Along with the developing information society, the theories of learning, beliefs dealing with them, images of the future, and the general idea on information and knowledge, and the means of learning and learning environments are rapidly transforming. In order to cope with the growing challenges of learning, also the learner/researcher/teacher/education planner has to change, but this transformation should not take place randomly and without far-reaching and future-orientating consideration. In this situation, therefore, we definitely need new knowledge about the development of scientific knowledge processes from the angles of general expectations, cognitive skills and learning abilities, as well as the goals of changing society.
In order to answer to this need, this research project, funded by Academy of Finland (2003-2004), aimed at researching the images of the future in learning, teaching, and education from the point of view of sociological futures studies.
The focus was on the following research questions:
- What are the hopes, fears, expectations, beliefs, and learning theories like, which the educational planning, decision-making, and setting of objectives are based on?
- How do those beliefs and ideas become visible in the present learning practices?
- Do the images of future held by officials working on the different levels of educational planning and development, and those of teachers and educators differ from each other?
- What are the inner and inter-tensions in the images of the future held by the different actors
The central research questions are connected with the ideas on the meaning of education and learning, choice of educational paths and curricula, orientation to working life and career, and the implementation of educational mission in the light of future challenges and alternatives. The research concentrates on the images and ideas of the future of learning (such as the concepts of lifelong learning, life-wide learning, eLearning, etc.) held by officials who are in charge of the social planning and development of education on one hand, and people who are involved in practical education on the other hand. The focus is set on how the ideas and images of the planning section are reflected in the practical implementation at schools and other education institutions, and what kind of conflicts and tensions those processes might reveal. In addition, the study aims at exploring how those ideas and beliefs become visible both in the present practices and in decision-making and goal-setting.
The theoretical basis of the research is the idea on the meaning of images of the future as the major driving element behind decision-making and choice processes, developed by Anita Rubin in her earlier studies. The research will be carried out by surveys and thematic interviews, and the method of analysis will be Hoikkala’s "the method of close reading". The interviewees will be selected from among the officials in the Ministry of Education and other administrative quarters in education; the organisation of the rectors of small high schools; the members of the board of the Finland Futures Academy (FFA), and other suitable parties.
Further information:
Anita Rubin
Senior Researcher
anita.rubin@tse.fi