Browsing by Author "Kurikka, Johanna"

The research develops a teaching method to increase students' self-direction in handicraft education. The purpose is to determine whether regular exercise of mindfulness increases the self-direction of the students. Research has emerged from the need for practice. Previous studies have shown that mindfulness affects self-directedness. Mindfulness is associated with better performance-oriented self-direction (Howell & Buro, 2011). Mindful-ness exercises develop children's concentration, stress management, self-directedness and self-awareness. In addition to self-directedness, mindfulness promotes socio-emotional un-derstanding and positive attitude. (Schonert-Reichl & Lawlor, 2010.) The study was conducted as a qualitative desing-based research. Ten seventh grade students participated in the study. The study involved an 8-week conscious presence intervention in craft education. The data were collected by observing students during the interventi-on and by a self-direction questionnaire before and after the intervention. The analysis was carried out as a theory-based content analysis. The analysis used an observation diary and a self-directed questionnare based on Alanen's (2014) self-directed themes. These themes include mastering the language of the craft, taking responsibility for the craft process, courage in action, and working fluency. The intervention in the study had a positive impact on the students' work flow. According to the study, the mindfulness exercises had a positive effect on the start of the students' craft classes. Pupils began to work in a more self-directed way after practicing mindfulness exercises. Based on this, exercises can be used in craft teaching to streamline the beginning of lessons. This study could not reliably determine the effect of the exercises on the students' self-directedness other than on board the lessons.