The subject of pedagogy, as it is developed and practiced in the field of kindergarten, is central to the kindergarten teacher education, both in a historical and a current perspective. The research group works towards the following goals:
- to investigate and contribute to the development of pedagogy in kindergarten through empirical, analytical and theoretical approaches
- to strengthen the scientific discussions about the values of kindergartens, the normative issues of pedagogy and the historical development of kindergarten pedagogy
- to initiate and carry out research projects in which we – in collaboration with researchers from our international networks – develop new context-sensitive empirical knowledge about pedagogical practice in kindergarten.
Head of research group
Members
More about the research group
The research group is academically rooted in a Scandinavian kindergarten pedagogical and early childhood education professional tradition, and builds on this tradition's conceptual framework, theoretical framework and empirical knowledge base.
The academic foundation entails an analytical and critical approach to the understandings of children, childhood and kindergartens that apply, and a reflected attitude to the social context in which kindergartens and kindergarten research are a part.
The critical perspective revolves around examining how psychological, neurological and socio-economic approaches to children, childhood and kindergarten challenge the kindergarten pedagogical tradition. Within the field of education, it has been discussed, both in a Norwegian and international context, how a socio-economic perspective on quality in kindergarten is often followed by an instrumental approach to pedagogical practice. There is also a tendency for children to become invisible as subjects.
Given this context, it is important to have discussions about the pedagogy's foundation and normative premise, and about how children and children's opportunities for participation are made visible in the pedagogy. There is also a need for research on the contextual and particular characteristics of pedagogical work.
The ambition of the research group is also to contribute to the development of conceptual frameworks and contribute theoretical perspectives that can support professional development in the kindergarten sector and strengthen kindergarten teachers' autonomy, repertoire of actions, ethical judgement and critical thinking.
Pedagogical questions that are based on the fact that kindergartens are a social institution for children and an arena where children's subject position is respected, are thematised through the research activities in the group.
The group's composition of employees with first, senior and research expertise, with a significant professional network, is a good starting point for establishing and developing the group. The group's members have a varied academic backgrounds, but have common academic interests and thematic orientation. This means that there is potential for the development of joint research projects.
The academic profile may also make the group attractive to more people, including employees in recruitment positions and assistant professors who are aiming for qualification as an associate professor.
