Reflection is a key component in teachers’ educational programs. As teachers transfer human value... more Reflection is a key component in teachers’ educational programs. As teachers transfer human values through the subject(s) they teach, their pedagogical thinking plays an essential role in decision-making. As part of the Arctic Reformative and Exploratory Teaching Profession (ArkTOP) project (Finland), this case study examines the potential for developing pedagogical thinking in the education of primary school teachers. The aim of this study was to identify the levels of pedagogical thinking in students and educators through studying their reflections on piano courses. The results indicated that student teachers reflected on an action level rather than upon metatheory. Teacher educators shared reflections from both an object theory and metatheory level, while the student teachers’ reflections were focused on their individual skills when making music. Thus, teacher educators should offer student teachers more guidance on how to reflect upon their activities and provide argumentation f...
At present, the idea of teacher professional development is widely highlighted in education. The ... more At present, the idea of teacher professional development is widely highlighted in education. The present qualitative study examines whether coteaching in collaboration between music lecturers at two universities could enable their professional development and improve student learning. Our study consisted of piano courses in two independent primary school teacher education programs. In this conceptual work, it appears that the definitions of coteaching also allow a distant collaborative professional development of the two music lecturers. The main challenges were identified as access to a shared physical space and a common group of students, which could be diminished using digitalization.
This is the final part of research started in 2014 when development of the new National Curricula... more This is the final part of research started in 2014 when development of the new National Curricula (NC) was initiated. The role of music education had to be mapped to prove its meaning as a traditional mandatory subject in the NC. According to the research program, different aspects, related to music education (content, integration of art subjects, informal and non-formal music activities, supportive learning environments, etc.), were analysed. The research of 2020 is summarising the values music education can provide for development of educated, responsible, ethical and creative people. The data collected from essays of school students and (future and in-service) music teachers (n=166), were analysed by qualitative methods. The values were classified by the following categories: social, cultural, cognitive, moral, aesthetic, personal. The research results can be used as arguments for developing music education syllabi in the NCs from kindergartens to gymnasia. The whole program of r...
According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1989), children’s pa... more According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1989), children’s participation in cultural life and arts is of utmost importance. The ideas of children’s equality and their right to participation are also emphasised in curricula and other policy programmes in many countries. Three decades after the signing of the CRC, however, there still appears to be a large gap between the policy programmes and their practical implementation in arts and culture education. Referring to previous findings in early childhood music research (Williams, 2018) and brain research (Tervaniemi, Tao and Huotilainen, 2018), the authors of this study—as both scholars and educators in music— investigate early childhood music education. This qualitative case study examines children’s opportunities for participation in early childhood music education in four European countries (Estonia, Finland, Greece and Iceland). The data were collected through interviews, utilising some previous ...
The dynamic of relationships between teachers and students has been of particular significance si... more The dynamic of relationships between teachers and students has been of particular significance since cooperative learning became recognized as a most supportive environment for studies. This led the authors to the idea of studying a target group of students (N = 972) to find out how often they noticed and perceived quality instruction and how they described good teachers in their essays. Their research was based on hermeneutical analysis of these essays. The criteria for interpretative analysis were teacher as a person; teacher as a skilled professional; and teacher as an ethical person and professional. The statements provided by students allow wider reflections on organization of teachers' pre-and inservice training. The personal characteristics and professional skills and activities the students highlighted deserve attention as expected traits and competencies for which teachers could aspire while building cumulative knowledge and pedagogical capability across the profession ...
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference
Lately there has been much interest in how university level studies develop students’ generic ski... more Lately there has been much interest in how university level studies develop students’ generic skills and to what extent university education meets the requirements of working life. Generic skills are needed in every profession and field. The term has been widely used during the past few decades due to the rapid change in society and working life. In order to develop teacher education in Finland, several research projects have been launched. The aim of this research was to find out preschool and primary school teachers’ perceptions to what extent and what kind of generic skills their teacher’s pedagogical studies had supported most. The data used in this study was collected electronically by E-lomake that was distributed through different social media channels. The received answers of induction phase teachers (n = 23) were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. To gain a better insight, two of the respondents were also interviewed and the answers analysed qualitatively.The r...
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference
Several factors, such as international trends of globalisation, technological innovation, changin... more Several factors, such as international trends of globalisation, technological innovation, changing learning environments as well as internal developments in socio-cultural contexts and educational policy-making are constantly shaping values of people and causing difficulties with specification of their identity building. Our study is based on comparative research carried out in Estonia and Finland in 2015-2018 (N = 217) with future music teachers, who were asked to write essays where they highlighted and explained meaningful for them cultural landmarks in their countries. The method used was hermeneutical analysis, as this allows to focus on the text produced according to the question asked as an expression of the respondents’ personal experiences and accepted values. The information presented in texts was analyzed at multiple levels and different viewpoints. Parallel analyses by authors were carried out in order to guarantee the validity of the overall results. Finally, the results...
