This paper aims to investigate if and how instruction is adjusted or differentiated based on the conception that learners are diverse and how teacher practices are connected to contemporary research in the field. It further examines whether specific adjustments are connected to a higher rate of student participation.

The method of the essay is an observation survey with a phenomenological approach. It includes the practices of 30 different teachers during thirty lessons at an upper secondary school in Sweden, where the majority of the students are diagnosed within the neuropsychiatric spectra. The outcome was quantitatively analyzed in SPSS.

The study indicates that the connection between specific adjustments and student participation is a complex issue affected by several aspects and preconditions. It appears that teachers use certain forms of adjustments at a higher rate while some are less salient in instruction. More frequently used adjustments are; praise, providing alternatives for perception, activating previous knowledge and highlighting critical features. Less frequent are differentiation of tasks, visible agendas, formative feedback, collaborative peer-learning and self-assessment.

This essay will furthermore be a basis for collaborative learning among the staff since a deeper knowledge of how instruction can be adjusted and differentiated will impact the outcome of student learning.

This study explores the formation of the teacher team leaders´ role, using interviews and job descriptions at comprehensive upper secondary schools in a Swedish metropolitan municipality. The theoretical framework includes a social constructionist and critical perspective, through Foucault, based on analysis of power. Analysis of power illuminates contemporary practices and techniques through a historical lens, using questions that are related to the basis and logics of power.

The job descriptions proclaim a diverse, extensive and somewhat scattered mission consisting of administrative duties as well as managing development and evaluation of processes. According to the job description, the teacher team leader is responsible for initiating learning processes as well as implementing decisions by principals, each advocating a different theory. Teacher team leaders describe a complex mission where a substantial amount of time is spent on tasks less prevalent or unmentioned in the job description. Acting as a messenger, yet a constant search for information and administrative duties are tasks that teacher team leaders emphasize.

In conclusion, it appears as if a comprehensive view of the mission at hand is deficient and that actual practice appears relatively different from the job description. The teacher team leaders operate as a link between school leaders, the Student Health Team and teachers where they contribute to continuity and stability in a school where school leaders more frequently are exchanged. A new and complex organization involving several distributed leadership roles requires thorough work in terms of co-ordination. Future studies may address how interplay and collaboration can work in a complex organization, where preconditions are continuously altered.

In this paper, we investigate a new national collaborative Benchlearning program for principals in Norway and Sweden. Four process leaders have been running the program. The aim is to give the participants the knowledge to develop a leadership practice and school environment that are more innovative. The program includes theoretical inputs, sharing experiences, school visits, training, and trialing of new leadership practices. Drawing on data from surveys, participants’ reflections, and the leaders’ descriptions of new leadership practice, we examine and identify successful and critical aspects of the learning process. The findings show that principals’ motivation and willingness to start change processes can be created in a synergy between structured school visits, work in learning groups, and a theoretical foundation. Working in groups across schools in two countries seems to enhance principals’ sense of efficacy, which in turn is shown to have a positive effect on their willingness to trial new practices. Two implications of the study are suggested. First, in the design of principal programs, systematic and critical reflection about authentic practice should be the basis. Second, educators should be trained to be process leaders who can support principals’ learning during a critical and social construction of a new practice.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to discuss about precolonial and colonial education and the development of the education systems in the postcolonial Africa. The paper will deal with the questions whether there were any education systems in precolonial Africa and motives for introducing the colonial education systems. Further the relation of the colonial education systems with the needs of the local society, the postcolonial education systems and their future will be analysed. 

Methodology: Postcolonial perspective is a theoretical frame for the study. A desk-research was conducted to identify and select the relevant literature. Content analysis was used as a method to understand, analyse and interpret the literature. 

Findings: The results of the literature review show that there were socialization mechanisms before colonialism in African societies. Education introduced in its modern form by missionaries was supposed to serve mainly religious purposes and to train low level functionaries by colonial states. Instead of focusing on local realities education was used to teach the glories of the colonial countries, spread their language and culture as well as introduce a new way of life by condemning all that was native. After independence the inherited colonial education systems continued isolating the masses who had no access to the colonial languages. 

Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Findings of this study shows some limitations in African education systems. It is necessary that education policy makers and other concerned stakeholders´ to increase the use of local languages to reach the society at large, to focus on contents relevant to their contexts, to provide both theoretical and skill-based education useful for development of society and to aim towards educating productive, conscious, critical and democratic citizens.

Democratic values in the comprehensive schools curricula of the Nordic countries.

The major focus of this paper is to find out which aspects of democratic values are emphasised in the comprehensive schools curricula of the five Nordic countries. It is also an intention of the paper to find out similarities and differences in emphasis and if available data allows to further investigate the reasons for differences and similarities.

Major sources for the work were curricula of comprehensive schools from the different Nordic countries. Each countries current curriculum was closely read to understand their contents and to undertake comparative analysis. Text analysis was used as a major tool to look closely at the text and context. For further knowledge journals on curriculum studies and other relevant materials were consulted.

A preliminary review of the general section of comprehensive schools curricula of these countries show:

In the Danish curriculum participation, responsibility and understanding rights and duties are emphasised.

