Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research

Anna Pauliina Rainio, Lic.Ed., Doctoral Candidate

Email: anna.rainio@helsinki.fi
Tel.: +358 9 191 44288

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 dissertation research is:

"Lionhearts of the Playworld: An Ethnographic Case Study of Children’s Agency and its Development in Play Pedagogy"

In Finnish: "Leijonamieleksi leikkimaailmassa: Etnografinen tapaustutkimus toimijuudesta ja sen kehityksestä leikkipedagogiikassa "

The current time calls for a recognition of children as active subjects in their lives. Our school system however, has been slow in moving into this direction. Teachers face a dilemma how to promote children’s agency while simultaneously fulfilling various curricular objectives and managing large groups of pupils through the school day. My dissertation analyzes this challenge in the context of play pedagogy.

In school year 2003–2004 I conducted a video ethnographic case study in an age-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 playworld pedagogy developed by Pentti Hakkarainen and Gunilla Lindqvist.

In the empirical part of my dissertation I analyzed from different angles how the collectively dramatized playworld activity mediated (Vygotsky, 1978) the adult-child relations in the classroom and the way children manifested their agency in the activity. I also discuss the challenges and constraints that the playworld pedagogy faced, having to solve the contradiction between agency and control (Rainio, 2008).

Currently I write the conclusion part for the dissertation. 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 narrative interaction analysis.

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My Post Doctoral research will focus on the role of art and imagination in personal and social change. We have started a research project in Spring 2009 in cooperation with National Institute for Health and Welfare. The research site consists of children aged 13–17 who live in children’s homes (within substitute care) and who participate in theatre and art workshops organised by a Finnish theatre co-operative in 2009 and 2010
The study develops a participatory, developmental ethnographic methodology inspired by the ethnography of change (Helle, 2006; Hasu, 2005; Rainio 2009) and visual ethnography (Ferholt, 2009; Asch & Asch 1995, Tobin & Hsueh 2007, Byrne et al., 2009). The researchers participate in the art workshops together with the children and collect video and photographic data. The theoretical basis is developed from i.e., Vygotsky’s Psychology of Art and Dewey’s Art as Experience.

I am part of an international playworld-research group, see:

http://lchc.ucsd.edu/Projects/playworlds.html

Short Biography

Currently I work on completing my dissertation.

2006-2007 I worked as an assistant of education in the Department of Education in University of Helsinki.

In 2003-2006 I was a Doctoral Student in Finnish Graduate School of Education (FIGSEL).

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.