​NATURAL BUILDING COURSE AT SJH


 

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The pedagogic principle of both curricula are “learning by doing” following the principle that the trainer discusses the topics with trainees, encourages discovering and exchange of knowledge and skills. Trainer should use various methods to encourage visual, auditive or sensual perceptions. 

Such approach characterize my many years of experience as a facilitator of natural building workshops, and it would be possible to structure the schedule in accordance with the seasons as it includes theory and all depending on construction needs, much can be learned in side the workshops of SJH.

A central element for the course is that the students gain familiarity with both manual and electrical tools, from maintenance to use, as well as planning and safety issues.
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It could be possible to gain hands-on practice through constructing a structure to be used for the Aurland community; be it a bus stop, a pavilion or a play house for a local kindergarten?  In case I'll be the facilitator I'll bring a series of commercial building machines, including equipment for plaster spraying. The images below may serve as inspiration.

​NON-OFFICIAL COMPETENCE AIMS

​- Vg2 & 3: 60 teaching hours?-​


​I am aware of 2 educational programmes developed by EU funding for accreditation within European Credit system for Vocational Education Training, and I've been certified to teach part of 'LearnWithClay', but am capable of teaching most of both:

LearnWithClay
Module 1: Basics and skill development
Sustainable construction : Indoor room climate : Indoor rendering systems : Building site : Structural damage to earth renderings : Commercially available products : Exterior renderings : Basic properties of earth : Determining the mixture : Preparing the underlying surfaces : Selecting a rendering structure : Stabilised mortars and washes : Preparation of the underlying surfaces : Applying single-layer renderings : Finishing colours : Final treatment of surfaces : Earth as a raw material : Earth mortars for rendering
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Module 2: Design
A journey through time and techniques : Clay plaster design : Colour symbolism : Colour ordering : Colour contrasts : Ornamentation : The effects of colour : Material and surface : interior design with colour : Exploration of earth as a material : Colouring of clay plasters : Making sample panels : Coloured fine clay plasters : Sgraffito techniques : Modelling techniques : Colour combinations in interiors : Design techniques with clay plaster : Interior design with clay plaster


Training program for straw bale building


• Straw Talk (Basic Knowledge about the material straw/strawbales)
• From Bale to House (Techniques for Infill and pre-fabrication)
• Techniques for Load Bearing and Hybrid (optional)
• Straw bales as external insulation (wrapping and retrofitting)
• Finishes
• Building Physics  and Sustainability
• Concept for the house-Design and maintenance
• Marketing and communication
• Building site practice
• Teaching Methods (optional)


Both curricula has clear session plans for trainers. Teaching theory and practice is supported by theory texts, infosheets, excercise sheets, photodocumentation and list of source and literature. Evaluation of units is done by recap lessons and questionaires. Testing of knowledge, skills and competences will be done by written and oral examination and practical tests.​