News – FinEd

Autumn 2024 season, FinEd Online Research Talks

It is time to announce another season of FinEd Online Research Talks (FORT)! The FORT events showcase the wide variety of research in educational sciences conducted in FinEd’s member universities, with one-hour online talks on current topics. FORT events are targeted particularly for PhD researchers, but other members of the scientific community, as well as all other interested parties, are also warmly welcome. Participation is free, details of the upcoming talks below!

30.9.2024 (Monday), from 12–13 o’clock

Multispecies justice in transdisciplinary research and interspecies action – tracing complexities, Senior Research Fellow Pauliina Rautio (University of Oulu)

In this talk, I will walk the line between my work as a researcher and Principal Investigator of many transdisciplinary projects and my volunteer work in caring for wild birds, framing them through each other, and specifically pursuing questions of multispecies justice. The presentation is illustrated with photographs I have taken, which convey their own kind of visual boundaries: photographing wild birds up close breaks species-typical boundaries and produces different kinds of distances between humans and birds.

Link to Dr Rautio’s talk https://uef.zoom.us/j/65494615351?pwd=76s8BxXiCAwTyj665jsT6k6DrPXUOO.1, Meeting ID: 654 9461 5351, Passcode: 610414

27.11.2024 (Wednesday), from 12–13 o’clock

The Significance of Sámi Educational Research, Professor Pigga Keskitalo, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education

Sámi people reside in the traditional regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Russian Kola Peninsula, where their educational practices are influenced by the frameworks of these countries. In the face of climate change, political challenges, justice issues, and increasing global interest in Arctic resources and land, Sámi educational research stands out as a vital force in shaping societal and educational advancements. This presentation delves into the significance of Sámi educational research in not only preserving and promoting Indigenous culture and knowledge but also in integrating these elements within broader educational and societal frameworks. By presenting key findings from recent research projects, this presentation explores the educational landscape in a decolonial context, offering valuable insights into the transformative potential of Indigenous education in the Arctic region.

Pigga Keskitalo is a Professor of Education at the University of Lapland, focusing in Arctic perspectives in education. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Helsinki and co-edited Indigenous Research Methodologies in Sámi and Global Contexts (Brill, 2021). Currently, she leads the LINCOSY research project (funded by the Academy of Finland) and the REBOUND project (funded by the Strategic Research Council (SRC-STN) at the Faculty of Education, University of Lapland.

Link to Professor Keskitalo’s talk https://uef.zoom.us/j/63265609548?pwd=O1DyOmQ5pstsUclAZ8CRLkY0QTnvQ5.1, Meeting ID: 632 6560 9548, Passcode: 722140

Professor Pigga Keskitalo — Prof. Keskitalo’s image credit Roi-Foto

Opening soon: Call for FinEd scientific writing workshop

Attention, PhD researchers: the call for FinEd’s annual scientific writing workshop is about to open on Monday 25 March 2024.

What, where, when? The workshop focuses on the processes of academic and scientific writing, including individual and group work, mentor and peer feedback on participants’ texts, and interesting keynote speeches. Furthermore, it offers early career researchers an opportunity for networking, peer support, and making new friends. The workshop will be held at Hanaholmen Conference Hotel in Espoo, from 14–15 August 2024 (Wednesday – Thursday). FinEd will pay the expenses of successful applicants (accommodation and meals; remuneration of travel within Finland).

For whom? Doctoral researchers from the doctoral programmes on educational sciences of FinEd member universities, representing all paradigms, and writing either article-based or monograph dissertations, are invited to apply. Please note that while we welcome applicants at all stages of the PhD process, to get the most out of the workshop, you should have a textual part of your thesis (e.g., a section of an article, or chapter of your monograph/summary) to work on at the workshop. Participants will be asked to submit this for mentor comments before the workshop.

Based on the applications, max. 25 participants will be chosen by a committee of five FinEd steering group members, with a view to facilitating diversity (aiming for equal representation of FinEd member universities, researchers from different paradigms and at different stages of the PhD process), and with specific importance given to the motivation letter.

