Laid down as a regulation by the Ministry of Education and Research on 14.05.2013.
Gjelder fra: 2013-08-01T00:00:00 +2
Gjelder til: 2020-07-31T00:00:00 +2
Purpose
The elective shall contribute to help pupils, individually or as a group, strengthen the desire to learn and experience a sense of mastery through practical and varied work. Elective subjects are interdisciplinary subjects that contribute to comprehensive and contextual learning.
Volunteer work has long traditions in Norway. It is found in most social arenas such as sports, cultural activities and cultural institutions, elder care, child and adolescent work, at organizations and in politics. Volunteer work allows everyone the possibility to participate in meaningful activities that benefit society. The local community will need active people in the future who are willing to contribute their time, resources and knowledge to solve problems and create value in society. The elective subject of Volunteer effort shall provide young people with the opportunity to participate actively in their local community.
Learning in the subject shall allow pupils to identify the need for volunteer work in their local community. They shall also learn to use their skills, resources and knowledge to plan, implement and complete tasks and measures to that end. This work will focus on local needs while strengthening the pupils’ sense of belonging in the local community. The subject shall provide pupils with knowledge about the background and conditions for volunteer work and practical experience creating something valuable for others. Knowledge about ethical guidelines, communication and interaction are included in the subject. This work aims to allow pupils to experience being valued for their effort. Interest in the subject shall help develop the pupils’ awareness of the importance of volunteer work and the social value it has for society.
The elective subject shall allow pupils to map out the need for such work in their local community. Based on findings from their initial investigations, the pupils shall work together to find effective measures to cover these needs, after which they will be able to implement these measures and evaluate the results of their actions. This work shall allow pupils to interact and communicate with different operators at learning arenas in the local community and to participate in places where the activity occurs.
The elective subject gathers its main elements from the school subjects Social Science and Religion, Lifestyles and Ethics, but it can also gather elements from Natural Science, Food & Health and Physical Education.
Main subject areas
The elective subject is structured in two main subject areas. The main subject areas complement each other, and should be viewed in relation to one another.
Overview of the main subject areas:
Main Subject Areas | |
Planning | Practical work |
Planning
The main subject area consists of understanding the reasons and background for volunteer work. Furthermore, the main subject area deals with mapping out the need for volunteer work on a local basis, cooperating with different operators in the local community and planning measures that can enhance social values for a chosen target group.
Practical work
The main subject area involves carrying out planned measures in practice and participating in arenas at which the activities are normally conducted. It also covers the use and training in communication and interaction with the selected target group. The pupils shall be evaluated throughout the entire process to ensure that ethical guidelines are maintained. Furthermore, the main subject area involves presenting and assessing the process of achieving a comprehensive understanding of such activities from charting needs to implementing activities.
Teaching hours
Teaching hours for the elective subject of Volunteer effort: 57 teaching hours per year
Teaching hours are given in 60-minute units.
Basic skills
Basic skills are integrated into the competence aims for the subject, based on the specific needs of that subject.
Competence aims
Volunteer effort
Planning
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- understand the reasons and background for volunteer work
- map out the need for volunteer work in one’s local community in cooperation with relevant operators
- plan practical measures that lead to social values for a selected target group
Practical work
The aims of the studies are to enable pupils to- carry out planned measures
- comply with ethical guidelines and adapt communication and interaction to the selected target group
- present and evaluate volunteer work based on experience and interaction with the target group and relevant operators
Assessment
Provisions for final assessment:
Overall achievement assessment
Year level | Provision |
When the subject is completed | The pupils shall receive an overall achievement mark |
Examination for pupils
Year level | Provision |
When the subject is completed | There is no examination in the subject |
Examination for external candidates
Year level | Provision |
When the subject is completed | There are no arrangements for participation by external candidates in the subject |
The provisions for assessment are stipulated in the regulations of the Norwegian Education Act.