Myths, Fairy Tales and Legends in Education

Myths, Fairy Tales and Legends in Education
PS-UCC Copenhagen in cooperation with HIOA, Oslo University College
ECTS credits: 20
Introduction
Why do stories appeal to modern man? What is special about narratives? In what way can stories
contribute to increased knowledge about today's cultural expressions, and about ourselves?
All cultures own traditional stories. The fairytale is both local and universal. Myths describe how the
world was created, and often how it is going to end. Some also tells of interactions between man and
his/her gods. Legends tell about what happened a long time ago, often in a realistic context. They all
reflect basic values in their societies. All students have inherited unique cultural experiences. Together
students from various countries and cultures share a significant cultural capital, which will be activated
and presented in the course.
Meaning and significance cannot always be explained through logic and rational language. Humans have
created stories in order to understand and interpret their own and other people's behaviour, and to
reflect both what happened and what could have happened. Some stories deal with important
existential questions, reflect human conditions, and from another angle, the human psyche. The
psychological aspect of stories is essential in the Copenhagen part of the course. The knowledge of
the basic stories of one's culture is important for present and future educators, in their work to help
children to connect past, present and future.
The narrative patterns, the structures, of traditional literature constitute the basic patterns of all
literature. Knowledge about these structures will provide teachers and students with skills to
recognise, understand and interpret various texts from and in various contexts. Today's mass media
narratives are frequently based upon old stories and old story patterns. To understand and analyse
these expressions, a basic knowledge of the narrative traditions is essential. Earlier, traditional
stories were passed on only orally. In modern teaching it is essential to pass the stories on orally, but
also in other ways meaningful to modern children. To learn to do this in a proper way is an
important aspect of a modern curriculum in teaching institutions. Knowledge about modern story
telling is important for the understanding of modern coexistence.
A deeper understanding of stories is often achieved through activities like writing, painting, puppet
play, performing, discussing and music. The course will take care of these issues.
Target Group
This course is designed to offer a full-time study program for students of Early Childhood and
Primary School Teacher Education. Interested students from other academic areas are also welcome.
Students must have fulfilled at least one year of their undergraduate degree studies at their home
institution in order to be accepted

Course Objectives
The objective of the course is to introduce students to the story of western culture and the main
theories of myths and basic mythology. Important elements in the course are: the difference between
myths, fairytales and legends; structural theories, psychological theories, eclectically theories; myths
and religion.
Through the course the students are expected to:
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Content
Theory
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develop their knowledge about myths, fairytales and legends
achieve an understanding of the content of a narrative, "factual" as well as psychological
symbolical
learn basic narrative patterns and be able to use these in own productions
develop consciousness about own cultural heritage
work creatively with music, art, drama etc.
create different story-based performances
experience and understand stories in practical, didactic contexts
write an individual paper on a chosen subject within the main subject of the course
The main theories of Myth, basic Mythology, Fairytale Theory
The differences between Myths, Fairytales and Legends
Structural Theories, Psychological Theories, Eclectic Theories
Myths and Religions
Psychology of importance and meaning in Fairytales
Traditional stories as cultural
expressions • The Students own Cultural Identity and Stories
• Hero tales and contemporary mass media narratives
• Cultural exchanges
• Excursions; museums, schools, kindergartens
Stories as background for various artistic expressions
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Puppet making and performing
Story writing
Radio theatre
Dramatisation
Stories and music
Stories in a didactic perspective
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The uses of Fairytales in Education and Therapy
Didactic reflections on the use of myths and fairytales
Practical work with traditional narratives
Excursions; schools, kindergartens
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Organization
The course lasts 3 months and takes place in Copenhagen and in Oslo. The first 6½
weeks are carried out in Copenhagen, and then the course continues in Oslo for the next
6½ weeks.
Announcement and Recruitment
The Myths & Fairy tales Course is announced on the website of the ETEN-Network
(European Teacher Education Network) www.eten-online.org
Besides that it is also announced on the website of the partners at UCC Copenhagen:
www.ps.ucc.dk and of HIOA in Oslo: www.hioa.no
Through the 17 years’ history of the course from (1996 - 2012) all in all app. 375 students
from 25 different countries have been participating in the course. Many of these have been
sent from the different partner institutions in Europe and USA as members of the ETEN-
Network, facilitated by the Exchange Coordinators (ECOs) in ETEN)
Working methods:
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Literature studies/theory
Lectures and supervision
Excursions
Workshops
Seminars
Cultural exchanges/discussions
Reflective journal
Individual and group papers/performances
The students are expected to work approx. 40 hours per week, all weeks.
Requirements for all students – 20 credit-points:
• Active participation in various projects
• Group papers documenting and reflecting on project issues
Assessment and Credits (ECTS)
Examination
Modul (20 ECTS):
Individual assignment on chosen subject - approx. 4500 words
Assignments will be examined by external censors
Re-examination
In case of failing the exam or in case of valid absence at the time of the exam, the student is entitled to
make a renewed attempt the next semester. The re-examination will be arranged in the same manner as
the regular exam. The students are themselves responsible for registering for the re- examination
within given deadlines.
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GRADING SCALE:
Grading scale will be according to the ECTS-grading scale, with A-E as pass grades and F as fail grade.
Assessment criteria for the grade scale A-F:
Symbol
Name
Qualitative description of grade
The assignment answer documents
A Outstanding • outstanding subject knowledge and ability to use it in a cross-disciplinary and
educational context
• outstanding degree of independence and ability to relate subject knowledge to
what is asked for in the assignment text
• outstanding ability in written exposition
The assignment answer documents
B Very good • very good subject knowledge and ability to use it in a cross-disciplinary and
educational context
• very high degree of independence and ability to relate subject knowledge to
what is asked for in the assignment text
• very high ability in written exposition
The assignment answer documents
C Good • good subject knowledge and ability to use it in a cross-disciplinary and
educational context
• high degree of independence and ability to relate subject knowledge to what is
asked for in the assignment text
• high ability in written exposition
The assignment answer documents
D Fairly good • fairly good subject knowledge and ability to use it in a cross-disciplinary and
educational context
• reasonable independence and ability to relate subject knowledge to what is
asked for in the assignment text
• reasonable ability in written exposition
The assignment answer documents
E Adequate • adequate subject knowledge and ability to use it in a cross-disciplinary and
educational context
• adequate independence and ability to relate subject knowledge to what is asked
for in the assignment text
• adequate ability in written exposition
F Not passed The assignment answer does not satisfy minimum requirements
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