How to apply? To apply, please fill in the application form https://link.webropol.com/s/FinEdworkshop2024 and include a motivation letter of max. 500 words, describing why you are applying to the workshop and why you think you would benefit from it in your PhD process. The application period is from 25 March – 19 April 2024. Successful applicants will be informed about the choice in mid-May, with binding enrolment requested by the end of May.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact FinEd coordinator Anna Rawlings (anna.rawlings@uef.fi). We look forward to receiving your applications, see you in August!

Spring 2024 season, FinEd Online Research Talks

We have another season of FinEd Online Research Talks (FORT) coming up! The FORT events cover current topics in educational sciences and showcase the varied research conducted in FinEd’s member universities. The FORT events are targeted particularly for PhD researchers, but other members of the scientific community, as well as all other interested parties, are also warmly welcome. Participation is free, details of the talks below!

28.3. 2024 (Thursday), from 12–13 o’clock:

Some examples of using Bayesian multilevel regression in educational research, Professor Petri Nokelainen (TAU)

This lecture introduces the use of Bayesian regression methods in the analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal multilevel data sets. The presentation will begin with a brief comparison with frequentist methods. This is followed by a cross-sectional multilevel analysis using both frequentist and Bayesian methods. At the end of the presentation, the focus will be on the issues of longitudinal multilevel analysis from a Bayesian perspective.

Link to prof. Nokelainen’s talk: https://uef.zoom.us/j/62820705335?pwd=V3ZOeUE3ekhCUnlZOXNQRFRMbFVoUT09, Meeting ID: 628 2070 5335, Passcode: 278656

8.5.2024 (Wednesday), from 12–13 o’clock:
Educational Futures are Here: Revisiting Approaches to Future-Proofing Education, Professor Kristiina Brunila (UH), AGORA for the study of social justice and equality in education research centre

My talk draws on a four-year investigation within the FuturEd research initiative and recent collaborative articles to explore future trajectories of education and the evolving landscape of education governance. Focused on sociology of education and politics in education, the discussion centers on changing education governance and its implications for Future-Proofing Education. Examining the transition towards individually tailored governance strategies, the presentation highlights the driving forces behind this shift, including economic factors, transnational stakeholder networks, and advancements in life and behavioral sciences. The analysis extends to global, national, and local dynamics, emphasizing the profound implications of economically driven governance strategies. By integrating current and emerging trends, the presentation advocates for a novel approach to education governance. In conclusion, the concept of precision education governance is introduced as a strategic framework for crafting future-ready learning human kinds. Through scholarly inquiry and examination, the presentation offers insights into navigating the changing landscape of education governance.

Link to Professor Brunila’s talk: https://uef.zoom.us/j/64155661851?pwd=ekFqb1J3MUdQYis4VGJmOE1YenFKUT09 Meeting ID: 641 5566 1851 Passcode: 433701

Save the date: OPPIVA2024

The Annual Meeting of Research on Learning and Learning Difficulties will take place at the University of Eastern Finland Joensuu Campus (Yliopistokatu 2, Joensuu) from June 4^th to 5^th, 2024. Abstract submission will be open from March 15^th to April 15^th, presentations on all topics related to learning and learning difficulties are welcome – more info on the OPPIVA2024 website!

FinEd Online Research Talks, Autumn 2023 – Winter 2024

We are pleased to announce the 2023–2024 season of FinEd Online Research Talks (FORT). The FORT events cover current topics in educational sciences and showcase the varied research conducted in FinEd’s member universities. The FORT events are targeted particularly for PhD researchers, but all members of the scientific community, as well as all other interested parties, are also warmly welcome. Participation is free, details on the talks below!

