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Course

PAE302 Agroecology: Action Learning in Farming and Food Systems

Credits (ECTS):30

Course responsible:Tor Arvid Breland

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:22

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:750 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in the Autumn Block and continues through the Autumn Parallel.

About this course

The course has action learning as educational approach. This means that

  • experiences from doing things in the field constitute the starting point for learning,
  • theory relevant to the experiences are brought in when needed (e.g., through introductions, lectures, literature seminars and individual study), and
  • learning takes place through systematic reflection on experiences and their links to theory and to personal development as an agroecologist.

The learning is based on a participatory, action-oriented project work in real-life farming and food systems cases. In groups of 4-6, the students work with various stakeholders to observe, describe, analyse and redesign the cases, and plan action. This work ends with a report written for the main farming or food system stakeholder, and an individual report where the students reflect on their own learning during the course regarding

  • the contents of the case,
  • the methodology for dealing with it and
  • one’s own learning, competence development and transformation to an agroecologist.

Both reports are also presented orally.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

  • Farming and food systems (goals, structures, functions, practices, dimensions, interactions, influences, effects)
  • Sustainability of farming and food systems
  • Methodologies for improving the ecological, economic and social sustainability of farming and food systems
  • Agroecology as a holistic, transdisciplinary, participatory and action-oriented approach
  • Agroecological principles

Skills

  • Facilitating a holistic, participatory, systemic, action-oriented inventory in real-life cases
  • Gathering, analysing, compiling and presenting qualitative and quantitative information relevant to improve real-life cases
  • Communicating and working with different people (e.g., fellow students, farmers, advisors, governance representatives and other food system stakeholders)
  • Giving and receiving peer feedback
  • Searching relevant theory when needed, and linking it to experience

General competences

  • Participation
  • Observation
  • Dialogue
  • Reflection
  • Visioning
  • Planning and taking informed action
  • Systems thinking
  • Transformative and life-long learning by action and reflection
  • Learning activities
    Experiences in the field is the starting point for the learning process. Students do project work in groups dealing with real-life cases in farming and food systems. Lectures, seminars, training activities, reflection sessions and various oral presentations are linked with the project work. Students play a key part in these activities and are often responsible for driving them. The project work ends with the preparation of a group report written for key stakeholders of the cases. In addition, the students write an individual reflection document where they explore their learning process during the course in relation to key agroecological topics and their own development as agroecologists. The reflections are also presented orally.
  • Syllabus
    Relevant literature will be presented in the course.
  • Prerequisites
    Bachelor's degree or equivalent in agriculture, economics, natural resources, human nutrition or other relevant social or natural sciences.
  • Assessment method
    Basis for the evaluation are a written group report ('stakeholder document'), a written individual reflection document, an oral presentation and discussion, and the student's overall contribution to the course process. The weighting is: group report 20%, individual reflection document 50%, oral presentation 20%, and course participation (activity) 10%. All parts have to be passed.

    Portfolio assessment Karakterregel: Letter grades
  • About use of AI

    K2 - Specified use of AI

    In the group reports and the individual reflection document, AI can be used for idea generation and language proofreading. Use of AI should be described with a brief explanation of which programs you have used and how they have been used in the text. The students are responsible for the final content of the text after language proofreading has been completed. Use of AI must be in line with the guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at NMBU: www.nmbu.no/en/guidelines-use-artificial-intelligence-ai-nmbu

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme
    The external examiner has approved the evaluation process.
  • Mandatory activity
    Field excursions, workshops in class and group work, as well as all written assignments.
  • Notes
    If there are fewer than 6 registered students, a simplified teaching schedule may be offered.
  • Teaching hours
    Details will be given at course start.
  • Preferential right
    Master's degree students in Agroecology. Others must be approved by course responsible and be manually signed in by SIT
  • Admission requirements
    Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway