Foundational Elements of Our Culture (2cr)

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assessment consists of active independent study, which is verified through written assignments. Assignments 100%.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

The learning objective of the course is to broaden the student's knowledge of those operators in the cultural sector who are not directly visible on the public surface. Similarly, the aim is to inform about those background factors in the cultural sector that affect, for example, the everyday work in museums and particularly the implementation of museum collection management. Upon completion of the course, the student will have an understanding of those institutions within our culture whose work is not directly visible, for instance, in museum exhibitions. In addition, the student will have the skills required to produce written reflection assignments.

Content

Foundational Elements of Our Culture study module is part of an online course package, which includes three separate courses implemented in the Moodle online environment: 1. Foundational Elements of Our Culture (2 ECTS) 2. Our Material Past – The Knowledge Reserve Carried in Objects (5 ECTS) 3. Understanding the Role of Independent Work (3 ECTS) The courses can be completed as a comprehensive package or as individual study modules. The courses provide insights into those aspects of the cultural sector and museum work that are not usually visible to, for example, museum visitors, and thus the entire package may enrich your next museum visit as well. The target group for the three courses comprises anyone interested in our cultural heritage, but the course package is also suitable as part of conservation studies. During the Foundational Elements of Our Culture course, the student listens to lectures, writes short and longer reflective assignments, and examines the ethical challenges of our field by focusing on their own context in the task. All these activities are means by which the student is increasingly guided towards so-called self-directed activity. The course is structured so that after each lecture, there is an assignment; once the assignment is completed, the student may proceed to listen to the next lecture and complete the next assignment.

Location and time

The course is an independent online implementation, which students complete at their own pace on the Moodle platform. During the spring, three optional remote guidance sessions will be held where you may ask further questions about the assignments or completion of the course. No advance registration is required: First remote session: Thursday, 22 January 2026, 16:15–17:45 Second remote session: Thursday, 26 February 2026, 16:15–17:45 Third remote session: Tuesday, 14 April 2026, 16:15–17:45 The Zoom link for the sessions will be added to the Moodle platform shortly before each session.

Materials

References appearing in connection with the lecture videos.

Teaching methods

Independently viewable video recordings in the Moodle environment Independent Moodle assignments for individual lectures Independent final assignment in the Moodle environment

Completion alternatives

No optional methods of completion.

Student workload

1 ECTS corresponds to a workload of approximately 27 hours (h), totaling 54 h. Familiarisation with the material takes about 27 h and completing the assignments about 27 h.