Námsefni

Námsefni refers to the materials used to support teaching and learning in Icelandic education. The term covers a broad range of resources that teachers and students use to acquire knowledge, develop skills, and prepare for assessments. Námsefni can be physical or digital and is typically chosen to align with learning objectives, the curriculum, and assessment methods.

Common forms include textbooks, lecture notes, slides and handouts, course modules, problem sets, lab manuals, syllabi, and digital resources such as videos, simulations, and interactive exercises. Open educational resources (OER), library collections, and publisher materials may all function as náms efni depending on licensing. In higher education, course packs, online readings, and multimedia modules are frequently used.

Development and governance vary by institution. Námsefni may be created by teachers, publishers, or universities and may undergo quality assurance, review, and localization. Licensing and copyright affect how materials can be shared and reused, with many institutions promoting open access or permissive licenses to improve accessibility. Equity considerations include accessible design for people with disabilities and provision of materials in multiple formats.

Technology has expanded the reach of námsefni through learning management systems, online repositories, and cloud storage. Materials are updated regularly to reflect new insights, standards, and local contexts. Námsefni is related to the curriculum and syllabus but is distinct: the curriculum defines goals, the syllabus outlines the course structure and requirements, and námsefni are the concrete resources used to achieve the goals.