Preschool, Play, Learning and Teaching
Short description
In this research theme, the focus is on studying preschool and its daily practices. In particular, the research concerns teaching, play, learning and didactics, and the relationship of such activities to children’s development.
About the research theme
In the research theme Preschool, Play, Learning and Teaching (PrePLanT), the focus is on studying preschool and its daily practices. In particular, the research concerns teaching, play, learning and didactics, and the relationship of such activities to children’s development. One area of analysis is the relation between teaching and play, and how children can be made into participants in cultural practices that are significant from a developmental perspective. Another topic concerns preschool didactics in different domains.
National and international collaborations
An overarching interest of the research theme is education for social and cultural sustainability in accordance with the goals of the UN Agenda 2030. An important strategy is to engage in practice-based research in collaboration with preschools and their staff. International partners are research teams at Monash University in Melbourne (Dr. Marilyn Fleer and associates), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane (Dr. Anne Farrell and her associates), The University of Bergen (Dr. Elin Eriksen Ødegaard and her associates), the University of Aalborg (Dr. Eva Brooks and her associates) and the University of Stavanger (Dr. Elin Lie Reikerås and her associates). The members of PrePLanT participate in international research organizations such as OMEP and others.
Colloquium and seminars
Within this research theme the work is organized in one colloquium and two seminars:
Colloquium for didactics and children’s learning
In the colloquium research and development work in the field are presented and discussed. These discussions concern recent dissertations and other scholarly publications, public inquiries and evaluations of preschools and other issues of common interest. The colloquium is led by senior lecturer Pernilla Lagerlöf, senior lecturer Malin Nilsen and professor Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson.
Play, teaching and learning in preschool for social and cultural sustainability
Within this seminar, the research on issues of play, learning and teaching in preschools as fundamental processes for social and cultural sustainability is discussed. These interests include issues of how digital technologies change the ways in which children participate in different cultural practices and have access to a broader world of experiences, and how multilingual interaction may contribute to development of all children in a group. The seminar is led by professor Niklas Pramling.
Early Mathematics Learning and Awareness (EMLA)
The seminar focuses on children’s early learning of mathematics. The seminar is led by professor Camilla Björklund.
