about the theories and methods of PBL, students will be encouraged to study, analyze and critically integrate reflections on power relations and actor perspectives within social work and welfare systems that they have learnt in Module 5 (Power relations and actor perspectives). Additionally, the Field Study will be an integrated part of the PBL approach. These links between PBL and Field Study are will enable students to conduct a problem based project integrating knowledge, skills, experience and competences from different modules.

Eksamen

Prøver

Prøvens navnField Study and Problem Based Approaches in Social Work
Prøveform
Skriftlig og mundtlig
The assessment of the module is based on a written report in combination with an oral exami-nation. The assessment values the student’s knowledge, skills and competences to do problem based research in complex contexts in an independent, reflective and knowledge based way. This involves knowledge about the power relations and actor perspectives at play in the par-ticular field of study including the Field Study. It also involves a clear reference to the theoret-ical, methodological, empirical and practical problems of knowledge within the field of study. Finally it involves looking at the student’s capability to reflect on their own processes of learn-ing, their academic advancement individually and in cooperation with others with a reference to theories and methods of PBL. The final grade is based on how the students meet this in the written report as well as in the oral examination. All though the assessment of this module integrates knowledge from module 4 and 5 it represents an independent assessment
ECTS10
Bedømmelsesform7-trins-skala
CensurIntern prøve
VurderingskriterierVurderingskriterierne er angivet i Universitetets eksamensordning

Fakta om modulet

Engelsk titelField Study and Problem Based Approaches in Social Work
ModulkodeASA20196
ModultypeKursus
Varighed1 semester
SemesterForår
ECTS10
UndervisningssprogEngelsk
UndervisningsstedCampus Aalborg
Modulansvarlig

Organisation

StudienævnStudienævn for Socialt Arbejde
InstitutInstitut for Sociologi og Socialt Arbejde
FakultetDet Samfundsvidenskabelige Fakultet