Powerful Knowledge in Norwegian Teacher Education: A Framework for Curriculum Analysis

This article investigates whether the Norwegian initial teacher education (ITE) curriculum embodies the principles of powerful knowledge (PK), a concept based on the importance of specialised, abstract, and theoretical knowledge in education. To address this question, we analysed Norwegian teacher...

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Main Authors: Christian Huseby, Tobias Werler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cappelen Damm Akademisk NOASP 2025-03-01
Series:Nordic Studies in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://noredstudies.org/index.php/nse/article/view/6915
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author Christian Huseby
Tobias Werler
author_facet Christian Huseby
Tobias Werler
author_sort Christian Huseby
collection DOAJ
description This article investigates whether the Norwegian initial teacher education (ITE) curriculum embodies the principles of powerful knowledge (PK), a concept based on the importance of specialised, abstract, and theoretical knowledge in education. To address this question, we analysed Norwegian teacher education regulation (NCR) through a framework based on the three key distinctions of PK: knowledge of the powerful vs. powerful knowledge; specialised vs. non-specialised knowledge; and powerful specialised vs. less powerful specialised knowledge. The analysis revealed that NCR prioritises specialised knowledge, encourages connecting theory with practice, and promotes critical reflection among prospective teachers. However, it lacks transparency in selecting specific knowledge areas, and provides limited opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. The study concludes that while the Norwegian ITE curriculum demonstrates a strong commitment to PK, further improvements are needed to fully realise its transformative potential.
format Article
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issn 1891-5949
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Cappelen Damm Akademisk NOASP
record_format Article
series Nordic Studies in Education
spelling doaj-art-16d829f4f7b944669d84f5874e5b40122025-08-20T03:00:14ZengCappelen Damm Akademisk NOASPNordic Studies in Education1891-59492025-03-0145110.23865/nse.v45.6915Powerful Knowledge in Norwegian Teacher Education: A Framework for Curriculum AnalysisChristian Huseby0Tobias Werler1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8922-0274Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, NorwayUniversity of Oslo, Norway This article investigates whether the Norwegian initial teacher education (ITE) curriculum embodies the principles of powerful knowledge (PK), a concept based on the importance of specialised, abstract, and theoretical knowledge in education. To address this question, we analysed Norwegian teacher education regulation (NCR) through a framework based on the three key distinctions of PK: knowledge of the powerful vs. powerful knowledge; specialised vs. non-specialised knowledge; and powerful specialised vs. less powerful specialised knowledge. The analysis revealed that NCR prioritises specialised knowledge, encourages connecting theory with practice, and promotes critical reflection among prospective teachers. However, it lacks transparency in selecting specific knowledge areas, and provides limited opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. The study concludes that while the Norwegian ITE curriculum demonstrates a strong commitment to PK, further improvements are needed to fully realise its transformative potential. https://noredstudies.org/index.php/nse/article/view/6915powerful knowledgeteacher education curriculumprofessional developmentinitial teacher educationtransformative knowledge
spellingShingle Christian Huseby
Tobias Werler
Powerful Knowledge in Norwegian Teacher Education: A Framework for Curriculum Analysis
Nordic Studies in Education
powerful knowledge
teacher education curriculum
professional development
initial teacher education
transformative knowledge
title Powerful Knowledge in Norwegian Teacher Education: A Framework for Curriculum Analysis
title_full Powerful Knowledge in Norwegian Teacher Education: A Framework for Curriculum Analysis
title_fullStr Powerful Knowledge in Norwegian Teacher Education: A Framework for Curriculum Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Powerful Knowledge in Norwegian Teacher Education: A Framework for Curriculum Analysis
title_short Powerful Knowledge in Norwegian Teacher Education: A Framework for Curriculum Analysis
title_sort powerful knowledge in norwegian teacher education a framework for curriculum analysis
topic powerful knowledge
teacher education curriculum
professional development
initial teacher education
transformative knowledge
url https://noredstudies.org/index.php/nse/article/view/6915
work_keys_str_mv AT christianhuseby powerfulknowledgeinnorwegianteachereducationaframeworkforcurriculumanalysis
AT tobiaswerler powerfulknowledgeinnorwegianteachereducationaframeworkforcurriculumanalysis