Science Education 

We develop skills in students, teachers and educators for planning, enacting, developing and evaluating teaching on a research-based foundation. We do this by developing didactics, activities, teaching aids, and strategies. In our research, we examine and develop teaching and learning in the areas of science. We cooperate closely with schools and daycare centres to test new initiatives and strengthen children’s learning.

Learn more about our projects

Project: How science teachers can inspire children towards sustainability

Novo Nordisk Foundation has donated 4,5 mio. DKK to a project, where VIA looks at how science teachers can inspire and motivate children towards tackling everyday sustainability challenges.

For more information, please contact Associate Professor Søren Witzel Clausen at socl@via.dk 

child doing homework with help

Project: 10-year investigation of children’s interest in science

We participate in a national 10-year investigation in how children develop interest in and knowledge of science. The project follows children in schools, families, and during leisure time.

Read more

How we work

  • The research programme in science education investigates how science is taught and learned. Our goal is to develop knowledge that supports teacher education, pedagogue education as well as primary schools and daycare institutions.

    Through a research-based approach, we strengthen students, teachers, and pedagogues in developing and evaluating teaching and learning activities. We do so by involving practitioners in the development of didactics, activities, learning tools and teaching strategies.

     

    Collaboration and practice-based research

    We research in practice by creating educational laboratories where we study what happens when new approaches or learning activities are tested.

    This means our communication is often directed toward relevant professional practice. At the same time, we publish internationally to validate our work and take part in international research networks, with a strong focus on Nordic collaboration.

     

    Current research topics:

    • Problem-based approaches, such as developing modelling competence
    • Children’s and young people’s opportunities to participate in science learning processes
    • How connections with nature can contribute to children’s and young people’s relationships with nature and natural phenomena
    • Teachers’ and pedagogues’ professional development and expertise, including their confidence in carrying out inquiry-based work indoors and outdoors with children and youth
    • Education related to the UN’s sustainability goals
    • The work lives of science teacher educators
    • Multimodal reading and text analysis in science education

Contact

  • Mette Henne Hesselholt Hansen

  • Associate Professor, PhD
  • Expertise: Research within inquiry based science education, outdoor schooling and quantitative methods

  • UC Viden profile
  • Lars Brian Krogh

  • Associate Professor, PhD
  • Expertise: Research within teacher pre- and in-service training, science education

  • UC Viden profile
  • Camilla Bech Blomgreen

  • Associate Professor
  • Expertise: Research within daycare science, science capital, kindergarten teacher education

  • UC Viden profile