The Finnish curriculum raises issues on human rights, equality, natural diversity, preservation of environment and multiculturalism. Responsibility, a sense of community and respect for the right and freedom of the individual are emphasised. General diversity and gender equality are given significant attention.

In the Icelandic curriculum the major focus is human rights, collective responsibility, participation, influencing, and respect. Concern for people, animal and the environment are included in the curriculum. Critical thinking and reflection, active cooperation & collective responsibility are also emphasised.

The Norwegian curriculum mentions understanding, cooperation, independence, individual freedom and tolerance as important issues.

Swedish curriculum raises issues on respect for human rights, respect for persons and the environment. It considers inviolability of human life, individual freedom and integrity, equality between women and men, solidarity with the weak and vulnerable as crucial points. Sense of justice, generosity of spirit, tolerance and responsibility, well-being and development of the individual, no discrimination and personal responsibility were among the areas the curriculum lifted up.

The curricula in these five countries give room for democratic values. There are some variations on emphasises on specific issues. But all the curricula include issues of rights and responsibilities.

Keywords: curricula, democratic values, Nordic countries

The purpose of the study is to investigate reasons students with an immigrant background in one Swedish high school gives for their failure in some subjects at the end of their compulsory education. An interview with 18 students with an immigrant background is used as a method. According to the students, schools’ employment of substitute teachers without subject knowledge, reducing and firing competent teachers and less time for Swedish language lessons are reasons for failure in relation to schools. Other reasons given that affect results relate to family issues; leaving their country of origin, having many siblings and not getting enough attention from parents, parents inability to help them with school work, limited family financial resources and social obligations to support family members in their country of origin. In their residential area; not meeting persons with Swedish origin, lack of recreational facilities and meeting place, higher unemployment and crime rate are emphasized as affecting their lives and influencing their results. Based on the research findings and reviewed literature, students’ failure is mainly related to school, family and residential areas. The problems vary to a great extent, hence, the solutions should also bemulti-dimensional.

International practicum for what and on whose terms?

                                                                 Getahun Yacob Abraham

                                                                                       Senior Lecturer

                                                                                       Karlstad University

The aim of this paper is to investigate about the aims of international practicum and who is benefiting from it. If it is found that one side, the North or the South, is benefiting, to look at the possibilities to reconsider the practicum in order to benefit both. Review of literature in the field and my own experiences as a Swedish university lecturer involved in the teacher students practicum in the South will be the base for this paper. Some preliminary results of my literature review show that practicum in the South mainly focuses on giving the teacher students from the North the possibility of intercultural understanding with specific focus of dealing with change taking place at home, the diversity of students in classrooms (Abraham & von Brömssen, 2018; Bosire & Brigham, 2009;  Marx & Moss, 2011; Wiken & Klein, 2017). Long time experiences show that in the movement of students from the North to the South, the economically and politically dominant countries can dictate the terms (Bosire & Brigham, 2009; Yang, 2002). In addition to that the countries in the center gain more advantages than the countries in the periphery (Barnet & Reggie, 1995).

Keywords: Internationalization, International practicum, teacher students, North, South. 

References

Abraham, G.Y. & von Brömssen, K. (2018). Internationalisation in teacher education: Student teachers reflections on experiences from a field study in South Africa. Education Inquiry.  

https://www-tandfonline-com.bibproxy.kau.se/doi/full/10.1080/20004508.2018.1428035

Barnet, G.A. & Yingli Wu, R. (1995). The international student exchange network. 1970&1980, Higher Education, 30, 353-368.

Bosire, M.M. & Brigham, S. (2009). Preparing North American preserivice teachers for global perspectives: An international teaching practicum experiences in Africa, The Alberta Journal of Education Research, 55 (3), 415-428.

Marx, H. & Moss, D.M. (2011). Please mind the culture gap: Intercultural development during a teacher education study abroad program, Journal of Teacher Education, 62 (1), 35-37.

Wikan, G. & Klein, J. (2017). Can international practicum foster intercultural competence among teacher students? Journal of the European Teacher Education Network, 12, 95-104. 

Yang, R. (2002). University internationalization: Its meaning, rationales and implications, Intercultural Education, 13 (1), 81-95.

This paper will investigate the aims of internationalisation and international practicum, with the focus on the later. It is important to consider whether both partners in the exchange receive benefits, and if not to reconsider the practicum arrangements to ensure greater equity of benefit. Review of literature in the field and my own experiences as a Swedish university lecturer involved in student teacher practica will be the base for this paper. Some preliminary results of my literature review show that practicum in the South mainly focuses on giving the teacher students from the North the possibility of intercultural understanding with specific goal of dealing with demographic change taking place in the student teacher´s home country. This demographic change has typically resulted in an increased cultural diversity of students in classrooms (Abraham & von Brömssen, 2018; Bosire & Brigham, 2009;  Marx & Moss, 2011; Wiken & Klein, 2017). Experiences show that in the movement of students from the North to the South, economically and politically dominant countries are more likely to dictate the terms of relationships (Bosire & Brigham, 2009;  Yang, 2002). Viewed from another perspective, countries considered in the center due to their economic and political influence gain more advantages than countries considered in the periphery (Barnet & Reggie, 1995).

