Browsing by Author "Kalo, Antti"

Objectives The national core curriculum which is drawn up by the Finnish National Agency for Education emphasizes student social engagement. However, social engagement is not defined in the national core curriculum. In the research literature social engagement has been associated with other similar concepts such as agency, empowerment and participation. This study aims to thematically code and interpret class teachers thoughts and opinions on student social engagement. Methods In this study four class teachers who were per se interested in social engagement were interviewed on the subject individually. Research material was transcribed word by word and analyzed with content analysis. Results and discussion Four themes were found in the research material: taking students individual opinions to account, possibility to influence, sense of community and active agency. Teachers also highlighted that especially with younger students there are some necessary limitations to student social engagement. According to the interviewed teachers, the effect these limitations have on student social engagement will gradually diminish when the students mature or when mutual trust increases.