Browsing by Subject "Kädentaidot"

Aims. The aim of this study is to find out how Finnish schools’ teachers utilize crafts in their teaching. Previous research handling the aforementioned aim does not exist. Handcrafts as a tool of integration is approached by the six dimensions of teaching. Those dimensions are: teaching goals, teaching contents, teaching methods, teaching contexts, student and teacher. These dimensions are generally approved and widely used in educational research (Kansanen, 2014, 24). Methods. The thesis at hand represents qualitative survey research. The data was collected via an online questionnaire that was distributed to Finnish Schools’ teachers via email. The final amount of respondents was 33. The gathered written data reflects the personal impressions and experiences of Finnish Schools’ teachers. The data was analyzed using theory-guided content analysis. Results and conclusions. The writings of the teachers show that using crafts in teaching is one of the ways of integrating teaching in Finnish Schools. Teachers implement crafts in their teaching in multiple different ways. All in all, teaching Finnish language is seen as the primary responsibility of Finnish Schools. Majority of the respondents however considered crafts as an integrative method important in supporting the language learning of the students. A conclusion can be made that the role of the Finnish schools’ teachers in integrating teaching is significant. Crafts is being taught within the limits of the teachers’ capabilities and in their teaching the benefits of the students are taken into consideration.