Life Orientation: lessons on leadership qualities and voting in grade three classes

Abstract

The focus of this study was lessons on leadership qualities and voting in grade three classes in four Eastern Cape schools. Frame factor theory and theory of pedagogical devices were used. The study employed text analysis, classroom observation in four 3rd grade classes and interviews with 14 third grade teachers as sources of data. The results of the study indicated there were differences among teachers when it came to understanding and interpreting the theme. The teachers interviewed have general qualifications but lacked training to teach this theme. Between the schools there were differences in manpower, material and financial resources. There were similar teaching procedures although there were differences in teachers’ approaches. Learners’ understanding was influenced by family background. In general, teachers dominated and controlled the whole procedure by proposing candidates and vote counters. Findings from this study could be relevant for teachers and other school personnel for their future commitment to teaching democracy by practising it. Keywords: Classroom, democracy, differences, leadership qualities, learners, life orientation, participation, South Africa, teachers, voting

The focus of this study is to find out about the neoliberal New Public Management entry into the Swedish higher education institutions, its effect and the possible alternative to it. The study is based on articles in academic journals, policy documents and government sponsored reports. The result of the study shows that the Swedish higher education institutions are influenced by New Public Management. This is visible as market characters such as efficiency, competition, quality control, customer satisfaction is highly valued at present in the higher education. There is also emphasis on manpower training for the labour market. Easily measurable knowledge for immediate use of economic growth are prioritized at the expense of critical and analytical knowledge. Higher education’s autonomy is to some extent violated, collegial leadership is replaced by appointee leadership, staff are under pressure to follow instructions instead of exercising their academic freedom. Based on these findings I will argue against these trends and emphasis on the importance of all partners in higher education to review the present condition in order to facilitate the possibility for keeping higher education (universities) as public autonomous institution, to keep academic freedom intact, to assure that higher education should have both professional and democratic contents, and that higher education should continue to undertake basic long term and short term research for immediate use.

NUKRUMA’S AND NYERERE’S EDUCATIONAL VISIONS – WHAT COULD CONTEMPORARY AFRICA LEARNS FROM THEM?

Getahun Yacob Abraham

Senior Lecturer

Institution for Pedagogical Studies

Karlstad University  

This study tries to assess the educational visions of two post independent African leaders, Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere. The focus is on, what could contemporary Africa learn from their visions on developing the welfare of society through education? To answer this question a literature review of their own works and other writers was conducted. The review shows that they emphasised on the need for education for further development in their own and other countries in the continent. They also focused on relating education with the local reality with due concern on the relevance of knowledge of the global reality. The instrumentality of education to change the life of the masses was given a vital place. For them  education should aim at including all sectors of society and on creating equality among the population instead of contributing to evolving an elite class that selfishly prioritize its own interest than the society at large. They stressed that education should not be too theoretical in the expense of the practical activities. According to them the purpose of education should go beyond individual gains and take into consideration the welfare of the whole society. In line with their visions information technology and welfare development in the continent should be assumed in a way that benefits the broad masses.  

Key words: contemporary Africa, Education, Nkrumah, Nyerere, visions

This study investigates how teacher education prepares student teachers to gain knowledge and experiences required to meet the needs of Swedish preschools with children with linguistic, religious and cultural diversities. The theoretical point of departure is Paulo Freire´s concepts of “generative themes”, dialogue and transformation, through examination of articles, policy documents and other materials available in intercultural/multicultural education. Findings indicate: importance of preschool teachers understanding of diversity among colleagues, children and parents; listening to children; giving closer attention to parents’ perspectives; helping children to understand and respect diversity; engaging with disadvantaged children’s diverse experiences; using good examples that illustrate unity in diversity; considering conflicts relating to children´s rights; and dealing with curriculum and preschool practice. Exposing students to realities outside university may include inviting experienced preschool teachers, giving cases for discussion, showing films to be analysed, etc. Materials should show both opportunities and difficulties of working in intercultural/multicultural environments. 

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate how teachers prepare themselves to play their role of developing their students critical thinking to understand the injustice and power relations in their society. The emphasis is on teachers as subjects and their role on preparing “critical citizens” (Moyo, 2013) that will promote democracy and social justice. 

Teachers are expected to work with different functions of education such as qualifications, socialization and subjectification (Biesta, 2015). Kincheloe (2008) describe teachers in a critical context as follows:

Teachers working in a critical context rebel against the view of practitioners as information deliverers, as deskilled messengers who uncritically pass along a canned curriculum. Highly skilled scholarly teachers research their students and their communities and analyse the curricular topics they are expected to cover. In light of such inquiry, these teachers develop a course of study that understands subject matter and academic skills in relation to where their students come from and the needs they bring to school…  (Kincheloe 2008, 118).  

My attempt to understand the role of teachers is inspired by critical pedagogy. According to this perspective, teachers who are willing to give room for their students and encourage them to be critical citizens are considered “problem posing educators” (Freire, 1970), “radical teachers” (Giroux, 1983), “public intellectuals” (Giroux, 2011), etc. According to Freire (1970) these teachers recognize the role of “teacher-student” and “student-teacher”; they teach their students and they are also ready to learn through their students´ reflections and from their life experiences. 

