
Stående från vänster: Madeleine Jakobsson (pedagog), Lisa Larsson (pedagog), Marja Kallio (pedagog), Pia Elofsson (rektor), Eira Huhta (ateljerista), Emma Öhrlund (pedagog). Sittande från vänster: Lena Heyden (pedagogista), Märtha Andersson, forskare och lärarutbildare, LTU), Annika Lomgren (danspedagog) Saknas på bilden gör: Ingela Söderholm (rektor), Outi Kruuka (pedagog), Helena ten Siethoff (pedagog), Jeanette Almqvist (pedagog), Anna Olofsson (pedagog).
The Hand and the Mind - With aesthetic expressions
With this project, we want to connect different aesthetic forms of expression with knowledge/goal areas that are included in the children's projects. In this way, subjects are intertwined and become an interdisciplinary meeting.
Who are we?
60 educators, 260 children as well as 2 principals, a studio teacher and a pedagogical supervisor at Hällbackens, Uddens, Bensbyns and Sundets preschools at Björkskatan's school area in Luleå who work with children 1-6 years and researchers from LTU.
The area for R&D practice-related research
Today we see a general picture that neither childcare workers and preschool teachers possess a deeper knowledge and awareness of the importance of using aesthetic expressions as a tool for children's learning. This is an area in Lpfö18 that has been revised and strengthened and therefore important to develop.
The purpose of the project
With the project, we want to link different aesthetic forms of expression with knowledge/goal areas that are included in the children's projects. In this way, subjects are intertwined and become an interdisciplinary meeting.
We want the children to experience a teaching, where they in their learning of a knowledge area can explore the area with the help of two different expressions in parallel, for example a "linguistic walk" between drawing and dancing. When motor skills, emotion, perception and cognition are linked, children receive a more comprehensive education. By allowing the hand and body to make visible the invisible, what we think, say and communicate through different forms of expression, all children with different ways of learning and children with different languages can be more involved in the group's learning processes. Expressions then become tools for inclusion and participation.
Aesthetic expressions allow children to use multiple senses in their learning. They activate both experiences and emotions and this in turn generates conditions for creating new things, adding new thoughts and ideas and thus not only enriching children's continued storytelling and design but also children's imagination and creativity.
Implementation and documentation
The project leader and studio teacher will train educators in the aesthetic expressions of drawing and clay, supervise work teams, be responsible for workshops and hold the project group's reflections in collaboration with the area's educational supervisors, principals and researchers from LTU.
Dance educator from Kulturskolan holds workshops in dance with the educators, has dance lessons with two groups of children who are documented and participates in the project group's meetings.
The project group consists of 2 educators / preschool, educational supervisor, studio teacher, dance educator, principals and researchers from LTU meet continuously to reflect on the purpose of the project.
Researchers from LTU participate in workshops, dance sessions and conduct interviews with educators from the project group on several occasions.
Dissemination and results
The project is disseminated through lectures to interested parties through Luleå's pedagogical network and through the contacts of the School of Culture. Workshops for educators at more preschools. Documentation of the project is compiled into compendiums that can be disseminated. On the basis of the compendium, the content will be analysed and problematized to then become a basis for a publication in a scientific journal.
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