CERLI, Centre for Research on Learning and Instruction, and CELE, Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education, present one researcher each month. In October, Doctoral Researcher Anni Vidbäck from CERLI takes the spotlight.
Currently, I am researching the teaching and learning of science literacy. I am primarily working on my dissertation, which is part of a broader research and development project, Fostering Finnish Science Capital (FINSCI, subproject 3). One of the project's goals is to develop science literacy pedagogy for various educational levels. My research focuses on the perspectives of primary school teachers and students in developing this pedagogy. In addition, I am involved in a study on science literacy among student teachers.
Investigating this topic is important because, in the midst of the information flood and complex problems, each of us needs science literacy. However, learning and teaching science literacy have proven to be challenging. Students’ difficulties are particularly related to understanding research-based knowledge and integrating it from multiple sources. Teachers, in turn, struggle, for example, with gaps in their own subject knowledge and shortcomings in teaching materials. For these reasons, it is important to develop pedagogical solutions to support the learning and teaching of science literacy.
In the researcher's daily life, my workdays are spent mostly at the computer. Depending on the stage of the research, my tasks include information search, data collection, data analysis, and reading and writing research articles. Currently, I am primarily working on the summary section of my dissertation. I also take part in various meetings, where I get to discuss research and the development of science literacy pedagogy face-to-face with my colleagues. Concerning pedagogy development, I am also involved in designing and implementing teaching and learning materials, as well as providing in-service training for teachers.
I collaborate with colleagues working on joint research projects. Currently, I am involved in the FINSCI and Read to Learn projects. Through these projects, I have had the opportunity to participate in interesting co-development and co-writing processes. I also work in collaboration with the schools participating in the projects’ studies. The involvement of actors in the field, such as teachers and students, is one of the cornerstones of our design-based research.
When I'm not researching, I spend my time with my family and enjoy leisure activities. My two children with active hobbies keep our days lively, for instance, through practice drop-offs and pick-ups. I also enjoy cheering them on in games and competitions in person. I take care of my own well-being through various physical activities. Walking in the forest or practicing yoga are the best ways for me to recharge. I also get to be part of a gymnastics group that is training for next summer’s Gymnaestrada event. Now and then, I like to curl up on the sofa with a historical novel or puzzle over a crossword.
Greetings to those working in learning and teaching research: in a world filled with information overload, uncertainty, and challenges, producing and safeguarding research-based knowledge is more important than ever. Let us work together to ensure that such knowledge remains accessible to everyone and that teachers have research-based tools to support their teaching.
Researcher of the Month is a joint publication series of the Faculty of Education's Centres for Research CERLI and CELE, presenting one researcher once a month. The previously published presentations have been compiled on the series' website.