These teachers in addition to their good theoretical understanding are also activists in their society. Through participation in organizations such as teachers´ unions, local cultural and social associations they are well informed about the current issues and demands of their society.

In their classrooms, together with their students through “generative themes” (Freire, 1970) raises issues that are not only about school subjects but also relevant to the society at large. By using “dialogic metod” (Ibid., Shor & Freire,1987) they gradually approach the issues from different angels; this enable them to see inequalities and injustice some sectors of the society are experiencing. Beyond understanding, in practice they work on promoting democracy and social justice.  

I would like to give two examples from the literature I reviewed. The first one is about an American high school teacher, who brought a leather soccer ball and put it in front of his students of Global Studies. He asked them to write anything about the ball and he told them they are allowed go to the front touch it and investigate it as they want. They wrote about it from different perspectives but all of them missed the text in small letters on the ball, that says Made in Pakistan. When the teacher showed them that, they started wondering why it was made in Pakistan, who produced it, how was the working condition for those who produced it, etc. This lead them to critically reflect and discuss even other issues related to materials produced abroad and the exploitative relations involved (Smyth, 2011). 

The second example is about students from poor farmer families in Tuscany region in Italy. They were helped by their teacher, Don Lorenzo Milani to be aware of their underclass non-privileged position in their society and their school. Eight pupils from the school, Barbiana school wrote a book titled, Letter to A Teacher (Lettera). In their book, they criticized the school system for failing them and the privilege middle class children received in their expense (Mayo, 2013). 

This study is about neoliberal New Public Management (NPM) entry into the Swedish higher education institutions, its effects and the possible alternatives to it. Academic articles, policy documents and government reports are used for the study. The results of the study show in the Swedish higher education institutions, NPM market characters such as efficiency, competition, quality control, customer satisfaction and manpower training for the labour market are emphasised. Easily measurable knowledge is prioritized at the expense of critical and analytical knowledge. Higher education’s autonomy is to some extent violated, collegial leadership is replaced by appointee leadership, and staff are under pressure to follow instructions instead of exercising their academic freedom. Based on these findings I will argue against these trends and emphasise on the importance of all partners in higher education to review the present condition to facilitate the possibility of keeping higher education as public autonomous institutions, academic freedom intact, assure that higher education should have both professional and democratic contents, and that higher education should continue to undertake basic long-term and short-term research.

The purpose of this study is to explore the status of intercultural perspective in education in Sweden. The study is guided by three questions of what are the official views of intercultural perspective in education, why intercultural perspective is relevant for education and what are the possible ways of implementing it. Bennett´s definition of intercultural learning is considered as theoretical starting point for the study, ‘Acquiring increased awareness of subjective cultural context (world view), including one’s own, and developing greater ability to interact sensitively and competently across cultural contexts...’ (Bennett, 2009, S.3). A general literature on intercultural perspective and a literature on the subject with specific focus on Sweden are referred for this study. The result of the reviews show the concept of intercultural education was introduced as a policy documents in Sweden as early as the 1980s; a serious definition of what intercultural was not considered; there is a general recognition of diversity based on language, religion, ethnicity, gender, etc; while recognizing diversity, the focus is on understanding differences; on helping the “immigrant” to integrate to the society; on stating laws and policies for protection against discrimination of different groups. There is a common understanding among the authors of the reviewed texts, that more should be done to develop intercultural perspective in the different levels in the education system. 

Role models was one of the themes for lessons in the Foundation Phase in the South African Revised National Curriculum Statement of 2002 (RNCS; Department of Education, 2002). The focus of the article is to discuss how teachers understood, interpreted and presented the theme to their pupils and how their pupils responded to it. The study is based on policy texts, observation of lessons and textbooks. Foucault’s concepts of normalisation and normalising judgment and Connell’s concepts of masculinity and sex roles are used to analyse results. The results of the study show similarities and differences in understanding and preferences of role models by teachers and pupils. While teachers emphasised officially known people as role models, some pupils considered family members and other people in their neighbourhood.Mandela was a favoured role model in most classes. Even if the theme of the lessons was role models, I argue that the covert agenda is normalising pupils to the existing dominant social norms of the society.

Abstract: Freire’s concepts and theories as a strategy to reduce poverty

Getahun Yacob Abraham, Senior Lecturer in Education, Karlstad University, Sweden 

Ane Bergersen, Associate Professor Sociology, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

The UN Sustainable Development Goals puts as its first goal, “End Extreme Poverty In All Forms By 2030” (UNDP, 2016). This shows poverty is one of the gravest problem in our planet. Most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are reported as countries with low development index and extreme poverty (UNDP 2018, FAO 2017 & World Bank 2017). This paper will use Paulo Freire´s (1970) concepts “generative themes”, dialogue and transformation to be able to discuss how themes can be raised, discussed and possible actions for change will be proposed. Some preliminary review of literature shows the relevance of universities considering themselves as public goods, including in their policies, their commitment to the development of their societies, giving sufficient attention to local and regional problems and devotion to educating a generation of students with critical thinking and devotion to transform their society. This paper will explore how universities in Southern/Africa could include Freire’s concepts and theories in their research agenda in their search of causes of poverty and possible ways of reducing/eradicating it in their local and regional contexts.