Tuesday 14.11.2023, at 12–13 o’clock

Research coordinator Milla Saajanaho (University of Jyväskylä):

Agency and developmental regulation in late adulthood

Developmental regulation is a way for people to direct their lives through three mechanisms: proactive coping (i.e., planning the future and preventing future losses), primary control (i.e., goal striving and tenacity), and secondary control (i.e., adjustment and accommodation of one’s goals). This research talk will shed light on the theoretical basis of developmental regulation, its connections to agency, as well as its relevance in the lives of older people. Moreover, empirical results on preparation for aging and goal setting and goal adjustment in late adulthood is presented.

Milla Saajanaho, PhD (Health Science), MA (education), is a research coordinator in the Doctoral Programme in Education at the University of Jyväskylä (JYU). Prior, she worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Gerontology Research Center at JYU, first in the ERC-funded AGNES-project (PI Taina Rantanen) and, second, in the TRAILS-project (PI Katja Kokko, funded by the Academy of Finland), which forms the latest follow-up for the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development. Saajanaho’ s main research interests include aging, personal goals, and developmental regulation across the life span.

Link to Dr. Saajanaho’s talk https://helsinki.zoom.us/j/63121102874?pwd=YmlUUkwvZ1h4NFUyaTUzSU1vcCtsQT09

Meeting ID: 631 2110 2874, Passcode: 477467

Thursday 14.12. at 12–13 o’clock

Assoc. Prof. Vesa Korhonen (Tampere University):

Towards recognizing the possible interrelated connections between student engagement and well-being within higher education studies?

The starting point of this lecture is the identification and modeling of the key characteristics and dimensions of two extensively studied topics in higher education, namely student engagement and well-being. Furthermore, their potential common dimensions are discussed for an empirical framework. The factors related both to student engagement and well-being can be seen as integral to supporting comprehensive pedagogical well-being and agency within higher education teaching and learning communities. The presentation will include an examination of the application of the modeled framework, for instance, to analyze positive and negative remote learning experiences during exceptional circumstances in a university setting, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The lecture aims to stimulate discussion and thinking about integrating different traditions and theoretical backgrounds to diversify interpretations.

Vesa Korhonen is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University, Finland. His main research interest has focused on teaching and learning in higher education. In this context, he has conducted research related to both students and teachers in the field of higher education for over two decades, as well as research related to the effects of digitalization of learning environments. He is a co-leader of the Higher Education in Transition (HET) research group at Tampere University and acting as co-convener in Research in Higher education network within the European Education Research Association (EERA). The most recent ongoing research focuses on a comparative perspective on the impact of assessment culture on the agency of higher education students in two different cultural contexts. Twitter @vakorhonen

Link to Assoc. Prof. Korhonen’s talk https://helsinki.zoom.us/j/69778742501?pwd=Q1dEbUh2RnVYem1GWk56bHhleEE2Zz09

Meeting ID: 697 7874 2501, Passcode: 096281

Monday 22.1.2024 at 12–13 o’clock

Professor Sara Routarinne (University of Turku):

Learning-in-interaction: what makes video observations powerful for studying teaching and learning?

This presentation delves into the role of videorecordings in unraveling the intricate dynamics of teaching and learning as interactional accomplishment. The basis of the presentation is the collaborative efforts of the CERLIs Learning-in-interaction research team, centering on the dynamics and processes inherent in teaching and learning within social and interactive contexts. Video-observations serve as a means to capture “thick descriptions” (Geerts, 1973) of real-time interactions. In this presentation I will critically analyze video documentation method in relation to other methods such as school ethnography, observation protocols, surveys, and interviews particularly focusing on its ability to capture subtleties of teaching and learning in various educational settings. To provide a comprehensive context, I will briefly review the development of documentary recording methods (from audio to video) tracing their origins back to Sinclair’s and Coulthard’s (1975) classroom discourse analysis and Mehan’s seminal work on “Learning lessons” (1979). I will also explore recent developments in research utilizing video data (e.g. Gardner, 2019). Furthermore, recent research has expanded its focus to encompass various dimensions, such as the professional embodiment of teachers (as seen in Jakonen, 2020), professional vision (as explored by Pouta et al., 2021), language socialization (examined in Burdelski & Howard, 2020), emotional support for students (see Salo et al, 2022), metacognitive regulation (as evidenced in Iiskala et al,. 2020), pedagogical touch (as demonstrated in Heinonen et al., 2020; Routarinne et al., 2020), and the use of video as a tool for professional development of both pre- and in-service teachers (e.g. Lepola et al., 2022). In conclusion, video observations hold a significant role in advancing our understanding of teaching and learning. The unique ability to unveil and go back to the subtleties and granularity of these interactions makes video analysis an indispensable tool in educational research with profound implications for professional development and understanding processes of teaching and learning.

