Course
Week 1–5
Week 5–10
Week 11–15
Week 16–20
Beginner Studies in
Swedish for International
Students 1
Spring 2013
Courses for ERASMUS-students
Beginner Studies in
Swedish for International
Students 2
The History of
Mathematics for Teachers
Outdoor Learning
in Science
Literacy and
Multilingualism
Learning in Multilingual
Settings
Interaction and Learning
in a Multilingual
Perspective
The Swedish
Education System
www.du.se
WELCOME TO DALARNA UNIVERSITY
SPRING 2013 COURSES
Established in 1977, Dalarna University is a relatively new
Swedish university. Located 200 kilometres north-west of
Stockholm in the province of Dalarna, it has a current student
population of 18 000 with over 50 % registered in web-based
distance courses. On-campus studies take place in the two major towns of Borlänge and Falun, the administrative capital of
the province.
In addition to pedagogical studies, the teaching programmes
for pre-school; primary and secondary school.
Course Name
Beginner Studies in Swedish for International Students I,
7.5 credits: Preparatory Level
Being a student is more than just about studies
Being a student involves time, money and energy. At Dalarna
University, everything you need to help you enjoy your student
life is close at hand, be it excellent library facilities, vibrant student unions, interesting cultural events or challenging sporting
activities.
Application: Exchange Students
Exchange students come for short study periods and must be
nominated by one of our many partner universities. Students
may come on an exchange as part of the Erasmus programme,
the Nordplus network or a bilateral agreement that Dalarna
University has with many international universities.
Education
Qualified teachers are the greatest asset of any school at any
level. A teaching degree from Dalarna University can open
many doors for those who want to work with children and
young people at the pre-school, primary or secondary-school
level. A degree in education can also lead to many other opportunities within the community.
Once a student is nominated to study with us, he or she must
apply for the exchange period through Dalarna University’s
International Office (exchange students DO NOT apply
through universityadmissions.se). Exchange students usually
study at Dalarna University for one or two semesters, after
which time they return to their home universities to complete
their studies and receive their degrees.
Art, English, French, Geography, German, History, Mathematics, Natural Science, Religious Studies, Social and Political Studies, Spanish, Sport and Health Sciences, Swedish and
Swedish as a Second Language
Course Content
The course is communicative, focusing on simple oral communication in the university environment and the outside community. The course provides a general view of basic Swedish
vocabulary and its elementary morphology, as well as its fundamental sentence structure. Students practise these aspects of
the language orally and in writing. They also practise the distinctive features of Swedish prosody and pronunciation. Students take part in simple conversations: for example, they talk
about themselves and ask questions to make the acquaintance
of others. The course contains information on Swedish culture,
such as customs and traditions.
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the Swedish
language. Upon completion of the course, students should be
able to use their elementary knowledge of and skills in Swedish
in simple, predictable situations. They should understand and
use the basic principles of pronunciation. They should command a selection of basic verbs and other fundamental Swedish vocabulary, and understand and be able to apply elementary
knowledge of Swedish grammar structure so that they are able
to identify familiar words and, in a broad sense, comprehend
and relay a message in an uncomplicated communicative situation. Students should be able to ask simple language-related
questions about what a word means, how it is pronounced or
similar with the help of simple Swedish.
Course Name
Beginner Studies in Swedish for International Students II,
7.5 Credits: Preparatory Level
Course Content
This course deals with the basic structures of the Swedish language. Course texts illustrate grammar patterns while serving to widen students’ Swedish vocabulary. Through a variety
of assignments and interactive classroom activities, students
continuously practise grammar as well as their communicative skills. A Swedish film is viewed and discussed during the
course. Students report in groups and individually, and are
given opportunities to present their impressions and experiences in their own words in Swedish. Traditions current to the
season are discussed, and students compare these with their
own traditions by describing them in simple Swedish.
The aim of the course is for students to gain knowledge and
skills so that they can communicate in simple, predictable
and spontaneous everyday situations. Upon completion of
the course, students should be able to identify and classify
words from main Swedish vocabulary, and apply their basic
knowledge of grammar both orally and in writing. After the
course, students should be able to express their thoughts and
impressions in a simple way in Swedish in a communicative
and comprehensible manner, again both orally and in writing.
They should be able to apply simple communicative strategies
in order to bridge communication difficulties.
