Jonna Kangas – författare

This book highlights contemporary questions around Early Childhood Education in Finland. It explores a range of issues relating to policies and practices in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). The book features many aspects of the so-called Nordic model that is evident in different practices and policies of the Finnish ECEC system. Among others topics, it discusses playful learning, storycrafting, scientific literacy, pedagogical leadership, family-related variables, and Sami language learning. The findings provide important insights into the Finnish ECEC model and illustrate relevant issues facing Finland. All of the 14 chapters present unique research and give the reader the opportunity to understand how the ECEC services during children’s early years are defined and implemented. Each chapter includes a discussion of the educational outcome and highlights critical perspectives.

This book provides global perspectives on assessment and evaluation practices with young children in contemporary times within early childhood education systems. It critiques and evaluates current evaluation and assessment goals and tools in early childhood settings. The book also compares the different approaches to educational evaluations from different countries in early childhood education and care. It provides insights into different approaches, techniques as well as perspectives of micro and macro-levels of analysis. This book aims to create an international understanding about the thematic conceptions of assessment for early childhood education and care.

This book examines policies and practices within higher education, particularly in the field of teacher education, that foster sustainability from a variety of viewpoints. It sheds light on both common facilitators and obstacles across 18 research-oriented chapters. It scrutinizes global research, policies, and practices, and delves into the theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence that underpin the research. It also offers critical perspectives on teacher education, emphasizing potential areas for growth. The collective findings presented in this book offer valuable insights into the sustainable development of teaching and research within higher education institutions, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the challenges at hand. Its concluding chapter culminates in an action plan for higher education institutions, synthesizing the global research presented throughout; with the aim of rejuvenating higher education and, consequently, societies as a whole. In essence, this book serves as a catalyst for initiating a global conversation within higher education, facilitating the exploration of new discourse topics, and transforming the mindset prevalent in academia, all with the ultimate goal of nurturing sustainable futures.