Finding Multiliteracies: science, art and stories meet at Heureka

The University of Helsinki’s research and development programme The Joy of Learning Multiliteracies (MOI) invites families to a free event at the Finnish Science Center Heureka on May 12th at 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. At the MOI-event you get to explore the multeity of multiliteracy through science, art and stories.

”Multiliteracy gives us the competence to understand and evaluate information, claims and opinions, and to challenge them when needed. Someone who lacks multiliteracy skills has a restricted perception of the surrounding world. Their worldview is narrow because of limited understanding and reflexion, and they are easily influenced by rigid believes.” states Kristiina Kumpulainen, the leading professor of the programme.

The need for multiliteracy is growing in our society. Multiliteracy is the capacity to understand and to be understood. Multiliteracy is a requirement for learning, cultural awareness, tolerance, and influence in an ever-changing world. The home plays a vital part in promoting a child’s multiliteracy. Additionally, it is important that early childhood education, pre-school, primary education and cultural institutions ensure the equal rights of all children to develop multiliteracy skills. 

During the MOI-event families are given the opportunity to experience how broad the concept of multiliteracy is. You can take part in a storybook-workshop, The Professor’s Reading Corner, a poetry science-workshop and you also get to meet the Spirit of the Forest.  

”Our ambition is to develop learning environments into rich textual environments, where the culture that children produce themselves and the culture that is produced for them, such as stories and fairy tales, science books, tv-programmes and movies, rhymes and poetry, as well as music, is of substantial value. Children are encouraged to read, evaluate, use and produce different texts. The methods we have developed to promote multiliteracy among young children, help them experience stories, science and art through play, reflexion and investigation”, professor Kumpulainen goes on.

“The mutual goals of Heureka and the MOI-programme are to promote diverse skills among children, increase science comprehension and combine science and art. These goals will be made concrete during the family event at Heureka. The collaboration gives all interested the opportunity to explore multiliteracy by means of concrete exercises and hands-on methods. Introducing stories, art and interaction to science education allows for new dimensions, increased understanding and fun experiences for visitors at the family event”, says Jutta Kujasalo, Head of Learning and Events at Heureka.

The event will be opened by the Minister of Education Sanni Grahn-Laasonen. “Multiliteracy, mathematical knowledge and language skills are the foundation, upon which we can build to the degree of our individual strengths and needs.” the Minister stresses in response to the Parliamentary question.    

Contact details:

Professor Kristiina Kumpulainen, University of Helsinki, +358 50 3185221, kristiina.kumpulainen@helsinki.fi

Head of Learning and Events Jutta Kujasalo, Heureka, +358 40 9015280, jutta.kujasalo@heureka.fi

About The Joy of Learning Multiliteracies (MOI) programme

The Joy of Learning Multiliteracies (MOI) programme is designed to promote multiliteracy among children aged 0–8. It entails professional development and collaboration among professionals working in early childhood education, pre-school and the initial stages of primary education (years 1 and 2 of Finnish compulsory schooling), as well as in the library and cultural sector.  

The aim of the MOI programme is to develop models (i.e. learning environments and pedagogies) that can boost children’s multiliteracy and reinforce expertise among personnel in educational and cultural institutions that are working with children. This multidisciplinary development programme addresses cultural and gender-related inequalities. It aims to promote every child’s learning opportunities in multiliteracy.

The outcomes of the development programme are research-based models that promote children’s multiliteracy in an equal and fair way. The programme also provides an understanding of how multiliteracy can develop, and how to support and assess this in early childhood.

The Playful Learning Center, part of the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Helsinki, is responsible for implementing the MOI programme.