View - Dalarna University

Project leader

Project Members

Johan Borg
Niklas Gericke, Karlstads universitet
Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson, Gothenburg University
Mikael Winberg, Umeå University

Project Period

01-01-2019 - 31-12-2024

Project Status

Present

Description

Despite education for sustainability having been part of the Swedish preschool curricula since 2004, little is known about the benefits of and effective pedagogical practices in preschool education for sustainability. The purpose of this study is to contribute to evidence-informed development of pedagogical practices that facilitate preschool children’s learning for sustainability. The aims are to explore sustainability consciousness among children, to identify preschool teachers’ pedagogical practices in education for sustainability, and to investigate the relations between these pedagogical practices, eco-certification and children’s sustainability consciousness. In this text, sustainability consciousness refers to the knowing, attitudes, and behaviours in terms of the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability. Mixed methods combining qualitative and quantitative data will be used. Four hundred and three children, 584 teachers, and 50 principals from 25 eco- and 25 non-eco preschools will be selected through two-stage cluster random sampling. Content analyses and descriptive and inferential statistics will be applied. Social and cognitive learning theories will be used to develop instrument and to interpret the results. The project will contribute by providing insights about the role of eco-certification in children’s learning for sustainability and by supporting the development of evidence-informed pedagogical practices at preschool in Sweden and internationally.

Keywords

early childhood education, eco-certified preschool, pedagogical practices, sustainability, learning

Research Profile

Education and Learning

Subject

Educational Work

Financiers

Vetenskapsrådet

Publications

Borg Farhana, Gericke Niklas, Winberg Mikael, Borg Johan. A whole (pre)school approach to sustainability in eco- and non-eco-certified preschools in Sweden : Principals’ views and attitudes Konferens i pedagogiskt arbete, 2023 : Book of abstracts, 2023. paper-conference.
Borg Farhana, Pramling Samuelsson Ingrid, Borg Johan, Davis Julie M., Mikael Winberg, Alexiadou Nafsika, Gericke Niklas. Methodological and ethical issues when interviewing preschool children : Experiences from a study on sustainability in Sweden 31st EECERA ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Children’s Curiosity, Agency and Participation: Challenges for Professional Action and Development : Book of Abstracts, 2023. paper-conference.
Borg Farhana, Pramling Samuelsson Ingrid. Förskolebarns egna val av lek : Preliminär resultat av en studie med barn2023. speech.
Borg Farhana, Sporre Karin. Children’s Empowered Inclusion in Early Childhood Education for Sustainability International Perspectives on Educating for Democracy in Early Childhood : Recognizing Young Children as Citizens, 2023. chapter.
Borg Farhana. Education for Sustainability for Preschool Children in Sweden2023. paper-conference.
DeZutter Stacy Lee, Borg Farhana, Damjanovic Victoria, Henward Allison Sterling, Jones Denisha, Mathews Sarah A., Olğun-Baytaş Müge, Reese James, Sporre Karin, Theobald Maryanne. Collaborative Commentary : How Do Teachers Support Children as Citizens? International Perspectives on Educating for Democracy in Early Childhood : Recognizing Young Children as Citizens, 2023. chapter.
Kahriman-Pamuk Deniz, Borg Farhana. Democracy and play in early childhood education for sustainability in Sweden and Turkey : A comparison of national curricula 31st EECERA ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Children’s Curiosity, Agency and Participation: Challenges for Professional Action and Development : Book of Abstracts, 2023. paper-conference.
Borg Farhana, Pramling Samuelsson Ingrid. Integration of Economic Sustainability in Early Childhood Education : Mapping the Field2022. paper-conference.
Borg Farhana, Samuelsson Ingrid Pramling. Preschool children’s agency in education for sustainability : the case of Sweden European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 2022. Vol. 30, No. 1, article-journal.
Ohlsson Anders, Borg Farhana, Gericke Niklas. The concept of teaching in preschool curriculum in Sweden and education for sustainability 11th World Environmental Education Congress : Building Bridges in Times of Climate Urgency, 2022. paper-conference.
Ohlsson Anders, Gericke Niklas, Borg Farhana. The possible inclusion of Education for Sustainability in Swedish preschool curriculum and education 11th World Environmental Education Congress : Building Bridges in Times of Climate Urgency,, 2022. paper-conference.
Ohlsson Anders, Gericke Niklas, Borg Farhana. Integration of education for sustainability in the preschool curriculum: A comparative study between the two latest Swedish curricula Journal of Childhood, Education & Society, 2022. Vol. 3, No. 1, article-journal.
Borg Farhana, Gericke Niklas, Ohlsson Anders. Eco-certified Preschools and Children's Learning for Sustainability : Researching Holistic Outcomes of Preschool Education for Sustainability (HOPES)2020. paper-conference.
Ohlsson Anders. How Preschool teachers teach in practice about sustainability : A Pilotstudy2020. paper-conference.
Borg Farhana, Pramling Samuelsson Ingrid. Education for Sustainability in the New Preschool Curriculum in Sweden ECER 2019, Hamburg, "Education in an Era of Risk - the Role of Educational Research for the Future", 2019. paper-conference.

Research Project: Eco-certified Preschools and C hildren's Learning for Sustainability: Researching Holistic Outcomes of Preschool Education for Sustainability (HOPES)