NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ1453186
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2331-186X
Education for Sustainability in Preschool: Swedish Preschool Teachers' Perspectives
Anders Ohlsson; Farhana Borg; Niklas Gericke
Cogent Education, v11 n1 Article 2353477 2024
Worldwide, preschool is recognized as an important arena for the implementation of education for sustainability (EfS). In Swedish preschools EfS has been a part of the national curriculum since 2019, but little is known about what this means in practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to increase our understanding about preschool teachers' perspectives on teaching for sustainability. Using individual semi-structured interviews with 16 randomly selected preschool teachers in Sweden, the results of which were analyzed thematically and then quantitatively, this study examines how teachers put EfS into practice. Four teaching practices were identified: "actively present teachers," "children's experiences as a basis for learning," "children's opportunity for agency -- a democratic approach," and "communication between children and teachers." Taken together, these four teaching practices demonstrate a pluralistic teaching tradition. The analysis also demonstrates a holistic perspective on subject content where "environmental," "social" and "economic" issues are addressed. A third result is that EfS is carried out using three teaching strategies "planned," "spontaneous" and "semi-spontaneous." The identification of semi-spontaneous teaching is an important finding which is made possible in created learning environments aiming to stimulate children's agency, which is of central importance in EfS and an important contribution from this study.
Cogent OA. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Sweden
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A