Sara Routarinne is Professor at the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Turku, Finland. Her research interests include classroom interaction; Finnish language education; Conversation Analysis; Content Analysis; and Interactional linguistics.

Link to Prof. Routarinne’s talk https://uef.zoom.us/j/64772855098?pwd=YU91Ny9hU1p6c0g5dFBTVDBia1RDUT09

Meeting ID: 647 7285 5098, Passcode: 326909

More information on the FinEd preseminar at FERA 2023 conference

As previously announced, FinEd is organising another preseminar at the 2023 FERA Conference on Education (kasvatustieteen päivät), on 22 November 2023. The preseminar, entitled Focus on Open Science in the Field of Educational Sciences, will comprise keynote speeches by Professor Erika Löfström (University of Helsinki) and Dr Sami Syrjämäki (Head of Publications, Federation of Finnish Learned Societies). We are pleased to share the abstracts for the keynotes (below).

The schedule for the preseminar has also been decided. Taking into consideration the travel times and train schedules, we will be starting at 2PM with the keynote speeches, and the workshop will run from 4PM – 6PM. Register for the preseminar here https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/124740/lomake.html by 14 November at the latest. Details will be sent to registered participants prior to the preseminar.

We look forward to seeing you there! Should you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact FinEd coordinator Anna Rawlings at anna.rawlings@helsinki.fi.

Our speakers:

Professor Erika Löfström (UH): Open science – open ethics?

While ethics is a cornerstone in all research, navigating the ethics of your PhD research in the age of Open Science may sometimes involve difficult considerations, even challenges. There are demands of transparency and openness, not only about one’s results, but also practices, procedures and data. International and national expectations and guidance on research ethics have increased to support researchers in maintaining high ethical standards in their research. At the same time, researchers may struggle to get a sense of how to match expectations, some of which may even seem contradictory, such as opening data and protecting the identities of the participating individuals. In this talk, I will discuss some of the recent changes in the landscape of research and relate these to the expectations of transparency and openness, and their implications for research and researchers. I also provide suggestions and tools for handling ethical questions and dilemmas in research.

Dr Sami Syrjämäki PhD (Federation of Finnish Learned Societies): Contemporary Trends in Scholarly Publishing

Do you ever wonder about Elsevier, Green/Gold/Diamond Open Access, CC licenses, and predatory journals and how they are interconnected? Is there more to scholarly publishing than simply knowing how to craft an exceptional research article? The landscape of scholarly publishing is evolving swiftly, making it challenging to stay abreast of these developments. In this presentation, I will provide a concise overview of the key trends and the broader context of rapidly changing world of scholarly publishing.

Registration for the 2023 FinEd preseminar is open!

As in previous years, FinEd is arranging a preseminar in conjunction with the FERA Conference on Education. This year’s preseminar, Focus on Open Science in the Field of Educational Sciences, will take place at the Åbo Akademi University in Vaasa, on 22 November 2023. The preseminar explores the role of research in society and the legitimacy of scientific knowledge, and is targeted at PhD researchers writing their theses in the field of educational sciences in our member universities, with the aim of stimulating early-career researchers’ thinking and supporting their professional development as scientists.

