Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research

Anna Pauliina Rainio, Lic.Ed., Doctoral Candidate

Email: anna.rainio@helsinki.fi
Tel.: +358 9 191 44012
Fax: +358-(0)9-191 44579

Postal address:
Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research
P.O. Box 26 (Teollisuuskatu 23)
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki

Current Activities

The working title of my ongoing dissertation research is:

"Lionhearts of the Playworld: Formation of Children’s Agency in Narrative School Activity"

In Finnish: "Leijonamieleksi leikkimaailmassa. Toimijuuden muodot ja kehitys koulussa"

In school year 2003–2004 I conducted an ethnographic case study in an integrated elementary school classroom with children from four to eight years old and a multi-professional teacher team. The group follows the methods of narrative learning and play pedagogy developed by Pentti Hakkarainen and Gunilla Lindqvist.

In the empirical analysis I focus on a video-data collected from a play pedagogy project "Brothers Lionheart Playworld" that was set up in the class. I analyze the interactive and reciprocal process between children and adults through which the playworld as a form of narrative activity emerges.

Research questions are the following:

1) What forms of agency are available to or developed by the pupils within the narrative activity?
2) What kind of teaching positions are available to or developed by the adults within the narrative activity?

In Finnish:
1) Millaista toimijuutta juonellinen konteksti mahdollistaa ja tuottaa oppilaille?
2) Millaista opettajuutta juonellinen konteksti mahdollistaa ja tuottaa?

Through these questions I participate in a recent discussion of school change and sustainability of educational innovations.

In addition to examining this particular narrative project I also have a more theoretical interest in trying to understand how development to an agentive subject is possible and how this development is related to the way children interact with each other and with adults in the institutional settings of school. My general theoretical framework is based on cultural-historical activity theory, stemming especially from work on children’s play and development. Methodologically I draw from interaction analysis and discursive psychology.

Short Biography

Currently I work as a teacher-researcher in the Department of Education, University of Helsinki.

In 2003-2006 I was a Doctoral Student in Finnish Graduate School of Education (FIGSEL) and worked in the Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research.

In 2004 I received my licentiate degree from the Faculty of Education, University of Helsinki.

In 2001-2002 I worked as a researcher in the developmental work research project “Knowledge Work Laboratory” (lead by Prof. Yrjö Engeström) in the Jakomäki middle school.

I conducted my licentiate thesis as a part of the Jakomäki project. I examined middle school teachers’ discourse about their daily work in the classroom. I analyzed the ways teachers in their talk construct possibilities and obstacles for change and development of their school practices.

I received my master's degree in 2002 with education, moral & social philosophy and sociology as my main subjects.