Denna artikel beskriver hur fakultetsopponenter motiverar avhandlingars kvalitet i populärvetenskapliga sammanfattningar som publicerats i tidskriften Pedagogisk forskning i Sverige under perioden 2000-2015. I artikeln fokuseras granskningskriterier som gäller relevans, förståelse av forskningsfältet, presentation av texten och dess kommunicerbarhet, originalitet och bidrag samt självständighet, vilka alla kompletterar de grundläggande gransknings­kriterierna.  I artikel fokuseras hur dessa granskningskriterier kommer till uttryck och används när fakultetsopponenter beskriver en avhandling som de har granskat. Syftet är att tydliggöra hur dessa granskningskriterier framställs när fakultetsopponenter lyfter fram vad som är betydelsefullt i avhandlingarna. Studien omfattar 59 sammanfattande texter från 60 olika disputationstillfällen. Avsikten är att bidra till en djupare förståelse av dessa gransknings­kriterier och hur de kommer till uttryck, till nytta för doktorander, handledare och fakultets­opponenter. 

This study explores the question, how do Karlstad University (KAU) preschool teacher education students perceive their course materials in relation to internationalisation and intercultural practice? Questionnaires were administered through the Survey and Report tool to all students in the program. Out of 648 students who received the questionnaire, 94 (14.5%) replied. Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) is used as theoretical perspective for the study, with analysis exploring the CHAT elements of: tools; subjects; rules; community; division of labour; objects; and outcomes. Results of the study show that students recognized the availability of internationalization and intercultural perspective in their courses, and particularly valued opportunities to meet and discuss with practicing preschool teachers working in multicultural and multilingual areas. Results also note challenges with creating opportunity for students to meet students from other countries, either in Sweden or online. Some students also indicated they found it difficult to engage with English language texts that used critical theory or which differed from Nordic contexts. Our research suggests that Swedish student teachers value content which prepares them for working in Sweden with culturally diverse students, but place less value on higher education goals of internationalisation when these are not closely connected to practice. 

Course materials in teacher education programmes are one of the means to support student teachers to learn content knowledge and pedagogical theories. The materials are chosen to support their learning in a range of areas, and this article presents the findings of a study that explored how Swedish preschool student teachers perceived their course materials in relation to internationalisation and intercultural practice. Questionnaires were administered to students in a preschool teacher education at a Swedish university through the Survey and Report tool, and 94 students responded. Findings indicate that the responding student teachers valued content and materials for three key reasons: (i) materials that were localised, (ii) practice-oriented, and (iii) prepared them for working specifically in Swedish preschools. Identity as a Swedish preschool teacher (Swedish context and preschool teaching focus) appeared to be of greater influence in determining the responding students’ value of content than the higher education goals of globalisation and internationalisation.

Internationalisation of higher education and teacher education has been a key issue since the 1990s and many universities still attempt to increase student mobility ever since. Much research has been done on the topic of internationalisation and higher education, including teacher education trying to show how a certain programme impacts on students’ learning, especially intercultural learning when it comes to programmes in teacher education. These studies are often directed towards programmes that last several months or a whole year. The focus of this study is rather to explore if and in what way experiences in a two-week field study can contribute to a student teacher’s intercultural learning and professional development. The findings of the research show that even a short field study has an important impact on the individual student teacher’s understanding of themselves and on awareness of teachers’ living and working conditions in a different culture like South Africa.

Abstract

The focus of this study is to explore in what way a short term field study can contribute to teacher students intercultural learning and professional development. The role that firsthand experience plays in culture learning has invariably been discussed to be a critical part in intercultural learning (Quezada 2012, 8). The empirical material for the study consists of interviews before, during and after a two week field study conducted with six Swedish teacher students in South Africa. Observations during the field visits were also part of the used methods. The students specifically reflects on the observed language barriers for children who are attending education with other languages than their mother tongue, strong discipline in classrooms and resource differences between schools. According to the students diversity in the culture and seeing pupils with diverse backgrounds in the same context will be helpful for their future carriers. They believe in particular that the field study experience will help them to meet pupils with diverse backgrounds in their own school classes. They also believe the field study helped them to gain an understanding of the Swedish education system in comparison to others. Thus, we argue that a short term field study can contribute to intercultural learning and professional development, although findings also suggest that the tutoring in the field plays a crucial role.

This paper explores if and in what way experiences from a short field study can contribute to student teachers intercultural learning and professional development. The paper is based on focus groups and individual interviews, with two groups of Swedish student teachers that undertook a two-week field study in South African schools. Researches on internationalisation in higher education especially trying to show intercultural learning in teacher education, often last several months or a whole year. Thus, there is a knowledge gap on students’ doing shorter field studies, which our study wants to help fill. The findings show that even a short field study has an important impact on the individual student teacher’s understanding of themselves and awareness of teachers’ living and working conditions in a different culture like South Africa.  It is impossible to conclude that the student teachers became more interculturally competent through this short field study. However, the student teachers in their reflections turn their attention back to their own national context for critical comparisons. As underlined by the student teachers, experiencing the context of teaching and learning and meeting people “in reality” is something that really “grabs your heart”. 

