The themes of our seminar were broadly linked to well-being at work and resilience. Our guests and members of our research community presented their own research on these topics. Questions related to the presentations colored the discussion and also brought new perspectives to the presentations.
At the beginning of the day, our guest from Tampere University, Associate Professor Mari Saha, told us about her research background and her current and future research projects. In particular, she focused on the multi-level phenomenon of well-being at work in early childhood education and care. For example, she presented how teachers differ from each other on different dimensions of well-being at work.
Next, Doctoral Researcher Katri Pardon focused on the construction of existential resilience in early childhood education. In her study, preschoolers were allowed to generate their knowledge about things that were meaningful to them. For example, children told her what was important to them in their existence and what they dreamed about in their lives.
Related to the same research project as the previous presentation, University Teacher Roosa Segersvärd told us about her upcoming research. Roosa is studying existential resilience in children with severe developmental disabilities. Similar to Katri's study, children produce information about things that are meaningful to them with the help of caregivers and staff. Roosa also aims to produce personalized material for children that reflects the issues that are important to them.
University Teacher Elli Kamula started the post-lunch program with a presentation on her research on resilience among young adults in placement. Elli has studied, for example, how young adults who have been in placement cope with challenging situations and how they demonstrate agency in their own life stories. The results of her research summarize that the construction of resilience seems to be a rather dynamic process.
Annukka Paloniemi, a University Teacher, presented a development study focusing on cooperation between special education teachers in primary schools. Annukka focused her research on learning mechanisms in the development of collaboration. Through the development of collaboration, the special education teachers were able to clarify their role in teaching, create smooth practices, solve difficult situations experienced together through co-teaching, and gain new perspectives on pupils.
In the final presentation, Doctoral Researcher Annukka Töyri talked about supporting resilience in special needs classrooms. Annukka has developed and implemented resilience interventions in five special education classes. The interventions have aimed to strengthen students' social skills, self-esteem, self-confidence, resilience, and well-being. The results of the interventions are encouraging.