Childhood and Society
The research group is committed to examining everyday experiences and upbringing conditions in early childhood settings. This exploration encompasses fundamental issues such as democracy, sustainability, equality, diversity, and inclusion. The group critically engages with ethical responsibility towards future generations, emphasizing the contributions of the youngest children in both society and early childhood settings. Topics of interest include interpersonal relationships and friendships, as well as the dynamics of power, resistance, and risk in play and social interactions. Furthermore, through aesthetic and multisensory methodologies, the group explores variations in language and sensory aspects of early childhood.
Early Childhood Settings
The research group elucidates foundational components of early childhood settings, such as care, play, learning, and formative development. This includes material, relational, and digital environments within daily educational practices. These explorations align with the group's interest in children's participatory roles. Additionally, the group contributes to projects related to resources such as books, materials, digital technology, and physical spaces. Responsibilities in early childhood settings are intricately connected to collaborations with families, stakeholders, owners, and local communities. The group advances knowledge through pedagogical innovation, comprehensive analyses, and novel approaches to early childhood settings.
Early Childhood Teacher Education and Professions
The research group is actively engaged in multiple projects examining educational and professional questions within early childhood teacher education, focusing on forms of teaching and educational quality. Leadership and mentorship are pivotal themes explored by the group, particularly concerning transitions from academic study to professional practice. This includes providing critical insights into concepts, qualifications, and evaluative judgment within professional settings. The group contributes knowledge concerning ethical dilemmas across educational, occupational, and policy domains, emphasizing trust, responsibility, and innovation within both public and private sectors.
Research Methodologies and Ethical Considerations
By creating a platform for diverse research into children, early childhood settings, and childhood, the research group fosters interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at cultivating intellectual curiosity, focused attention, and cooperative endeavors. The group's activities leverage the varied academic expertise of its members to collaboratively advance the field. These initiatives include dissemination, academic publishing, seminars, and cross-disciplinary collaborations across educational and professional environments. The group prioritizes the development of nuanced research methodologies and maintains a vigilant ethical stance throughout their research processes.
Institutional Alignment and Strategic Collaborations
The research group is integral to the Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages at Østfold University of Applied Science (OUAS) and participates in the faculty's Research Committee.
The group engages in numerous development projects under the Regional Competence Development (ReKomp), drawing on the expertise and experience of its members to establish professional learning communities between kindergartens and higher education institutions. This initiative supports the establishment and advancement of Teacher Education Kindergarten (LUB).
Rooted in the college's emphasis on practice-oriented and interdisciplinary research, the group's endeavors align with strategic focus areas: Language in Learning, The Digital Society, and CHANGE – inclusion for children and youth.