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference
Curriculum development for general comprehensive and also vocational schools needs consideration ... more Curriculum development for general comprehensive and also vocational schools needs consideration of the context, in which availability of non-formal and informal education (extracurricular activities=EA) plays an important role forming a meaningful whole with formal education. This pilot study attempted to find out what motivates students (aged 13–15) for participation and teachers organizing/supervising these activities. The methods used for data collection were questionnaires for students (n=258), focus groups of students (n=4), and interviews with teachers (n=8) which provided preliminary data for comprehension of the meaning of EA. The data were processed statistically and by content analysis. The results highlighted several important issues which should be considered when selecting and organizing the content for designing subject syllabi for formal learning specified in national curricula (NC) under changed learning environments, especially considering those created by ICT. Stu...
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference
In Finland, music subject is part of National Core Curriculum and in the primary school stage (gr... more In Finland, music subject is part of National Core Curriculum and in the primary school stage (grades 1-6) usually taught by primary school teachers. To assure instruction of music education on a highly professional level, pre-service teachers are taught piano course as part of music didactics.This article reports findings of the pilot study carried out as part of ArcTop research project between University of Lapland and University of Helsinki to develop and improve primary school teacher education in both institutions. Students' expectations and reflections are examined through the lens of self-efficacy theory by Bandura (1977, 1986, 1997).The data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire to find out students experiences in piano playing and music reading as well as their self-reflections about the learning process. The answers (n = 97) were processed statistically and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results revealed that most of the participants (n =...
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference
International trends of globalisation, changing learning environments as well as particular socio... more International trends of globalisation, changing learning environments as well as particular socio-cultural contexts and educational policy making are constantly shaping selection of the content for national curricula (NC) of general comprehensive schools. Art subjects (music, literature and art education) have been compulsory elements in Estonian NC for a century already making a significant contribution to identity and personality development of all population. Traditionally, learning art subjects has been well supported by extra-curricular activities or hidden curriculum so far. Today, primarily due to changing cultures and new values, learning motivation and decline of reading and expressive skills of students have become an issue. A pilot research (students’ essays, n=367) was carried out in Estonian general comprehensive basic schools (level 3, students aged 13–16) in 2016 with the aim to specify how students perceive the role and meaning of art subjects in their life. The stud...
Reflection is a key component in teachers’ educational programs. As teachers transfer human value... more Reflection is a key component in teachers’ educational programs. As teachers transfer human values through the subject(s) they teach, their pedagogical thinking plays an essential role in decision-making. As part of the Arctic Reformative and Exploratory Teaching Profession (ArkTOP) project (Finland), this case study examines the potential for developing pedagogical thinking in the education of primary school teachers. The aim of this study was to identify the levels of pedagogical thinking in students and educators through studying their reflections on piano courses. The results indicated that student teachers reflected on an action level rather than upon metatheory. Teacher educators shared reflections from both an object theory and metatheory level, while the student teachers’ reflections were focused on their individual skills when making music. Thus, teacher educators should offer student teachers more guidance on how to reflect upon their activities and provide argumentation f...
At present, the idea of teacher professional development is widely highlighted in education. The ... more At present, the idea of teacher professional development is widely highlighted in education. The present qualitative study examines whether coteaching in collaboration between music lecturers at two universities could enable their professional development and improve student learning. Our study consisted of piano courses in two independent primary school teacher education programs. In this conceptual work, it appears that the definitions of coteaching also allow a distant collaborative professional development of the two music lecturers. The main challenges were identified as access to a shared physical space and a common group of students, which could be diminished using digitalization.
This is the final part of research started in 2014 when development of the new National Curricula... more This is the final part of research started in 2014 when development of the new National Curricula (NC) was initiated. The role of music education had to be mapped to prove its meaning as a traditional mandatory subject in the NC. According to the research program, different aspects, related to music education (content, integration of art subjects, informal and non-formal music activities, supportive learning environments, etc.), were analysed. The research of 2020 is summarising the values music education can provide for development of educated, responsible, ethical and creative people. The data collected from essays of school students and (future and in-service) music teachers (n=166), were analysed by qualitative methods. The values were classified by the following categories: social, cultural, cognitive, moral, aesthetic, personal. The research results can be used as arguments for developing music education syllabi in the NCs from kindergartens to gymnasia. The whole program of r...
According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1989), children’s pa... more According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1989), children’s participation in cultural life and arts is of utmost importance. The ideas of children’s equality and their right to participation are also emphasised in curricula and other policy programmes in many countries. Three decades after the signing of the CRC, however, there still appears to be a large gap between the policy programmes and their practical implementation in arts and culture education. Referring to previous findings in early childhood music research (Williams, 2018) and brain research (Tervaniemi, Tao and Huotilainen, 2018), the authors of this study—as both scholars and educators in music— investigate early childhood music education. This qualitative case study examines children’s opportunities for participation in early childhood music education in four European countries (Estonia, Finland, Greece and Iceland). The data were collected through interviews, utilising some previous ...