This conference paper will address some problems facing Southern/African universities. Instead of detailed discussion of general problems facing universities in Southern/Africa, it will focus on universities relation to their funding partners such as the state and external donors, as well as their role as higher education institution in terms of teaching, research and the outreach/community services program. We believe postcolonial investigation into higher education helps universities to look into their past and its impact on their present. Through researching indigenous knowledge systems, they can find out about locally developed knowledge that they can integrate into their educational curricula. Concepts from critical theories could be used to analyse universities relations to their funders, their teaching-learning process, their research and their outreach to their communities. Specifically, through using critical pedagogic approach, they can prepare their students to critically view the reality of their societies, to find out their needs and to participate in the process of their transformation. On the base of these perspectives, hopefully universities could address the problems of inequalities caused by class, gender, ethnicity and race.

KEYWORDS: Postcolonial perspective, indigenous knowledge, critical theories, transformation, universities, societies, Southern/Africa.

The purpose of this study is to contribute with an increased knowledge of which quality aspects at different levels can affect children's opportunity for creative development in the preschool studio. The study's empirical data was collected through semi-structured qualitative interviews. The analysis was done according to Wallin's (2023) model of preschool educational environments. The results showed that there are quality aspects in organization, environment, materials, pedagogues' knowledge and in pedagogues' approach that affect children's opportunity for creative development in the preschool's studio. My research contribution is a development of Wallin's (2023) model. 

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka lärares uppfattning om gynnsamma faktorer för elevers kunskapsutveckling med särskild tonvikt vid formativ bedömning och processer av skolutveckling som behöver initieras inom verksamheten.

Undersökningens resultat kan utgöra grund för ett arbete på skolor där man önskar sträva efter att stärka lärares insikter och medvetenhet om det forskningen pekar ut som faktorer för framgångsrik undervisning.

Undersökningen har genomförts som en kvantitativ enkätundersökning med lärarpersonalen på tre grundskolor i en och samma kommun i Västra Götaland. Enkäten undersöker lärares åsikter om faktorer som är viktiga för framgångsrik undervisning, samt hur samma lärare beskriver sin egen undervisning i förhållande till dessa faktorer.

Undersökningen visar att det finns en stor samstämmighet mellan faktorer som utpekats som viktiga för elevers kunskapsutveckling och de beskrivningar som anges kännetecknande för den egna undervisningen i de allra flesta fall. Samstämmigheten är köns-, stadie-  och åldersöverskridande. De tre faktorer som lärargrupperna anser har mest betydelse för elevernas kunskapsutveckling är att ge feedback som har fokus på möjliga förbättringar, att undervisningen har ett tydligt syfte, samt att regelbundet följa upp att eleverna förstår innehållet.

På ett område gäller inte samstämmigheten inom lärarkollektivet. Undersökningen visar en markant skillnad mellan lärare med få år i yrket respektive många år i yrket när det gäller beskrivningen av hur man använder sig av formativ bedömning i det egna undervisningsarbetet. Lärare med mer än 15 år i yrket anger i hög utsträckning att man använder sig av formativ bedömning, medan lärare med färre år i yrket i liten utsträckning anger detta.

The purpose of this study is to examine how five teachers in a selected preschool work with play and mathematics. Also, this study examines how teachers believe that preschool affects children's mathematical learning today and in the future. The methods I have used are relevant research and literature on the subject. I have made qualitative interviews with five teachers. The study shows that the teachers think play is important for children when it comes to learn   mathematics, and they also think mathematics is everywhere in children’s play. All teachers believe that it is important that children get a basic ground for mathematical thinking in preschool, so it becomes a habit and a natural thing for them. It is also important that they get the basic concepts with them before they start elementary school. Many of the teachers mention that they want their children to look upon mathematics as something fun and exciting.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka vårdnadshavares och förskolepersonals syn på socker i förskolan. I studien användes en enkätundersökning som riktade sig till vårdnadshavare med barn i förskola och förskolepersonal. Respondenterna nåddes genom Facebook-grupper. I studien deltog 372 deltagare, 173 av respondenterna var vårdnadshavare till barn i förskola och 199 var förskolepersonal. Resultaten från enkäten ämnad för vårdnadshavare visade att de hade en generellt neutral till negativ attityd till socker. Vårdnadshavare tyckte att humöret hos deras barn var det som påverkades mest efter sockerintag, dock märkte 28 % ingen större skillnad hos deras barn.  Resultaten visade att förskolepersonal generellt hade en negativ till neutral attityd till socker i förskolan. Förskolepersonalen tyckte att barnens energi var det som påverkades mest efter intag av socker. Trenden enligt de som arbetar i förskolan är att sockerkonsumtionen i förskolor är nedåtgående och många beskrev sin egen förskola som sockerfri. 

Syftet med denna studie är att bidra med en fördjupad förståelse för erfarenheter av att använda alternativa verktyg hos elever med dyslexi. Studien som är en kvalitativ undersökning bygger på intervjuer av tre elever. Utifrån deras berättade erfarenheter har berättelser skapats. De har sedan analyserats med utgångspunkt i den sociokulturella teorin och resultatet har avslutningsvis diskuterats i relation till tidigare forskning.