The preseminar will be a full-day session, including two keynote speakers with expertise in aspects of open science especially related to conducting research and publishing, and a structured workshop on the topics covered in the keynotes. Our speakers:

Prof. Erika Löfström (University of Helsinki) is a member of the Diversity, Multilingualism and Social Justice (DIMISO) research group. Her research activities include, among others, the VIRT2UE project. Prof. Löfström’s talk will focus on ethics and research integrity.

Dr. Sami Syrjämäki PhD is Head of Publications at the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies. Dr. Syrjämäki’s talk will focus on open-access publication within science and research.

Register for the preseminar here https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/124740/lomake.html by 14.11.2023. More information, including the abstracts for the talks, will be published in early October, and a detailed schedule will be sent to registered participants after registration closes.

Call for abstracts: National meeting of researchers of learning and learning difficulties

The University of Jyväskylä and Niilo Mäki Institute cordially invite researchers of learning and learning difficulties to present and discuss their current work and latest findings at the annual researcher meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an outlook of the current state of educational research in the country and create opportunities for developing cooperation between researchers.

Registration for the event can be found at https://koju.nmi.fi/ilmoittautuminen/. Please register by 21.8.2023.

Preliminary schedule:

Deadline for abstract submissions 21.8.2023

Notification of acceptance for abstracts and posters 5.9.2023

More information: https://www.nmi.fi/tutkijatapaaminen-2023/#english

Media Education Conference MEC 2023

Welcome to the Media Education Conference MEC 2023!

MEC is an informal and friendly conference, which participants attend to exchange ideas and information dealing with media education, educational use of ICTs and learning environments. MEC is organized by the Media Education Hub at the University of Lapland.

MEC is organized every second year and MEC 2023 will be the tenth media education conference. In 2023 MEC will be back in Salla. Conference dates are 25 – 27 September 2023. The theme of MEC 2023 is “Media Education Meets Wilderness”.

Deadline for early-bird registration is 21 August 2023

Keynote speakers:
David M. Gaba, Professor, Stanford University

Keith Devlin, Mathematician, Emeritus, Stanford University, USA

Julie Coiro, Professor, University of Rhode Island, USA

Siu-Cheung Kong, Research Chair Professor, The Education University of Hong Kong

Please check the conference website for details of programme, keynotes, and registration: https://www.ulapland.fi/EN/Events-University-of-Lapland/MEC-2023

Looking forward to seeing you in September in Salla, Finland!

Apply now for FinEd scientific writing workshop for PhD researchers

We are pleased to announce the call for our annual scientific writing workshop for doctoral researchers!

What? A workshop focusing on the processes of academic and scientific writing, including individual and group work, mentor and peer feedback on participants’ texts, and interesting keynote speeches.

When? 15.–16.8.2023 (Tuesday – Wednesday).

Where? Hanaholmen Conference Hotel in Espoo.

For whom? Doctoral researchers from the doctoral programmes on educational sciences of FinEd member universities, representing all paradigms, and writing either article-based or monograph dissertations. NB while we welcome applicants from all stages of the PhD process, to get the most out of the workshop, you should have a textual part of your thesis (e.g., a section of an article, or chapter of your monograph/summary) to work on at the workshop. Participants will be asked to submit this for mentor comments before the workshop.

How to apply? The call is open from 1.–31.3.2023. To apply, please fill in the application form, including a motivation letter (max. 500 words) describing why you are applying to the workshop and why you think you would benefit from it in your PhD process. Based on the applications, max. 25 participants will be chosen by a committee of five FinEd steering group members, with a view to facilitating diversity (aiming for equal representation of FinEd member universities, researchers from different paradigms and stages of work), and with specific importance given to the motivation letter.

How much will it cost? FinEd will pay the expenses of successful applicants (accommodation and meals; remuneration of travel within Finland). Successful applicants will be informed about the choice in mid-April, with binding enrolment requested by 1.6.2023.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact FinEd coordinator Anna Rawlings (anna.rawlings@helsinki.fi). We look forward to receiving your applications, see you in August!