Browsing by Subject "beteende"

Goal. Previous studies show that dog assisted pedagogy may have positive consequences on pupil behavior and learning. There are relatively few studies on dog assisted pedagogy in Finnish schools. The aim of this study is to attain a deeper understanding of dog assisted activities in Finnish schools and to investigate how a dog as a pedagogical resource affects pupil behavior, socio-emotional development and learning at school from a teacher perspective. Methods. The study is qualitative in nature and the empirical material is based on three semi-structured interviews with four qualified teachers who apply dog assisted pedagogy in their classroom. Two of the informants are special education teachers teaching small groups, one informant is a special education classroom teacher teaching a small class and one informant is a classroom teacher teaching a normal class, however, including children with special needs. The data was analyzed with thematic analysis. Results and conclusions. The study shows that the teacher participants believe dog assisted pedagogy is an excellent method that should be entitled for all educational institutions on pedagogical grounds. Above all, children with special needs, who perceive schoolwork as particularly demanding, seem to benefit from dog assisted activities, according to the informants. The presence of a dog in the classroom may have positive effects on pupil behavior and the executive functions. The study reveals that the presence of a dog improves especially a pupil’s stress management and self-regulation skills and contributes to a calmer atmosphere in the classroom. Further, the study shows that a dog’s participation in school activities may increase pupil motivation concerning school tasks and accordingly enhance pupil self-efficacy. Additionally, the informants feel that the dog increased social interaction and communication between teacher and pupil but also between pupils. The informants do not recognize a direct connection between the presence of a dog and socio-emotional development and learning. However, they identify several indirect correlations between these factors.