Resultatet av studien visar att elever, med hjälp av alternativa verktyg, artefakter, kan klara av det som ligger utanför deras förmåga. Verktygen används när eleverna behöver stöd i sitt lärande när det gäller att läsa och skriva. För att kunna använda verktygen på bästa sätt är både eleverna och lärarna i behov av handledning och tid för implementering.

Elevens självbild spelar stor roll för deras villighet att använda alternativa verktyg. Eleverna menar att det skulle kännas bättre att använda verktygen om lärarna informerar alla elever i klassen om dyslexi och hur de alternativa verktygen kan stödja elever med funktionsnedsättning i deras lärande.

Denna studie kan bidra med förståelse för hur viktig lärarens samtal- och handledningsroll är när det gäller elevens användande av alternativa verktyg. 

The purpose of the study is to contribute knowledge about preschool teachers' perceptions of planning and implementation of physical activity in preschool teaching, so that all children have the opportunity to participate to a sufficient extent. In order to collect preschool teachers' perceptions of the phenomenon, we used semi-structured interviews, where five preschool teachers were interviewed. We have started from a phenomenographic approach, which also provides a starting point in the interviews. To produce the results, we used the phenomenography analysis model where concepts, categories and outcome spaces become central. The results showed that the preschool teachers perceive that physical activity is important but also a challenge. They also perceive that the physical activity takes place most spontaneously in preschool due to various limitations. Furthermore, they perceive that the physical activity is carried out both indoors, on the schoolyard and in nearby environments, which also provides the opportunity for different tools.

Teachers’ feedback via Learning Management Systems (LMSs) isstudied within the subject of social studies at upper secondaryschool in Sweden. A qualitative study involved classroom observationswithin LMSs, gathering teachers’ feedback on pupils’ submittedassignments, and semi-structured interviews with sixteachers. With the support of activity theory, the interest of thestudy was directed towards the tensions that arise in an activitysystem consisting of teachers’ feedback actions in a digital assessmentcontext. The results reveal tensions in the relationshipbetween grading documentation in the LMS and the subject’straditions in the form of discussions, for example. Tensions weredistinguished in the interaction between a school policy of usinga feedback matrix and teachers’ formative ideals. Tensions werealso distinguished between teachers’ need to legitimise gradesand give feedback according to formative ideals. Finally,a tension was distinguished between the time available for providingfeedback and teachers’ formative ideals for giving feedback.

The aim of this study was to investigate how preschool teachers think about preschool

science, what they consider science to be and how they deal with specific curricular objectives

related to science.

Science is a part of our everyday life, it is a prerequisite for understanding everyday

phenomena and how the world is working. Nevertheless it is often dropped in favour of other

subjects in Swedish preschools.

The eight preschool teachers participating in this study are all working in the same

municipality in the western part of Sweden with children aged 1- 5 years. The method used in

this study was interviews. The interviews were recorded to facilitate the transcriptions.

The results show that preschool teachers find that science is an important subject that should

be introduced to the children early on in life. They also show that preschool teachers consider

science to have a preventive effect on the learning to the children, and it is needed for them to

understand everyday processes and phenomena. When working with the curricular objectives

linked to science, the result show that preschool teachers perceive nature as an asset to

develop the children’s knowledge and interest for scientific concepts. Factors that impact the

work with science in preschool could, according to the educators, be lack of knowledge, the

children’s age or their attitude towards the subject.

Conclusions that can be drawn from this study are that preschool teachers draw on the

children’s interests when teaching science. They also find it important to use the correct terms

at an early stage.

This study is about preschool teachers and children perceptions about hand hygiene in preschool. It also focusses on preschool teachers’ way of working when it comes to hand hygiene against children. The purpose with this study was to illuminate preschool teachers’ attitudes and working methods with hand hygiene in the preschool and how children reason about hand hygiene. Seven preschool teachers and twelve children from two different preschool participated in the study. The children were interviewed in pairs and the preschool teachers were interviewed individually. It can be read in the results that the preschool teachers think that the children know why they wash their hands and the children agree about that. All seven preschool teachers also indicate that they talk with children about hand hygiene and why it is important. The children do not think that the preschool teachers talk to them about hand hygiene. However, the children do show knowledge about why they should wash their hands and also explains what would happen if they did not do it. Maybe the preschool teachers and the children have different point of view of what ”talking” is in this context when their answers doesn’t match. The preschool teachers and children have a similar perception when it comes to what hand hygiene routines they have and what they use when they wash their hands.

The purpose of my study is to identify which approach that the teachers believe that they use in their work with children's influence. The aim is also to investigate whether or not the teachers experience any consequences when giving the children a chance to influence and if so, what kind of consequences.

I have used qualitative interviews to answer the questions of my thesis. My conclusion, based on the result of the interviews, indicates that teachers believe children experience limited influence in routine situations. The results also indicates that teachers who demonstrates a conscious democratic approach while teaching, believed they helped children get a better understanding of the concept of democracy already at an early age.

School access and staying in school is one the most important issue for the Ministry of Education in Afghanistan particularly for girls. According to the Ministry of Education (MoE), nearly seven million children have access to school in Afghanistan, 37 per cent of whom are girls.