Course Name
The History of Mathematics for Teachers, 7.5 Credits
Course Content
This course highlights the history of mathematics with special
focus on the occurrence and use of different number systems,
mathematical symbols and arithmetical operations throughout history. Specific examples from different historical periods
and cultures, such as Ancient African, Sumerian, Babylonian,
Egyptian, Mayan and Ancient Chinese, are given. A range of
mathematical problems and tasks, along with historical methods of solving, are tested and discussed. Similarities and differences between ancient and modern mathematical methods are
illustrated and analysed. Both female and male mathematicians
of historical significance are presented along with an analysis of
the mathematics they worked with and the importance of their
contributions to the continued development of mathematics studies. Included in the course is an in-depth study of the
development throughout history of one specific mathematical
concept or field of knowledge. The course also includes a comparison of the role of the history of mathematics in the curriculum and governing documents of school systems in both
Sweden and other countries. How teachers in these different
school systems can utilise the history of mathematics in the
planning, execution and analysis of teaching is also addressed.
Course Name
Outdoor Learning in Science, 7.5 Credits
Course Content
The educational value of hands-on outdoor learning is now
well-established. Many researchers and active teachers state
that it can lead to greater motivation and creativity; raise
standards; and improve students’ personal, social and emotional development. Learning through direct experience in
the outdoors can encourage environmental awareness and help
promote active citizenship and sustainable lifestyles. The immediate neighbourhood provides many opportunities to experience science in everyday life. The course investigates and
exemplifies different ways of linking scientific theory with authentic phenomena and processes in natural settings.
Upon completion of this course, students shall know more
about innovative educational activities included in outdoor
teaching and the way in which outdoor learning can be used
to develop personal and social skills, and encourage active citizenship. Students shall learn about the value of outdoor learning in promoting environmental awareness and sustainable
lifestyles, as well as learning about the planning, organisation
and evaluation of outdoor science teaching. During the course,
students will practise outdoor learning in action; visit educational providers who work to encourage interest in science and
sustainable development; and participate in guided outdoor
and environmental activities.
Course Name
Literacy and Multilingualism, 7.5 Credits
Course Content
This course deals with the development of literacy among students who have a different first language than the one used for
instruction, such as students with Swedish as a second language living in Sweden. Different features in languages written using the Latin alphabet are contrasted with those that
use other scripts, such as Arabic and Chinese. Also, literacies
in different languages using the Latin alphabet are contrasted
with each other. Questions regarding multiliteracies – that is
to say literacies in different languages – are dealt with, as are
questions about changes in the use of written language due to
the development of digital information technologies. Notions
such as multimodality, broader concepts of text and genre writing are addressed. An evaluation of literacy development related to planning and organisation of education is also covered.
Course Name
Learning in Multilingual Settings, 7.5 Credits
Course Content
In this course, different theories concerning intercultural learning and second-language acquisition are addressed. The course
has a didactical/educational alignment where different ways of
stimulating linguistic development of students and their intercultural learning in both their second language as well as their
subject learning are discussed.
Course Name
Interaction and Learning in a Multilingual Perspective,
7.5 Credits
Course Content
In this course, central theories about the relationship between
interaction and learning are presented, with an emphasis on
learning in multilingual settings. Different approaches towards
interaction and second-language acquisition are discussed as
are their didactic implications. Moreover, students become
acquainted with ways of analysing interaction in multilingual
classrooms. During the course, students perform an analysis of
spoken interaction.
Course Name
The Swedish Education System – Undergraduate Level,
7.5 Credits
Course Content
This course is primarily about present-day Swedish education
for children and adolescents, although a historical overview is
also given. Specific themes that are addressed are the importance of democracy for Swedish schools, work with children
with special needs and the use of information technology in
education. In the course, Swedish teacher education is treated
historically with teacher education at Dalarna University as an
example. Education at different levels in students’ own countries is compared with education in Sweden.
Students will become acquainted with the Swedish education
system for children and adolescents and with Swedish teacher
education.
On completion of the course, students should have a basic
knowledge of how education for children and adolescents is
organised in Sweden. They should have gained an insight into
the importance of democracy for work in school and have
knowledge of teacher education in Sweden. They should also
be able to compare education in Sweden with education in
their own countries.