The paper introduces a virtual collaborative learning setting called "Net Economy," which we established as part of an international learning network of currently seven universities. Using the Community of Inquiry framework as guidance and Canonical Action Research (CAR) as the chosen research design, the discussion forum of the online…

Introduction: This paper investigates participatory practices in library activities for young children and their care-givers in a specific cultural context. Method: Using an ethnographic approach data were collected through participant observations of songtimes for babies and toddlers, and interviews and group interviews with staff and…

In recent years a number of industrialized countries have developed projects that in one way or another associate school buildings with community facilities designed for different functions or uses. The texts brought together in the present volume concern Sweden, which acted as the host country for a symposium held in 1976 on "School and…

Impressions of Atlantic City can be used as an interesting case study for a discussion of the notion of a learning society and its survival in a policy-driven system like Sweden's and a market-influenced context such as Atlantic City. It would be interesting to draw a map of the different learning support systems that are available in various…

The studies described in this paper were undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of information-exchange techniques for promoting the quality of life within given regions of a society. The first analysis describes the investigation of projects to enhance the functions of small businesses, joint regional planning, health care, education,…

Two studies in southeastern Sweden examined rural children's conflicting attitudes toward environmental change in the local community. Following a yearlong curriculum in environmental studies, 14 fifth and sixth graders in Ramkvilla were presented with an imaginary scenario involving the construction of a new factory. Their small, somewhat idyllic…

In this paper the archeology of social justice is described as discourses of practices concerning Swedish ways of dealing with gender equality in compulsory school. The paper begins with some recent developments in Sweden that are important for the theme; it continues with the rhetoric in some relevant acts, government bills, and national…

This research study discusses the reading habits of the 1595 people it surveyed and the relationship of periodical mass media to individual political involvement. Focusing on popular magazines and organizational publications as periodical types, the study indicates that the amount of time available for reading periodicals and an individual's…

This paper examines educational reform and practices in Sweden from 1940 to the present. There are three major sections. The first section discusses the first generation of school reforms from 1940 up to the end of the sixties. Section two examines the second generation of school reforms which started in the late sixties and are still going on.…

International comparisons present the paradox that while such efforts encourage reflection on their own norms, values, and insights, researchers may lack the requisite knowledge to similarly engage a new culture. This work reviews school-leadership research that points to commonalities and differences in social and cultural trends in Denmark,…

This working paper was prepared by the Council of Europe Programme Adviser for Pre-School Education for a symposium on "the integration of migrant children into pre-school education". The symposium aimed to identify and suggest appropriate pedagogical measures which should be taken to facilitate and improve the integration of migrant…

A 1976-78 Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development, Centre of Educational Research and Innovation, Sparsely-Populated Areas project produced 14 case studies from 11 member countries. Fifteen basic conclusions of international relevance were identified. Conclusions were as follows: there is no single definition of rural or sparsely…

This paper describes early childhood education programs in Sweden, focusing on their history and development, administration, goals and objectives, admissions policies, structure, expenditures, program of activities, facilities, staffing, daily routine, problems and criticisms. Beginning in 1902, legislation provided for the care of abused and…

Lapp schools in Sweden and some of their current problems are described. In discussing teacher training and related educational situations, a brief history of Lapp education is given, beginning with the establishment of the Skytteanian School in 1632. From the second half of the 1700's, there existed both permanent and ambulatory schools in the…

This paper describes the social context for and the provision of child care services in Scandinavia. Particular emphasis is given to Denmark and Sweden. Occasionally, comparisons are made in the paper between Scandinavian countries and the United States, and differing attitudes toward the poor are pointed out. In the Scandinavian countries…