Vitenparken

Current competency goals

Program area for agriculture and horticulture – Curriculum in common program subjects Vg2 (LGA02-03)

Production and service provision: 

• Plan (…) work tasks within agriculture and horticulture based on the nature of the production, the biology of the organisms, the need for care, and current regulations
• Explain the symptoms of the most common animal and plant diseases and how they are spread, and consider measures that can prevent disease and infection
• Assess the climate and environmental consequences of different production methods and propose improvement measures based on local conditions 

Management and operations: 

• Assess and describe how the practice of business affects the local community, the environment and biodiversity 
• Assess land use in different areas with regard to other user interests, the environment and local resource management

Program area for horticulture - Curriculum in common program subjects Vg3 (GAN3-02)

(…) The training shall contribute to developing competence in various types of horticultural production under varying natural and climatic conditions. The training shall facilitate cooperation and independent work and promote understanding of the connections between work effort, economic returns and environmental considerations. (…) 

Plant production : 

• (…) choose the production method based on the plants' characteristics and environmental requirements. 
• explain different propagation methods in plant production (…) 
• assess environmental and energy saving measures in plant production (…) 

Plant use : 

• describe the use of plants and plant products in a historical perspective and assess the potential for processing and further processing 
• explain the importance of cultivated plants as food, medicine and taste experience 
• identify and describe cultivated plants with Norwegian and botanical names 

Program area for agriculture – Curriculum in common program subjects Vg3 (LBR3-02)

(…) connections between biological production, nature's tolerance limits and human activity are central. Common program subjects will emphasize sustainable management and connections between different types of agricultural production, resource base, resource management and economic returns. (…) 

Plant and livestock production: 

• plan, carry out and assess various types of agricultural production in line with current regulations (…) 

Outback and cultural landscape: 

• map vegetation and give examples of the importance of different landscape types for the landscape and as habitats for plants and animals

Overall part – interdisciplinary theme of sustainable development 

“Sustainable development as an interdisciplinary topic in schools should facilitate students' understanding of fundamental dilemmas and trends in society, and how they can be addressed. Sustainable development is about protecting life on earth and meeting the needs of people living today, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development is based on an understanding of the connection between social, economic and environmental conditions. Humanity's way of life and resource use have consequences locally, regionally and globally.  

Through work on the theme, students will develop competence that enables them to make responsible choices and act ethically and environmentally conscious. Students will gain an understanding that the actions and choices of the individual have significance. The theme includes issues related to the environment and climate, poverty and distribution of resources, conflicts, health, gender equality, demography and education. Students will learn about the connection between the different aspects of sustainable development. 

Technology has a significant impact on people, the environment and society. Technological competence and knowledge of the connections between technology and the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainable development are therefore central to this theme. Technological development can help solve problems, but can also create new ones. Knowledge of technology involves an understanding of the dilemmas that can arise when using technology, and how these can be handled.” 

It is also relevant in view of the chapters in the General Part that deal with Critical Thinking and Ethical Awareness and Respect for Nature and Environmental Awareness. 

Basic skills

• oral skills in discussion tasks 
• to write – depending on choice of follow-up work 
• to calculate is trained in working with estimates of area and production, as well as calculating ingredients in cooking for those participating in Vitenparken
  
• digital skills are trained through digital short stories and online resources
  
• Reading is practiced in most tasks. Reading instructions, extracting information from a text and putting it into context. 

The program was developed by educators at Vitenparken Campus Ås, and is part of the project “New gift for Norwegian plant heritage”, in collaboration with Norsk Bruksgenbank and supported by Sparebankstiftelsen DNB .