Students drop out of schools before completing their education cycle, to know who drops out and to what extent; this study describes some of factors that influence students to drop out of school in grade 4 and grade 6.

To find out some factors that may influence girls and boys to drop out of schools in grade 4 and 6 six, structured interviews were conducted in 10 schools – 5 in rural area and 5 in urban area of Maidan Wardak province of Afghanistan. Data was collected by random sample from 32 girls and 48 boys who left schools. 20 teachers and 20 parents were also interviewed to know what their opinions are on drop out of students.

After data collection, several factors were found to cause students drop out of schools; some of the most prominent causes were Poverty, lack of security, long distance to school and socio- culture factors.

By looking to the current educational situation of the Ministry of Education in Afghanistan, there is a need of research almost in all areas particularly in the area of girls’ education.

Abstract

This study is about multilingualism in the preschool. Seven preschool teachers were interviewed about teaching multilingual children. The result show that they work with multilingualism in the pre-school aiming to promote language development both in Swedish and in the child´s mother tongue. 

The purpose, of this qualitative study, is to highlight how preschool teachers describe their work with multilingual children's learning environment Preschool teachers in the study supported the children´s language development using different working methods. 

The preschool teachers collaborated with the guardians, to promote the children's mother tongue. They gathered for example words on different languages in purpose to support the children´s multilingual development. Then, write the words down, written in the different languages, and put them together with pictures on the walls. Further, the preschool teachers used digital tools, such as the application Polyglutt. This application reads texts, children's books, loud in different languages. The preschool teachers use signs to support their communication with the children. 

A positive approach to multilingualism is today crucial to enable all children to be included in the preschool. To support an inclusive multilingual, environment the preschool teachers encourage children to use all their languages in play. This aims to support mutual respect for differences and create a good environment for language development both in Swedish and in the children's family language. 

Keywords: Multilingualism, learning environment, language development and preschool.

Skolnära kan beskrivas som ett relativt nytt begrepp inom utbildning och forskning med skolanknytning. Det förekommer ofta i sammanhang där det tycks finnas en ambition att knyta skola och forskning närmare varandra. Det kan till exempel handla om olika forskarskolor, skolforskning och skolutvecklingsprojekt. Dock finns ingen enhetlig definition av begreppet utan det används parallellt med och i vissa fall synonymt med begreppen praktiknära och praxisnära. Syftet med denna artikel är att bidra till en problematisering av begreppet skolnära med fokus på såväl innebörder som användningsområden. Utifrån studier av olika typer av texter belyses hur begreppet skolnära används inom skolforskning och i andra utbildningsvetenskapliga sammanhang idag. Begreppet skolnära ser ut att uppkomma i samband med framväxten av forskarutbildningsämnet pedagogiskt arbete men återfinns idag även inom andra forskarutbildningsämnen. Till exempel kan en ”skolnära avhandling” vara skriven inom pedagogik eller något ämnesdidaktiskt ämne. Vad det innebär att forskningen är skolnära tycks ha skiftande innebörd och avgränsning i olika sammanhang. Det kan till exempel handla om huruvida forskningen bedrivs av eller för lärare. Begreppet används också inom skolvärlden i ett vidare perspektiv.

In this study, a literature analysis was made of three picture books to illustrate how gender and ethnicity are presented in the characters. The purpose of the study is to make visible what opportunities for identification the children may come across in picture books. The three books in the analysis are picture books written from 2011 and onwards and are intended for children aged 2-6 years. The analysis has been done by examining how the personal portrayal of the characters looks with a focus on gender and ethnicity, and what power regimes are depicted in picture books. The result shows that the books have a variety of characters and that the authors tried to broaden the gender stereotypes. For example, by not describing the characters by gender, portraying a masculinity that shows emotion and vulnerability, or by portraying strong and active women or girls. Some of the characters are still portrayed in a stereotypical way and in one of the three books the diversity is not as wide among the main characters as in the other books.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the preschool teachers knowledge and interest in biology and how they teach the subject. To answer my questions in this study, I used the survey questionnaire. A total of 88 preschool teachers responded to the survey. They answered questions about their own views regarding biology and how they teach the topic. Results showed that approximately half of the participants mentioned that they did not teach, in equal terms, all areas of biology, the focus was primarily on the areas of animals and nature. It was important for the teachers to consider the children’s interest, and they focus on what they themselves were interested in and had knowledge about.

In this study I want to survey which plays preschool teachers thinks are accepted in preschool and wish aren’t. I also found it relevant to investigate when and why they choose to interrupt a play and what happens when they do? My interest for the possibility that we might judge by some values was the reason for my question formulations and for the follow-up questions in my interview.

For my survey I used semi-structured interviews to get a deeper knowledge about this domain and for the opportunity to ask further supplementary questions.

The results show how preschool teachers accept most of the plays and that those plays that aren’t accepted and in need of being disrupted or to be changed mostly are plays where someone could be hurt or violated.

It also shows that the preschool teachers think that they should regulate or interrupt children´s plays as little as possible because most of the time interruption turns the plays in a negative direction.

My conclusion is that preschool teachers are willing to see children’s intentions but there are also norms and values that regulate what´s accepted or not.