The dynamic of relationships between teachers and students has been of particular significance si... more The dynamic of relationships between teachers and students has been of particular significance since cooperative learning became recognized as a most supportive environment for studies. This led the authors to the idea of studying a target group of students (N = 972) to find out how often they noticed and perceived quality instruction and how they described good teachers in their essays. Their research was based on hermeneutical analysis of these essays. The criteria for interpretative analysis were teacher as a person; teacher as a skilled professional; and teacher as an ethical person and professional. The statements provided by students allow wider reflections on organization of teachers' pre-and inservice training. The personal characteristics and professional skills and activities the students highlighted deserve attention as expected traits and competencies for which teachers could aspire while building cumulative knowledge and pedagogical capability across the profession ...
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference
Lately there has been much interest in how university level studies develop students’ generic ski... more Lately there has been much interest in how university level studies develop students’ generic skills and to what extent university education meets the requirements of working life. Generic skills are needed in every profession and field. The term has been widely used during the past few decades due to the rapid change in society and working life. In order to develop teacher education in Finland, several research projects have been launched. The aim of this research was to find out preschool and primary school teachers’ perceptions to what extent and what kind of generic skills their teacher’s pedagogical studies had supported most. The data used in this study was collected electronically by E-lomake that was distributed through different social media channels. The received answers of induction phase teachers (n = 23) were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. To gain a better insight, two of the respondents were also interviewed and the answers analysed qualitatively.The r...
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference
Several factors, such as international trends of globalisation, technological innovation, changin... more Several factors, such as international trends of globalisation, technological innovation, changing learning environments as well as internal developments in socio-cultural contexts and educational policy-making are constantly shaping values of people and causing difficulties with specification of their identity building. Our study is based on comparative research carried out in Estonia and Finland in 2015-2018 (N = 217) with future music teachers, who were asked to write essays where they highlighted and explained meaningful for them cultural landmarks in their countries. The method used was hermeneutical analysis, as this allows to focus on the text produced according to the question asked as an expression of the respondents’ personal experiences and accepted values. The information presented in texts was analyzed at multiple levels and different viewpoints. Parallel analyses by authors were carried out in order to guarantee the validity of the overall results. Finally, the results...
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference
Curriculum development for general comprehensive and also vocational schools needs consideration ... more Curriculum development for general comprehensive and also vocational schools needs consideration of the context, in which availability of non-formal and informal education (extracurricular activities=EA) plays an important role forming a meaningful whole with formal education. This pilot study attempted to find out what motivates students (aged 13–15) for participation and teachers organizing/supervising these activities. The methods used for data collection were questionnaires for students (n=258), focus groups of students (n=4), and interviews with teachers (n=8) which provided preliminary data for comprehension of the meaning of EA. The data were processed statistically and by content analysis. The results highlighted several important issues which should be considered when selecting and organizing the content for designing subject syllabi for formal learning specified in national curricula (NC) under changed learning environments, especially considering those created by ICT. Stu...
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference
In Finland, music subject is part of National Core Curriculum and in the primary school stage (gr... more In Finland, music subject is part of National Core Curriculum and in the primary school stage (grades 1-6) usually taught by primary school teachers. To assure instruction of music education on a highly professional level, pre-service teachers are taught piano course as part of music didactics.This article reports findings of the pilot study carried out as part of ArcTop research project between University of Lapland and University of Helsinki to develop and improve primary school teacher education in both institutions. Students' expectations and reflections are examined through the lens of self-efficacy theory by Bandura (1977, 1986, 1997).The data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire to find out students experiences in piano playing and music reading as well as their self-reflections about the learning process. The answers (n = 97) were processed statistically and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results revealed that most of the participants (n =...
SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference
International trends of globalisation, changing learning environments as well as particular socio... more International trends of globalisation, changing learning environments as well as particular socio-cultural contexts and educational policy making are constantly shaping selection of the content for national curricula (NC) of general comprehensive schools. Art subjects (music, literature and art education) have been compulsory elements in Estonian NC for a century already making a significant contribution to identity and personality development of all population. Traditionally, learning art subjects has been well supported by extra-curricular activities or hidden curriculum so far. Today, primarily due to changing cultures and new values, learning motivation and decline of reading and expressive skills of students have become an issue. A pilot research (students’ essays, n=367) was carried out in Estonian general comprehensive basic schools (level 3, students aged 13–16) in 2016 with the aim to specify how students perceive the role and meaning of art subjects in their life. The stud...
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