Slutseminarium: Tanya Uhnger Wünsche

Titel: Nature Experience in School-Age Educare: In Pursuit of Nature Connectedness

Diskutant: Ryan Lumber, Senior Lecturer, Notthingham Trent University

Abstrakt

The Nature Experience in School-Age Educare: In Pursuit of Nature Connectedness doctoral dissertation investigates how nature connectedness can be pursued in the context of Swedish School-Age Educare. The research project has emerged from a concern about the reduced childhood experience of nature and the potential impact on childhood nature connectedness. The Ph.D. project explores the potential of school-age educare as an arena for pursuing children's connectedness to the natural world.

The overarching research question guiding the dissertation is: How can nature connectedness be pursued in the context of School-Age Educare? The study builds on a convergent parallel mixed-methods design comprising four interconnected sub-studies. Sub-study A maps children’s access to nearby nature through a spatial analysis of public school-age educare centers in Malmö, Sweden. Sub-study B explores how nature connectedness can be measured in children using validated psychometric tools. Sub-study C investigates children’s lived experiences during a year-long Nature Experience for Nature Connectedness intervention, and Sub-study D analyzes teachers’ perspectives on the potential of the pedagogical practices arena of school-age educare to support nature connectedness through everyday pedagogical practice.

Together, the sub-studies provide an integrated view of spatial, experiential, and professional dimensions that influence the pursuit of nature connectedness in pedagogical practices. The dissertation concludes that fostering nature connectedness in this context holds great potential, yet also requires deliberate and reflective pedagogical practice work, structural strategy-level commitment, and progressive plans for the future. When all this aligns, School Age-Educare can serve as a vital and transformative space for pursuing children’s nature connectedness.

Varmt välkomna!