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Integration of education for sustainability in the preschool curriculum: A comparative study between the two latest Swedish curricula
Dalarna University, School of Teacher Education, Educational Work. 202100-2908. (HOPES)ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6727-2196
Karlstad University. (HOPES)ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8735-2102
Dalarna University, School of Teacher Education, Educational Work. (HOPES)ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4937-8413
2022 (English)In: Journal of Childhood, Education & Society, ISSN 2717-638X, Vol. 3, no 1, p. 12-27Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Sustainable development
RECAST, SDG 4: Quality education
Abstract [en]

The aim of this study is to provide a content analysis of the new Swedish preschool curriculum in comparison with the previous preceding curriculum to investigate how sustainability and education for sustainability (EfS) have been described, and whether there have been any changes in terms of the scope of their inclusion in the new curriculum. The study adopts a holistic view of sustainability, meaning that the environmental dimension, social dimension, and economic dimension, along with a pluralistic and transformative view of EfS, form the analytical framework. Using content analysis, the frequency of explicit and implicit descriptive words for sustainability and EfS in both curricula were investigated. A contextual analysis was also conducted that involved an interpretation of the meaning of the implicit words. Two main findings could be identified in the new curriculum in comparison to the previous curriculum. The first was that the term sustainability is now used from an explicit and holistic perspective that includes all three dimensions. The second was that the new curriculum provides guidance as to how to incorporate EfS where such words as investigating, participation, collaborate and develop are used. Together with the context in which these words appear, a picture forms of a pluralistic teaching tradition in preschool curricula. Overall, the analysis provides a picture of change in the Swedish preschool curriculum that is in line with the intentions of international policy and research relating to a need for increased focus on sustainability and EfS.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2022. Vol. 3, no 1, p. 12-27
Keywords [en]
Curriculum analysis, Education for sustainable development, Preschool, Sustainable development, Sustainability
National Category
Pedagogical Work
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:du-39621DOI: 10.37291/2717638x.202231130Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85128373022OAI: oai:DiVA.org:du-39621DiVA, id: diva2:1639244
Part of project
Ekocertifierade förskolors betydelse för barns lärande för hållbarhet: En studie av holistiska effekter av förskoleutbildning för hållbarhet
Funder
Swedish Research Council, 2018-04445Available from: 2022-02-21 Created: 2022-02-21 Last updated: 2024-11-19
In thesis
1. Undervisningsstrategier och praktiker i förskolans undervisning för hållbar utveckling
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Undervisningsstrategier och praktiker i förskolans undervisning för hållbar utveckling
2024 (Swedish)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The thesis aims to describe education for sustainable development (ESD) in Swedish preschools and the factors affecting its implementation. The new Swedish preschool curriculum from 2019 mentions teaching explicitly for the first time and highlights the sustainability perspective, hence the importance of this study. This study investigates how ESD is conducted in Swedish preschool and also explores how the learning environment, implementation support in the form of eco-certification, and the new curriculum affect ESD in preschool. Empirical data comprises interviews with 16 randomly selected preschool teachers from 16 preschools in eight municipalities; in addition, two teachers at two preschools were observed teaching, and the former and current curricula were analysed. Data was analysed through thematic and content analysis based on a pragmatic perspective of ESD where teaching practices and teaching strategies are central concepts. The results identify four ESD practices that describe a pluralistic view of teaching and a new teaching-strategy, semi-spontaneous teaching. What characterises semi-spontaneous teaching is that it occurs on the initiative of children in an environment well-considered by the teacher or with the teacher’s teaching material. The study also identifies a ESD characterised by a holistic perspective on sustainable development. An investigation of these influencing factors gives the following results: the learning environment affects ESD in terms of the preschool teachers' choice of teaching strategy; implementation support resulted in only minor differences where teachers at eco-certified preschools describe a more structured and planned ESD than teachers at non-eco-certified preschools; and the new curriculum presents a holistic perspective on sustainable development that leans towards pluralistic teaching and that therefore has greater potential to influence ESD in a pluralistic and holistic direction than the former curriculum.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Falun: Högskolan Dalarna, 2024
Series
Dalarna Doctoral Dissertations ; 36
Keywords
Curriculum analysis, Early childhood education, Eco-certification, Education for sustainable development, ESD practices, Learning environments, Outdoor education, Pluralistic perspective, Preschool, Preschool teachers ‘perspectives, Sustainable development, Sustainability, Sustainability education, Teaching practices, Teaching strategies, Eko-certifiering, Förskola, Förskollärarperspektiv, Hållbarhet, Hållbarhetsutbildning, Hållbar utveckling, Lärmiljöer, Läroplansanalys, Pluralism, UHU praktiker, Undervisning för hållbar utveckling, Undervisning i förskola, Undervisningspraktiker, Undervisningsstrategier, Utomhuspedagogik
National Category
Didactics Pedagogical Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:du-48775 (URN)978-91-88679-77-2 (ISBN)
Public defence
2024-09-20, lecture hall F135, campus Falun, 13:00 (Swedish)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2024-08-15 Created: 2024-06-18 Last updated: 2024-08-15Bibliographically approved

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Ohlsson, AndersBorg, Farhana

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