8 November 2021
Ten million for research on lifelong learning
Jessica K. Ljungberg, professor of Engineering Psychology at Luleå University of Technology, has been granted ten million kronor as a project manager together with other actors for research in the theme of lifelong learning. "Among other things, we want to develop a digital tool that will be able to increase curiosity and desire to acquire knowledge", she says.
The purpose is to look at people's attitudes to their own lifelong learning,and to create a digital tool to motivate learning and to test it.
"Many think that learning takes place during school time and not as something that goes on throughout our lives", says Jessica K.Ljungberg.
It all started with Jessica K. Ljungberg was asked by the Vice Chancellor of Luleå University of Technology to be part of one of the eight working groups that have been commissioned to work with issues of lifelong learning. Her group consisted of representatives from the business community, the Restructuring Fund foundation and the RISE research institute.
"I was the only one who was active at a university. For a year, we discussed attitudes to lifelong learning. During the work, we in the group came to the conclusion that we should make an application for research funding for three years in this topic".
They submitted an application to Vinnova for close to ten million kronor and it was granted.
Digital toolbox
After a literature review, a questionnaire shall be made and sent out to map attitudes to one's own learning.
The company Sprout Park, led by Michael Ahlström, will develop a digital, educational toolbox.
"We will search for which pedagogical approaches that the literature shows as the most effective in stimulating curiosity, desire to learn more and continue with it. When we know what it is, it will be put in the toolbox. Then we will test it on students at Luleå University of Technology, teachers and care staff. We want to know what stimulates learning and what makes us want to learn", says Jessica K. Ljungberg.
Will study attitudes
One goal of the tests is to see if the participants' attitudes and desire to learn change. Among the students, a comparison will be made between a group that uses the toolbox and one that has not used it.
"We want to see if the students' results in the course differ. And we can ask questions about curiosity, joy and desire, the subjective side, and we can see results on the objective side by comparing the groups' grades", says Jessica K. Ljungberg.
When it comes to healthcare professionals and teachers, it is about seeing if they have changed their attitude and attitude towards learning after using the toolbox.
"We will also study the attitudes of people who work at ABB and the Adjustment Fund, there may be more target groups, with different levels of education and life situations", says Jessica K. Ljungberg.
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